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| Qualifier Federico Delbonis is into the semifinals of ATP 500 Hamburg. |
Predictions
(1)Federer over (Q)Delbonis in 2 tight sets
Federer has too much experience for Delbonis in my opinion. Delbonis will have nothing to lose, and he will be dangerous just like a certain Sergiy Stakhovksy...
(12)Fognini over (3)Almagro in 2 tight sets
Fognini has been on a hot streak, winning his first ATP title in Stuttgart last week and breezing through his first three matches here in Hamburg. However, Almagro is always dangerous with his underrated serve and huge groundstrokes. If anyone is to stop Fognini, why not Almagro?
Bogota: Second seed Kevin Anderson set up a big-serving semifinal with Ivo Karlovic beating home up Santiago Giraldo 6-3, 6-3. Karlovic edged Adrian Mannarino in two tiebreaks (predictably) to reach his first semifinal of the year following a quarterfinal appearance at Newport. Top seed Janko Tipsarevic will face off against the last remaining Columbian Alejandro Falla, while Matteo Viola and Vasek Pospisil will meet for the last semifinal spot.
Predictions
(2)Anderson over Karlovic in 3 tight sets
This is probably going to be service dominated. Expect a lot of tiebreaks. Karlovic headed the right way on the comeback trail but I think Anderson will be more match-tough.
Bastad: Serena Williams continued outclassing the field with a dominating 6-1, 6-1 win over veteran Lourdes Dominguez Lino. Her semifinal opponent will be the hard-hitting Klara Zakopalova who also outclassed qualifier Richel Hogenkamp 6-2, 6-3. Home hope Johanna Larsson will be facing a player on the comeback Flavia Pennetta over they sweeped through Mathilde Johansson and Virginie Razzano for the combined loss of 7 games.
Predictions
(1)Williams over (3)Zakopalova in 3 sets
I think this will be Williams' first real test of the week as Zakopalova, when she is on, has the weapons to beat anybody (similar to several players like Kvitova, Goerges). But she lacks consistency and Williams' 17 Grand Slams titles' worth of experience will probably be too much for Zakopalova. Zakopalova has a win over Williams though on clay.
(8)Larsson over Pennetta in 2 tricky sets
I think Larsson will end Pennetta's run here. Pennetta is coming back from injury, and has been pushed in her first two matches. Larsson has dropped 10 GAMES in 3 matches. The home crowd will be backing Larsson. Don't count out the former top 10 player though who has a wealth of experience.
Bad Gastein: The picturesque Bad Gastein is not producing picturesque results for the seeded players. 8th seed Karin Knapp is the only seed remaining in the semifinals, after she defeated the only other seed in the quarterfinals in 2nd seed Annika Beck 6-0, 6-1. Knapp will meet another in-form player in home favorite Yvonne Meusburger who beat Arantxa Rus 6-1, 7-6(7-1). Meusburger reached the final of Budapest last week and has never lost before the quarterfinals here in Bad Gastein. Rus had just snapped a 18 match WTA losing streak in the first round here and reached her first WTA quarterfinal since 2010 in Estoril I believe. Andrea Hlavackova will face Elina Svitolina in the other semifinal after they both beat Austrian wildcards Lisa-Maria Moser and Patricia Mayr-Achleitner respectively. There will be a first time titlist here.
Predictions
Hlavackova over Svitolina in 3 sets
The 18 year old Svitolina is making her mark on the WTA. Both players are into their first WTA semifinal (Svitolina also first quarterfinal). I think Hlavackova's experience on tour will pull her through.
Meusburger over (8)Knapp in 2 tight sets
The upset bug was abound this week in Bad Gastein, and I think that will continue with the last seed falling. Both players have been in good form: Meusburger reached the final of Budapest last week, while Knapp reached the fourth round of Wimbledon. Meusburger will have the home crowd behind her...
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