Apropos of a week before a Grand Slam, the semifinal lineups in Sydney and Auckland are not anything anyone could have predicted. Still, a pair of intriguing clashes are on Friday’s schedule.
Apia International: Gilles Muller vs. (Q) Viktor Troicki
Muller and Troicki will be going head-to-head for the first time in their careers when they do battle in the Sydney semifinals on Friday. This week has continued an incredible comeback for Troicki, who was suspended for a year before his resurgence began last July. Already up to No. 92 in the world (and he will climb to at least 76th on Sunday), the Serb won two Challenger titles in 2014, reached the Shenzhen quarters and the Vienna semis, and so far in Sydney has taken out Martin Klizan, Pablo Andujar, and Simone Bolelli as a qualifier.
Like Troicki, Muller spent most of his time at the Challenger level last season to rebuild his ranking in the wake of injuries. Borderline dominant in such events, the 31-year-old Luxembourgian will reach a career-high mark of at least No. 41 on Sunday. He is coming off a quarterfinal showing in Chennai and he booked his spot in this week’s semis by beating Sam Groth, Jeremy Chardy, and Bernard Tomic. This is a complete tossup, but Troicki will be playing his seventh match in seven days, while Muller has been serving up a storm (40 aces, one double-fault in his last two matches and 37 aces, no doubles, and no breaks in his last four sets).
Pick: Muller in 3
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Heineken Open: (4) Kevin Anderson vs. (Q) Jiri Vesely
In need of a strong week after losing his first match in Brisbane, Anderson has come up with the goods in Auckland heading into Friday’s semifinals. The 6’8” South African got past Jan-Lennard Struff 7-6(6), 6-1 following an opening-round bye then beat Steve Johnson 6-4, 7-6(8) in the quarters. Anderson registers at 16th in the world–47 spots of his upcoming opponent, Vesely.
Similar to Troicki in Sydney, Vesely will be contesting his sixth match in as many days. After cruising through qualifying, the 21-year-old Czech ousted Thomaz Bellucci, Ernests Gulbis, and Donald Young, dropping only one set to Gulbis in the process. So much tennis may eventually catch up to Vesely, who is competing in just his second-ever ATP semifinal. Anderson, of course, has a ton of experience at this stage of 250-point events.
Pick: Anderson in 3
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