Viktor Troicki could not have asked for a more routine start to his Sydney title defense, but things could get tougher in the form of Gilles Muller on Friday. Andrey Kuznetsov and Dan Evans are also aiming for a place in the final.
(3) Viktor Troicki vs. (6) Gilles Muller
Troicki and Muller will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers and for the second time at the Apia International when they clash in the semifinals on Friday. Their only previous encounter came at this same event in 2015, when Troicki prevailed 6-2, 6-4–also in the semis–on his way to the title. The 29th-ranked Serb lifted the trophy again last season, so he is looking to make it three in a row. Troicki kicked off his week with a 6-3, 6-4 rout of Paolo Lorenzi before getting a walkover past Philipp Kohlschreiber.
Muller did not benefit from either a bye or a walkover, so he has already contested three matches in Sydney. The 34th-ranked Luxembourgian booked his spot in the last four by taking out Alexandr Dolgopolov, Matthew Barton, and Pablo Cuevas. Muller is making amends for a first-round Brisbane exit last week at the hands of Jared Donaldson. The 33-year-old can make this competitive if he serves well, but fatigue could be a factor and Troicki is obviously a force to be reckoned with at this particular tournament.
Pick: Troicki in 3
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Dan Evans vs. Andrey Kuznetsov
Tournaments immediately preceding Grand Slams often produce some surprising results, and this one is no exception. It will be an all-unseeded affair between Kuznetsov and Evans on Friday after they emerged from a section of the draw that included Dominic Thiem, Pablo Carreno Busta, and Benoit Paire among others. This marks their second career meeting on the heels of a 2014 Wimbledon first-round contest, won by Kuznetsov 6-1, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(5).
Evans does not have home-court advantage this time around, but he does have plenty of confidence. The 67th-ranked Brit got three singles matches under his belt at last week’s Hopman Cup and so far in Sydney he has defeated Thiago Monteiro, Marcel Granollers, and Thiem all in three sets. Kuznetsov punched his ticket to the last four by beating Martin Klizan (by retirement), Alex De Minaur (by retirement), and Carreno Busta 2-6, 6-4, 6-1. Evans has played more than enough tennis in advance of the Australian Open, so his run may come to an end against a more rested and more experienced opponent.
Pick: Kuznetsov in 2
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who ya got?
waiting for AO 😛
Kuznetsov and Muller in three