10SBALLS SHARES RICKY DIMON’S PREVIEW & PICK FOR THE 2017 AUSTRALIAN OPEN TENNIS – STAN WAWRINKA VS. ROGER FEDERER

Written by: Staff on 25th January 2017

10SBALLS SHARES RICKY DIMON'S PREVIEW & PICK FOR THE 2017 AUSTRALIAN OPEN TENNIS - STAN WAWRINKA VS. ROGER FEDERER

epa05748746 Official tennis balls are hold by a ball kid during the match Rafael Nadal of Spain against Milos Raonic of Canada in the Men's Singles quarter-finals at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 25 January 2017. EPA/Made Nagi |

Ricky’s preview and pick for the Australian Open semifinals: Wawrinka vs. Federer

By Ricky Dimon

What an Australian Open semifinal lineup this is. The clock has been turned back, to the extent that three of the semifinalists are in their 30s (and six if you count the women’s side!), and the other is a 26-year-old who has already endured as many career peaks and valleys as most grizzled veterans. Roger Federer, Stan Wawrinka, Rafael Nadal, and Grigor Dimitrov are the last remaining participants and the action will get started with an all-Swiss affair on Thursday.

Ricky previews the match and makes his prediction.

(17) Roger Federer vs. (4) Stan Wawrinka

Wawrinka and Federer will be squaring off for the 22nd time in their careers when they collide in the Australian Open semifinals on Thursday night. Federer owns a commanding 18-3 lead in the the head-to-head series and he has never lost to his countryman on anything except clay. Wawrinka’s wins on the red stuff have come twice at the Monte-Carlo Masters (2009 and 2014) and once en route his 2015 triumph at Roland Garros. They most recently faced each other at the 2015 Barclays ATP World Tour finals, where Federer got the job done 7-5, 6-3.

Last year was a tough one for Federer, with a knee injury eventually sending him all the way out of the top 16 in the rankings. That left the 35-year-old at the mercy of the Australian Open draw, and he found himself in a quarter with world No. 1 Andy Murray, No. 5 Kei Nishikori, and No. 10 Tomas Berdych. Federer defeated Berdych (straight sets) and Nishikori (five) before avoiding Murray, who was shocked by Mischa Zverev in round four. Federer promptly ended Zverev’s run with a 6-1, 7-5, 6-2 quarterfinal victory.

Roger Federer of Switzerland in action during his Men’s Singles quarter-final match against Mischa Zverev of Germany at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 24 January 2017. EPA/MADE NAGI

“Against Roger it’s always special because he’s so good,” Wawrinka said. “He’s the best player of all time. He has answer for everything. But I managed to beat him in a Grand Slam, so we’ll see. Most important is that I step on the court and I play my best tennis…. He’s playing so well since the beginning of the tournament. He had a little bit some hesitation in the [first two] rounds, but since that he’s really flying on the court.”

Wawrinka has advanced in similar fashion. The fourth seed struggled against Martin Klizan (five sets) and Viktor Troicki (one point way from needing a fifth set), but posted more impressive scalps of Steve Johnson, Andreas Seppi, and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on his way to the semis. This is Wawrinka’s third semifinal appearance Down Under and he is ultimately in search of his second title (2014) and fourth overall at a Grand Slam.

“I think [Stan] and [Rafael Nadal] know my game (better than anyone else),” Federer noted. “Stan and I practiced so much together. With Rafa, I only practiced once in my life, whereas with Stan, I can’t even keep count anymore. Yeah, I guess those two guys know me very well.”

What Wawrinka also knows is that his game does not match up well with that of his compatriot. He does not have the heavy topspin to pound away at Federer’s one-handed backhand like Nadal can. His backhand down the line is combatted by Federer’s one-of-a-kind running forehand. Most importantly, Wawrinka lacks a little bit of belief; he knows he has been hopeless against Federer on every surface aside from clay.

This is not necessarily Federer’s “last best” chance to win slam No. 18, but it is certainly an awesome opportunity. He won’t let it go to waste–at least not against Wawrinka.

Pick: Federer in 4