Grigor Dimitrov came back from the brink defeat to live another day in Toronto, where he will face Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Saturday. Roger Federer and Feliciano Lopez are also aiming for a place in the title match.
(13) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs. (7) Grigor Dimitrov
Tsonga and Dimitrov will be squaring off for the fourth time in their careers when they do battle in semifinals of the Rogers Cup on Saturday. All three of their previous encounters have gone Tsonga’s way, but they have not faced each other in three years. Three Frenchman earned a trio of 2011 wins over Dimitrov; in Rotterdam, at Wimbledon, and in Beijing. Dimitrov is a much different player now at 23 years old. The Bulgarian has climbed to No. 8 in the world thanks to a 38-10 record this season that includes Toronto wins over Donald Young, Tommy Robredo, and Kevin Anderson. Dimitrov won all three in three sets and saved two match points on Anderson’s serve in the quarters.
This week has been just what the doctor ordered for a previously out-of-form Tsonga. The world No. 15 is a player who feeds off momentum; he can be ice cold at times, but when he gets hot he tends to go on a serious roll. Since getting inadvertent help from countrymen Edouard Roger-Vasselin and Jeremy Chardy in the first two rounds, Tsonga picked up his level for a 6-2, 6-2 rout of Novak Djokovic and a three-set victory over Andy Murray. This week’s 13th seed is simply playing better at the moment than Dimitrov, who really had no business beating Anderson.
Pick: Tsonga in 3
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Feliciano Lopez vs. (2) Roger Federer
Lopez and Federer will be meeting for the 11th time in their careers on Saturday. Federer has won all 10 of their previous encounters, including seven on hard courts. They have not faced each other since the 2012 Dubai event, at which Federer dominated a second-round encounter 7-5, 6-3. The 33-year-old Swiss celebrated his birthday with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 victory over David Ferrer in the quarterfinals. He also has wins this week over Peter Polansky and Marin Cilic to improve his 2014 record to 43-8.
At 32 years old, Lopez will climb to No. 16 in the world on Monday (or higher if he wins the Toronto title)–one spot off his career-high mark. The Spaniard is a stellar 31-18 for his 2014 campaign following victories over Roberto Bautista Agut, Tim Smyczek, Tomas Berdych, and Milos Raonic. He is 17-4 since the start of the Queen’s Club tournament. Lopez’s lefty serve should be especially effective against Federer, so count on this one being extremely competitive.
Pick: Federer in 3
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who you got?
Neither semi was competitive. (By far the best semi of the day was the match between Venus and Serena). Dimitrov played poorly (loved Roger Rasheed’s tweet about it) and Lopez was never any threat to Fed. Hope the current Jo shows up for tomorrow’s final. If he does, he may very well win.
Tsonga knows how to play Federer so there is no reason why he shouldn’t be able to pull out the win if he brings his brains as well as his brawn today. He is riding on a wave of confidence but he has never beaten Roger in a final so this will be a battle between the ears for him.
Tsonga in 3 roller coaster sets.