RICKY’S PICKS FOR THE ROME SEMIFINALS: FEDERER VS. WAWRINKA, DJOKOVIC VS. FERRER

By Ricky Dimon

 

If Rafael Nadal is going to emerge from his slump during this clay-court swing, it will have to come at Roland Garros. Nadal’s final tuneup for the season’s second Grand Slam ended on Friday with a quarterfinal loss to Stan Wawrinka at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia. Thus there will be no renewal of the Nadal vs. Roger Federer rivalry. Instead, an all-Swiss showdown between Federer and Wawrinka is on the schedule.

 

The other semifinal will pit Novak Djokovic against David Ferrer. They advanced with respective three-set victories on Friday.

 

(8) Stan Wawrinka vs. (2) Roger Federer

 

It will be the 18th career meeting between Federer and Wawrinka when the friends but familiar foes collide in the Rome semifinals on Saturday. Federer is dominating the head-to-head series 13-2, but his clay-court edge stands at just 3-2. Wawrinka once lost 11 matches in a row to his countryman before ending the skid last season in the final of the Monte-Carlo Masters. Federer promptly restored order by prevailing 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-4 at Wimbledon and 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(6) at the World Tour Finals–where he saved four match points.

 

Both men needed to pick up some momentum in Rome and they have done just that. Federer, who lost early in Madrid to Nick Kyrgios, has been the best player in the whole tournament this week. The world No. 2 has not dropped a set in victories over Pablo Cuevas, Kevin Anderson, and Tomas Berdych. Wawrinka had lost five of his previous 10 matches heading into this event. But after taking out Juan Monaco and Dominic Thiem, the world No. 9 added to Nadal’s woes with a 7-6(7), 6-2 upset on Friday.

 

Given Wawrinka’s relatively inconsistent form, asking him to string together so many strong performances in succession may be asking too much. It does not help that he will lack belief in his ability to get the job done against Federer.

 

Pick: Federer in 2

 

(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (7) David Ferrer

 

Djokovic and Ferrer will be facing each other for the 20th time in their careers on Saturday. The head-to-head series stands at 14-5 in favor of Djokovic, who has won eight in a row at Ferrer’s expense dating back to the start of 2012. They have met five times on clay, with Ferrer holding a 4-3 edge in those matches. But the Spaniard last beat Djokovic on clay in 2009 and the Serb has won on two consecutive occasions on this surface. Their most recent encounter of any kind came earlier this season on the hard courts of Miami, where Djokovic pulled out a 7-5, 7-5 quarterfinal victory.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It has not been an easy week in Rome for Djokovic, who is looking for his fourth Masters 1000 title in as many tries this year. The world No. 1 held off Nicolas Almagro 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-3 in his opener, overcame Thomaz Bellucci 5-7, 6-2, 6-3 in round two, and got the best of Kei Nishikori 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 in the quarters. Ferrer has advanced with wins over Richard Gasquet (6-4, 7-5), Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (6-1, 6-3), and David Goffin (6-2, 4-6, 6-3). The seventh seed is 32-6 this season with three titles, including one on clay (Rio de Janeiro).

 

Clay will help Ferrer be competitive, but the matchup is not a good one. Djokovic can match the underdog’s defense and consistency while also wielding superior firepower off the ground and a better serve.

 

Pick: Djokovic in 2

 

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: Atp World Tour, David Ferrer, Federer, Internazionali BNL D'Italia, Novak Djokovic, Ricky Dimon, Rome Masters, Stan Wawrinka, Tennis News

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