Munich SF preview and prediction: Zverev vs. Chung

Alexander Zverev and Hyeon Chung will be going head-to-head for the third time in their careers when they collide in the semifinals of the BMW Open on Saturday. Chung has won both of their previous encounters; 6-1, 6-4 last year in Barcelona and 5-7, 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 during third-round action at the Australian Open earlier this season.

This setting, however, may be just what the doctor ordered for Zverev to exact some revenge. The 21-year-old German is the defending Munich champion and he is 10-2 in his last 12 matches at the event, with losses during this stretch only to David Goffin and three-time champion Philipp Kohlschreiber. Zverev has advanced this week with a pair of victories over fellow Germans; in three sets against Yannick Hanfmann and 6-3, 6-2 at the expense of Jan-Lennard Struff on Friday.

Chung parlayed his Aussie Open upset of Zverev into a semifinal run, and other than a couple of injury issues he has remained on fire. The 22-year-old South Korean has reached at least the quarterfinals of a whopping seven consecutive tournaments, including the Australian Open and Maters 1000 events in Indian Wells and Miami. Chung, who also earned a first-round bye in Munich, booked his spot in the last four by defeating Matthias Bachinger and Martin Klizan in straight sets.

“I’m really happy to make the semifinals two years in a row,” Chung–who lost to Guido Pella in last year’s semis–said after beating Klizan 6-3, 6-4. “It was really tough against a lefty, tough from the baseline and it forced me to focus all the time.”

Another tough one is in store for the world No. 22, and Zverev should be able to turn the tide from his previous two setbacks now that he has home-court advantage. Clay may also help, as the top seed captured the Rome title last spring and reached the Monte-Carlo semifinals a few weeks ago.

Pick: Zverev in 3

[polldaddy poll=9995416]