Three seeds remain in Stockholm and they are joined on Saturday’s semifinal schedule by qualifier Ernests Gulbis. The Latvian now runs into top-seeded John Isner, while Fabio Fognini is going up against Stefanos Tsitsipas.
(1) John Isner vs. (Q) Ernests Gulbis
Isner and Gulbis will be squaring off for the seventh time in their careers when they battle for a place in the Stockholm title match on Saturday. The head-to-head series stands at 3-3, with Isner leading 3-1 on hard courts (2-1 indoors). They have not faced each other since splitting a pair of fall-swing encounters in 2015, when Gulbis got the job done 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in Vienna before Isner prevailed 6-3, 6-4 in Basel.
It has been an especially productive week for Gulbis, who had to qualify for the main draw as the No. 145 player in the world. Since managing that feat, the Latvian has defeated Mikael Ymer, Denis Shapovalov, and Jack Sock while surrendering just one set to Sock along the way. Isner has survived a pair of typical Isner matches, beating Bradley Klahn in three tiebreak sets and doing the same against Tennys Sandgren on Friday night. The 6’10” American’s set scores are 7-6(2), 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 7-6(8), 6-7(5), and 7-6(2). Gulbis has without question been the superior player this week and Isner was predictably running low on energy during the final set against Sandgren.
Pick: Gulbis in 3
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(3) Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. (2) Fabio Fognini
Like Isner, albeit to a lesser extent, Fognini is still in the somewhat realistic Nitto ATP Finals discussion. The 14th-ranked Italian is wrapping up an awesome year, owner of a 45-19 record that includes three titles. He also finished runner-up in Chengdu a few weeks ago and booked his spot in the Stockholm semis by beating Lukas Lacko and Hyeon Chung (the latter via second-set retirement).
Up next for Fognini on Saturday is a first-ever showdown against Tsitsipas, who will soon be heading for the NextGen ATP Finals in Milan. The Greek is already up to 16th in the rankings at 20 years old with a 37-25 record for his 2018 campaign. He punched his ticket to the last four in Stockholm thanks to defeats of John Millman (6-4, 3-6, 6-3) and Philipp Kohlschreiber (6-3, 7-6(4)). This might as well be a 50-50 matchup, but Tsitsipas may showcase stronger mental toughness in what are sure to be pressure-packed moments.
Pick: Tsitsipas in 3
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Isner may be rusty from lack of match play and tired, but he doesn’t quit. Isner in 3. Fognini has been playing very well, I choose him in 3.
Gulbis in 3!