Marin Cilic and Tomas Berdych will continue their Shenzhen campaigns during semifinal action on Saturday. They are set for respective encounters with Guillermo Garcia-Lopez and Tommy Robredo.
(4) Guillermo Garcia-Lopez vs. (2) Marin Cilic
Cilic and Garcia-Lopez will be squaring off for the fourth time in their careers when they collide in the Shenzhen Open semifinals on Saturday. Garcia-Lopez leads the head-to-head series 2-1, having prevailed most recently on the clay courts of Rome via a 6-4, 6-3 decision earlier this season. Cilic’s lone win over the Spaniard came seven years ago on the indoor hard courts of Zagreb, while Garcia-Lopez also got the job done 7-6(1), 6-0 at the 2010 Indian Wells Masters.
Garcia-Lopez always seems to be on the fringe of Grand Slam seeding and he appears to be on a mission to stay inside the No. 32 cut line for the 2016 Australian Open. The world No. 29 finally has a clean bill of health and he is capitalizing with a stretch that includes a third-round showing at the U.S. Open, a quarterfinal in Metz, and now a semi in Shenzhen. Garcia-Lopez rolled over Lukas Rosol then got a walkover from Adrian Mannarino on Friday. Cilic has advanced with a three-set win over John Millman and a 7-6(6), 6-4 defeat of Hyeon Chung. The 14th-ranked Croat is in stellar form on the heels of a U.S. Open semifinal performance and he is making a late push for at least an alternate spot at the World Tour Finals. Cilic always excels at 250-point indoor events and this one is looking like no exception.
Pick: Cilic in 2
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(1) Tomas Berdych vs. (3) Tommy Robredo
There is at least some good news for Robredo heading into another date with Berdych: it cannot get any worse. Well, it cannot get more than one game worse. In their most recent meeting this summer in Cincinnati, Berdych dominated 6-1, 6-0. That was their second consecutive showdown in Cincinnati, as the Czech had previous cruised 6-3, 6-0 at the same tournament in 2013. Thanks to those convincing performances, what had been a 4-4 head-to-head series tie now stands at 6-4 in Berdych’s favor.
Current form, however, would suggest that Robredo should have some chance in this one. The 30th-ranked Spaniard reached the third round of the U.S. Open, the quarterfinals in St. Petersburg, and he is through to the semis this week after taking out Hiroki Moriya and Simone Bolelli. Robredo advanced to the Shenzhen final last year before losing a heartbreaking three-setter to Andy Murray (he did the same in Valencia a few weeks later). Berdych may be waking up from a disturbing slumber. The world No. 5’s last especially impressive result was a semifinal in Madrid. He has lost his opening match in two of his last five events–to Donald Young in Montreal and to Bolelli in St. Petersburg. So far this week, though, the top seed has trounced Austin Krajicek and Jiri Vesely. Those results combined with his recent ownership of Robredo suggest Berdych is in for another fun day at the office.
Pick: Berdych in 2 losing 8 games or fewer
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I’ll take berdych losing more than eight games and cilic in 3
Matches were rescheduled to Sunday due to rain.
More rain delays. No tennis in Shenzhen.
lol. my screen froze and was still saying the event will commence shortly. Berdych won first set. Another rain delay now.
Berdych vs Robredo match has restarted Berdych is up a break in set 2.
Cilic vs Garcia Lopez match has also resumed 1-1 in final set
Berdych saves multiple break points to lead 5-3 in 2nd set.
Berdych wins 6-1 6-4
Garcia Lopez wins in 3 sets
Final moved to Monday because of rain.
Berdych vs Garcia Lopez final to start in 40 minutes time.
Now the same site says that the final has been delayed by at least 4 hours.
http://www.protennislive.com/posting/2015/6967/op.pdf
poor GGL was already handicapped by needing three sets to beat Cilic . He deserves a break or the final would have been a farce.
ROFL. How many people tipped GGL for the upset?
Benny should have backed his earlier hunch. He said GeeGee might cause an upset.
Yep lol. I had a feeling that GGL would have a reasonable chance.
who’d you pick?
so the final moved to Monday
It says that the final is on Monday
http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/scores/current/shenzhen/6967/daily-schedule
more rain
What, on Monday too?
i meant today. but yes, nonstop rain until Friday.
GGL’s problem is I don’t think he has enough faith in his own abilities and he takes a while to get into his stride. OTH he knows how to play Berdych who is nowhere near his best right now. So unless Berdy catches fire and steamrollers GGL because it’s a final I’m picking GGL in three tight sets.
bold
Obviously a tad too bold!
It was a difficult match for both of them after hanging around for two days and then the rain interuptions durung play. Clearly Berdy stood up to it better than GGL.
Berdych won in 2 tight sets 6-3 7-6( 9-7)