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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who ya got?
Same picks as Ricky
In 1982, I remember what an incredible achievement people thought it was for Jimmy Connors to return to world #1 at the age of 30. No one thought of Connors as GOAT, of course, even after he won another USO the following year. Being world #1 and GOAT is exceedingly rare, next accomplished, arguably, by Pete Sampras toward the end of his career.
In 2012, after Federer won Wimby and ascended to #1, I thought there a good chance that we had seen a player be world #1 and GOAT for the last time.
I would have never thought it possible that we would see the same player accomplish the feat 5 1/2 years later, at the age of 36.
It simply boggles the mind.
In my opinion, of all Federer’s records, this one (oldest world #1) is the one least likely to be broken.
That’s because there WAS no concept of tennis GOAT in 1982.
That was only introduced propaganda by the federazzi during The Weak Era.
#RememberJohansson
Sour Grapes .. Period !!!
Native is funny.
https://tenngrand.com/2018/02/17/rotterdam-dimitrov-goffin-federer-seppi/comment-page-1/#comment-294391
I have been watching tennis probably longer than some of you have been alive.
There was no concept of a GOAT in tennis. The phrase wasn’t ever used. It was only when Fed came on the scene that his fans started this nonsense about the GOAT.
True, GOAT wasn’t used as an acronym. But the concept of the greatest player wasn’t completely alien to the early 80s. Certainly McEnroe was labelled the greatest tennis talent ever by some, and after ’84 there was talk about him being the greatest ever to wield a racquet.
If the term became more common during Fed’s era, it was (imo) because his accomplishments from 2004-07 were unprecedented in the Open era.
Yeah, in 84 McEnroe was untouchable, even without winning the French, which he should really have.
But, he got outplayed from 1985 onwards by Lendl and others.Physicality overcame pure talent.
Yeah, definitely should have won the French. The reason he didn’t is similar to why he never won any slams after ’84: he basically never trained, had a twinkie diet, and (just my gut opinion not based on any evidence) was possibly into drugs. Agassi’s book makes it easy to think that a few top players were doing so at the time.
If Mac had followed a training regimen and been dedicated like Federer, I think he would have dominated the ’80s; the rivalry with Lendl would have been like Sampras-Agassi, very one-sided. (Lendl and McEnroe are very close in age, comparable to Rafa and Novak and closer than Sampras and Agassi).
Back then, people had no idea about acronyms like LOL, OMG, IMHO etc either, which I almost never use, but some find them helpful. Writing something like IMHO (which suggest that sometimes you are not honest, but right now you really are ) is not better than coming up with the term GOAT. It becomes annoying and stupid only when it’s used too often in a wrong context, out of personal insecurity and the eagerness to be accepted and validated. There is nothing wrong with discussing who is best or not at a specific activity. It happens in every sports, although the debate about the GOAT should be mostly avoided in most of them, especially in tennis due to so many complex factors that determine a player’s career. And also by calling someone a GOAT, automatically the merits of other great players are diminished, which is not fair.
The gene that makes someone overuse this term and try to prove his/her favorite tennis is greatest ever, exists in most if not all homo sapiens, regardless whose part they are taking. It’s not like your brother/sister is coming from a different planet called ‘Federazzi’ just because they like FED.
The only Weak Era I can think of is 1982 , when Borg,McEnroe, Lendl weren’t at their best for whatever reason.
And I say that as a huge Connors fan at the time, he could well have been the best player of his era if he had had a better serve.
Looking back at it, I don’t like him,he wasn’t a very nice person !!
Goffin in three just like last year and Fed in two.
guys why do you reckon Goffin will beat Dimitrov?
Same here , goffin been struggling a bit as of late ,Loosing to Benatue AO open and Gasquet In france , And also having the walk over last game might be a negative factor for his rythem and Dimitrov specially seems to be on roll specially beating on form Rublev just in two sets. in my Opinion !!!
in form Rublev? I hope you’re joking,if that’s in form Rublev,i must be a tennis ace 🙂
Doha Finals ,Australian Open lost to Dimitrov Took a set Round 3 ,lost Qf in France to Tsonga Tight 2 sets so Is he in that bad of form ?
Brother,why you are talking in the past? that was the first month,now we’re in the second month.
Yes he did play good in the first month and now?? What happend in the last 2 tournaments?
It’s true he was in good form, now he is trash,Dzumhur only lost to him bcuz he’s got brain damage, his mental state is weak, else Rublev would be burried alive by Dzumhur, like he been trashed out yesterday by Dimitrov. 😉
Check the players stats in the present bro 🙂 ,not in the past.
I mean if you look at Goffin v Dimi H2H it’s quite startling, 8-1 to the Bulgarian.
True Guest Clearly Dimitrov has the advantage
People in 2018 still betting depending on the H2H and rankings?
Lol,funny
Yes people still consider all aspects specially h2h because it matters, mate you might be big time better with losts of money to in bankroll, but Cmon just dont act like know it all !!! and Of course h2h Matters
Best Example bedene vs Schwartzman check for your self the results ??
Lmao,only amateurs are betting depending on h2h and ESPECIALLY rankings.
Best Example bedene vs Schwartzman check for your self the results
Explain to me this expert ?? how did bedene won ?
How did he won? Lol,that’s a pretty stupid question.
He was just better.
Haha what a Stupid answer , Is that all He’s just better , So how do you normally pick a winner just the gut feeling is that the 2018 way ? Good luck mate, Lmao
Well, fair enough.
A stupid answer to a stupid question.
You can’t give a smart answer to a stupid question,but good luck to you too.:-)
Dimitrov was awesome against Rublev. He’s got too much for Goffin if he brings that level again. I’m expecting him to dominate behind serve
How can you be awesome against a trash player with 10 winners and 30 UE? Lol 😀
He was playing an in-form Rublev so seems like an irrelevant question! And are you suggesting you can only play awesomely against a great opponent? Clearly that ain’t the case.
Rublev actually played a decent match. His shit stats are largely a result of the awesome defense and relentless attack from Dimitrov.
I think Roger might come unstuck tomorrow
Lol,I’m you of here, this is hurting my eyes.
Keep losing bets losers. 😂😂😂
Don’t mention your eyes hurt around Goffin. He won’t have much sympathy
Spot on Ad 🙂 Lmao at know it all rellik , I am cashing my money from Dinitrov Win .