RICKY DIMON’S PICKS FOR THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN MEN’S SEMIS: MURRAY VS. BERDYCH AND DJOKOVIC VS. WAWRINKA

Written by: Staff on 28th January 2015

RICKY DIMON'S PICKS FOR THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN MEN'S SEMIS: MURRAY VS. BERDYCH AND DJOKOVIC VS. WAWRINKA

epa04587870 Andy Murray of Britain in action against Nick Kyrgios of Australia in their quarter-finals match at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 27 January 2015. The Australian Open tennis tournament runs until 01 February 2015. EPA/Made Nagi |

No Roger Federer. No Rafael Nadal. No problem? We will soon find out if the Australian Open men’s singles semifinals can deliver the goods even without the two biggest names in the sport. The spotlight is now on Novak Djokovic, Stan Wawrinka, Andy Murray, and Tomas Berdych.

(6) Andy Murray vs. (7) Tomas Berdych

These two familiar foes will be squaring off for the 11th time in their careers on Thursday night. Berdych has pulled ahead in the head-to-head series 6-4 by erasing a two-match losing streak with a pair of 2013 victories: 7-6(3), 6-4 on the clay courts of Madrid and 6-3, 6-4 during the U.S. Open Series in Cincinnati. Murray has won four of their seven meetings on either hard courts or carpet and they have split two Grand Slam encounters (Berdych rolled at the 2010 French Open; Murray prevailed in four sets at the 2012 U.S. Open).

Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic in action against Rafael Nadal of Spain in their quarter-final match at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 27 January 2015. The Australian Open tennis tournament runs until 01 February 2015. EPA/BARBARA WALTON

Both men are off to outstanding starts to their 2015 campaigns. Berdych, who finished runner-up in Doha earlier this month, has been arguably the most dominant performer of this tournament. The seventh-ranked Czech has not yet dropped a set and he ended a 17-match losing streak against Nadal in the quarters. Murray, who did not play any ATP tuneup events, surrendered only one set on his trek to the last four. The sixth-seeded Scot was especially impressive in avoiding a fifth set against Grigor Dimitrov and throughout his straight-set win over Nick Kyrgios.

An interesting dynamic in this one is that it is essentially the Dani Vallverdu Bowl. Murray’s former coach is now working with Berdych. That may be advantageous for Berdych, but it should not be a decisive factor. With vast experience, Murray has already been to three Aussie Open finals. Make it four.

Pick: Murray in 5

(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (4) Stan Wawrinka

The head-to-head series is such that Djokovic vs. Wawrinka cannot really be called a rivalry. But at the Australian Open, it’s right up there with Ali vs. Frazier, or Duke vs. North Carolina, or Red Sox vs. Yankees. It will be their third showdown in their last three trips to Melbourne when they take the court in Rod Laver Arena again on Friday. The past two encounters were nothing short of memorable. Djokovic prevailed 1-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-7(5), 12-10 en route to the 2013 title before Wawrinka exacted revenge with a 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 9-7 victory on the way to his first-ever Grand Slam winner’s trophy. Overall, though, the top-ranked Serb has won 16 of 19 ATP-level meetings between the two champions.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia in action against Milos Raonic of Canada in their quarter-final match at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 28 January 2015. The Australian Open tennis tournament, the first Grand Slam of the year, runs until 01 February 2015. EPA/BARBARA WALTON

Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland plays Kei Nishikori of Japan during their quarter finals match at the Australian Open at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, 28 January 2015. The Australian Open tennis tournament runs until 01 February 2015. EPA/DAVID CROSLING AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

Neither man had been in Berdych-esque form this fortnight…until Wawrinka played his quarterfinal match against Kei Nishikori. The fourth-ranked Swiss made amends for a five-set U.S. Open loss to the Japanese star by taking the suspense out of things early and often thanks to an incredible performance. Djokovic, meanwhile, has not really had to get out of second gear so far this tournament. The world No. 1 has not lost a set and has been pushed to only two tiebreakers. Knowing the danger, though, Djokovic will be prepared for a steep step up in competition level. Hoping for a third consecutive epic may be too much to ask.

Pick: Djokovic in 4

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

Topics: Andy Murray, Atp, Australian Open, Melbourne, Novak Djokovic, Ricky Dimon, Stan Wawrinka, Tennis, Tomas Berdych

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10sBalls_com says:

January 28, 2015 at 8:18 pm

-@Dimonator’s PICKS FOR THE #AustralianOpen MEN’S SEMIS: @andy_murray VS. @tomasberdych AND @DjokerNole VS. WAWRINKA- http://t.co/a5f4ayVSqy
dusanVemic says:

January 28, 2015 at 8:27 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: -@Dimonator’s PICKS FOR THE #AustralianOpen MEN’S SEMIS: @andy_murray VS. @tomasberdych AND @DjokerNole VS. WAWRINKA- htt…
Dimonator says:

January 28, 2015 at 8:32 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: -@Dimonator’s PICKS FOR THE #AustralianOpen MEN’S SEMIS: @andy_murray VS. @tomasberdych AND @DjokerNole VS. WAWRINKA- htt…
ninak33 says:

January 28, 2015 at 9:37 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: -@Dimonator’s PICKS FOR THE #AustralianOpen MEN’S SEMIS: @andy_murray VS. @tomasberdych AND @DjokerNole VS. WAWRINKA- htt…