Roger Federer has already completed the task at hand: clinching the No. 1 world ranking next week. As such, Saturday’s more intriguing semifinal is the one that does not involve Federer. That’s the one featuring familiar foes Grigor Dimitrov and David Goffin.
(4) David Goffin vs. (2) Grigor Dimitrov
It will be a rematch of the 2017 Nitto ATP Finals–and the 2017 Rotterdam quarterfinals, as well–when Dimitrov and Goffin square off for the 10th time in their careers at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament on Saturday. If Goffin wants to make a return trip to the title match (finished runner-up to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga last season), he will have to reverse then trend of an 8-1 deficit in the head-to-head series (5-1 at the ATP level). The seventh-ranked Belgian prevailed 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 exactly one year ago in Rotterdam before falling to Dimitrov twice at the year-end championship in London–6-0, 6-2 during round-robin action and 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 in the final.
Both players showcased less than their best throughout much of the Australian Open, but they appear to be flying high in Rotterdam. No competitor–not even Roger Federer–has enjoyed an easier path to the semis than Goffin. The No. 4 seed destroyed Nicolas Mahut and Feliciano Lopez by 6-1, 6-3 margins before getting a walkover from Tomas Berdych on Friday. Dimitrov has advanced with relatively competitive straight-set wins over Yuichi Sugita, Filip Krajinovic, and a red-hot Andrey Rublev. A well-rested Goffin should not mind his 1-8 record too much given that he knows with certainty that he is capable of beating Dimitrov at this particular tournament.
Pick: Goffin in 3
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(1) Roger Federer vs. Andreas Seppi
Federer has already accomplished when he set out to do in Rotterdam: clinch world No. 1 and become the oldest-ever top-ranked player on the ATP Tour. Needing only a semifinal berth to surpass Rafael Nadal next Monday, the 36-year-old has advanced this week with victories over Ruben Bemelmans, Philipp Kohlschreiber, and Robin Haase. Only Kohlschreiber challenged Federer from start to finish, although the 20-time major champion surrendered one set to Haase before cruising 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 on Friday.
Up next for Federer on Saturday is a 15th career contest against Seppi, who trails the head-to-head series 13-1. Rotterdam’s No. 1 seed won their first 10 meetings before Seppi scored a stunning 6-4, 7-6(5), 4-6, 7-6(5) upset at the 2015 Australian Open. Federer avenged that loss three times over later in the same season, cruising past Seppi in straight sets at the Indian Wells Masters, Halle, and the Paris Masters. The Italian is struggling down at No. 83 in the rankings, but he is clearly not going away just yet at 33 years old. He captured a recent Challenger title in Canberra, reached the fourth round of the Aussie Open, and is through to the Rotterdam semis as a qualifier thanks to defeats of Joao Sousa, Alexander Zverev, and Daniil Medvedev. As long as Federer remains motivated despite the main goal of the week complete, he should have too much firepower for an opponent who may be fatigued having already played five matches in Rotterdam.
Pick: Federer in 2 losing more than 8 games
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