Semifinal previews and picks: Gulbis vs. Bautista Agut, Dimitrov vs. Tomic

A contentious rivalry will continue when Ernests Gulbis and Roberto Bautista Agut face each other again in the Moscow semifinals on Saturday. In Stockholm, meanwhile, Grigor Dimitrov and Bernard Tomic are battling for a place in the title match.

Kremlin Cup: (5) Roberto Bautista Agut vs. (3) Ernests Gulbis

Gulbis and Bautista Agut will be going head-to-head for the fifth time in their careers when they collide in the Moscow semifinals on Saturday. All three of their previous ATP-level meetings have gone Gulbis’ way–first via a 6-1, 6-2 blowout at the 2013 St. Petersburg Open, where the Latvian famously called Bautista Agut a “spoiled princess” for complaining about squeaky shoes. Gulbis then prevailed 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 earlier this season in Marseille and 7-6(0), 4-6, 6-2 in another heated showdown at the Indian Wells Masters. Bautista Agut has gotten the best of his opponent once before; he took the first set of their 2012 Orleans Challenger quarterfinal 7-6(7) before Gulbis retired.

Another retirement is not entirely out of the question because Gulbis has been dealing with a shoulder injury throughout this entire fall swing. The world No. 13 lost early in Beijing and Shanghai and has not looked 100 percent in Moscow despite getting past Daniel Gimeno-Traver and Andreas Seppi–the latter in a third-set tiebreaker. Bautista Agut booked his place in the last four by taking out Sam Groth and Ricardas Berankis. This would generally be a favorable matchup for Gulbis on an indoor hard court, but his physical issues will likely prevent him from making this one-way traffic and frustration could ensure if Bautista Agut hangs around or even takes a lead. In an extended three-setter, the fifth seed would have an edge physically if not mentally.

Pick: Bautista Agut in 3

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If Stockholm Open: Bernard Tomic vs. (2) Grigor Dimitrov

Dimitrov and Tomic will be squaring off for the second time in their careers on Saturday in Stockholm. Their only previous meeting also came on an indoor hard court, with Dimitrov prevailing 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. The 10th-ranked Bulgarian opened with a 7-5, 7-6(4) victory over Teymuraz Gabashvili before surviving an entertaining three-setter against Jack Sock on Friday during which the eventual winning produced spectacular winners on back-to-back points midway through the second frame of play. Dimitrov is 46-15 for the season and in serious World Tour Finals contention.

Two years younger than his opponent at 21, Tomic’s progress has yet to really take off. The 76th-ranked Australian is currently enjoying his first tournament with new coach Xavier Malisse in his corner. Things got off to a rough start in the form of an all-too-tight three-setter against Patrick Rosenholm, but Tomic picked up the pace to oust No. 3 seed Kevin Anderson 7-6(4), 6-4 and seventh-seeded Fernando Verdasco 0-6, 6-4, 7-6(6). The underdog’s game is often tricky to deal with, but Dimitrov wields superior firepower and has to feeling extremely comfortable at this event as the defending champion.

Pick: Dimitrov in 2

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