Tennis News

With just a few matches to go until he crosses the 1000 match-win mark, all eyes are on Roger Federer as he prepares to face Grigor Dimitrov in the semi-final round of the Brisbane International on Saturday. Federer would become just the third player in the Open Era to reach that remarkable figure but will have to defeat the Bulgarian nicknamed ‘Baby Fed’ before he can do so this week. Federer has never dropped a set against Dimitrov and leads the head-to-head series 2-0.

After being down a set and a break in his first professional match of the year, and against a player ranked outside the Top 150 in John Millman, Roger Federer rebounded with a thrashing of James Duckworth to finish the match 6-0, 6-1 in just 41 minutes of court time. The opening set lasted 16 minutes in total and saw Federer drop just six points in total.

Given his short time on court, Federer is satisfied that he gets to rest for his upcoming encounter against Dimitov.

“I’m very happy,” admitted Federer. “I saved energy and stress and nerves and everything, because yesterday was quite nerve wracking and physically difficult because it was first match of the season. You’re always going to be a bit tense in that match.”

After reaching the final at his debut at the event two years ago, Grigor Dimitrov is determined to return there again this season, but is required to overcome Federer in order to do so. The fourth seed defeated Martin Klizan 6-3, 6-4 in 72 minutes. He struck seven aces, won 76% of his first service points and converted 4 of 5 break point opportunities to close out the match.

Of their two previous encounters on the tour, Federer leads the series 2-0 and is yet to drop a set to Dimitrov. Both those meetings took place in the quarter-final stage of the Basel Indoor event in Switzerland and saw at least one tiebreaker each time. While the likelihood of a competitive match is high, few expect Federer to fall to the youngster on Saturday.

Prediction: Roger Federer in Straight Sets

Following impressive performances all week, Maria Sharapova and Ana Ivanovic will cross paths in the final of the Brisbane International – their third ever meeting in a tournament final and their fifth meeting overall in the past 365 days. Of their 13 encounters throughout the years, Sharapova leads the head to head series 9-4 and will look to add to that figure on Saturday night against the Serbian star.

Watch the match live here: Sharapova v Ivanovic

Matched against one of the WTA tour’s rising stars, five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova dispatched Elina Svitolina 6-1, 6-3 in 84 minutes of court time. Sharapova struck six aces, just one double fault and won 70% of her firsts service points to close out the match with relative ease. She was, however, faced with a difficult finish to the match, as Svitolina saved several match points with remarkable defence before bowing out to the Russian.

Former French Open champion Ana Ivanovic overcame Varvara Lepchenko 7-6(2), 6-4 to set up her first final in Brisbane. It was far from easy for the Serb, as she had difficulty crossing the finish line in the opening set but pulled herself together for the tiebreaker. She later allowed Lepchenko to work her way from a 5-1 deficit before finishing the match.

“Definitely your heart was raising a little bit, especially that it was really becoming a battle. Like I said, all the way up to that point, even though I was 5-1 up, still felt like a battle all the way through,” Ivanovic said. “I really tried to take it one point at a time and do the things that I’ve been working on and practicing and try not think too much about the result.”

Ivanovic and Sharapova have met four times in the last year and have split the series 2-2. One of those matches (Cincinnati) even featured some controversy before Ivanovic won the contest. However, in their most recent meeting, Sharapova won the match 6-0, 6-4 to reach the Beijing final. Given her determination this week, it is likely that the Russian will be closing in on her first title in Brisbane.

Prediction: Maria Sharapova in Three Sets

For the first time since last year’s Australian Open quarter-final, Tomas Berdych and David Ferrer will cross paths on the professional tour to determine, this time to determine who will lift the Qatar Exxon Mobil title on Saturday. This marks the 14th time that the two competitors will cross paths on the professional tour, with Ferrer leading the head-to-head series 7-6.

Watch the match live here: Ferrer v Berdych

World No. 7 Tomas Berdych needed only 73 minutes to defeat Andreas Seppi in the semi-final round. He struck three aces, won 84% of his first service points and saved all three break points he faced on serve to close out the match 6-2, 6-3. According to the ATP World Tour, Berdych has spent a total of four hours and 12 minutes in all four matches this week.

The Czech No. 1 will come up against David Ferrer, who defeated the towering Croat Ivo Karlovic, fresh off his upset of top seed Novak Djokovic. He survived 30 aces and 67 winners from Karlovic to eventually edge him out 6-7(2), 7-6(5), 7-6(4) and reach the Doha final for the first time in his career. Ferrer, who managed 47 winners of his own and served at an accuracy rate of 78% of his first service points, will now look for his first title since last February in Buenos Aires.

“This preseason I worked hard,” said Ferrer. “I had one month of work with my new coach (Francisco Fogues), and I think we improved some details in my tennis, like the slice and my serve. Now I want to rest and to have a massage with my physio and be ready for tomorrow.”

This marks the 14th time that Ferrer and Berdych will cross paths on the professional tour, with the Spaniard leading the series 7-6. Of all the matches taking place on Saturday afternoon around the world, this is likely the most difficult to predict. Both players have looked outstanding this week in Doha and have shown little in terms of faults. This will likely be a close, enthralling three set battle.

Prediction: David Ferrer in Three Sets

Following impressive showings from both competitors throughout the week at the ASB Classic, former world No. 1 players Caroline Wozniacki and Venus Williams will meet for a sixth time on the professional tour. Wozniacki will look to capture the Auckland title as well as a first ever victory over her American adversary, as Venus remains undefeated in the head-to-head series 5-0.

Watch the match live here: Williams v Wozniacki

As the top seed of the tournament, Danish star Caroline Wozniacki was the first of the two finalists to advance to the exciting berth. However, she also faced the tougher semi-final match-up, and was forced to contest a decider against fourth seed Barbora Zahlavova Strycova. Following a heated contest, Wozniacki rallied back from a set down to edge out the victory 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

“She’s a tricky player to play because she doesn’t give you much rhythm,” Wozniacki said. “She comes to the net, she mixes the pace – I think she played really well today. For me it was about just staying in the match. I didn’t start off too well, I didn’t really feel the depth of the ball that I wanted to. But I started playing better as it went on, and I think she did too. I just had to kind of get going out there.”

Seeded third for this particular event, former finalist Venus Williams had little difficulty dispatching fellow American Lauren Davis to advance to the final. Williams dropped a mere three games in the match and finished with a score of 6-0, 6-3 in 67 minutes. Williams hit four aces, won 71% of her first service points and saved three break points en route to her first final of the season.

“She’s obviously a tough competitor,” Wozniacki said. “She’s played really well this week – very aggressive, serving well, taking the ball early – it won’t be easy, but I’m looking forward to it. I’m happy to be in my first final of the year, and hopefully there will be many more to come this year.”

This marks the sixth time that these two competitors will cross paths on the professional tour, with Williams leading the series with an unblemished 5-0 record. While four of those encounters took place seven years ago, the most recent match-up was last season, where Williams cruised past Wozniacki 6-3, 6-2 en route to winning the Dubai title several days later. While I fully expect this to be a far more competitive encounter, this may be Williams’ time to shine in Auckland.

Prediction: Venus Williams in Three Sets

After many predicted that the top seeds would work their way to the final, it appears only one was able to reach the final match of the tournament, as Simona Halep will meet eighth seed Timea Bacsinszky to determine who will lift the Shenzhen title on Saturday. This is just the second time that these two competitors will cross paths on the WTA tour, with Halep leading the head to head series 1-0.

Watch the match live here: Halep v Bacsinszky

As the top seed at the event, Simona Halep was the first to advance to the tournament final with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over the last remaining Chinese competitors at the event, Zheng Saisai. The contest lasted one hour and 26 minutes and saw Halep win 68% of her first service points and save four of six break points she faced on serve. The Romanian’s difficulty and low stats were due to Zheng’s improved performance in the second set.

“It was a tough match – she played really well in the second set,” Halep said. “I was a little bit nervous, but I stayed focused and it worked very well for me because I was able to come back.

“It’s difficult to play someone for the first time, but I think I did a good job today.”

While many expected Czech No. 1 Petra Kvitova to cruise into the final of the event, she was upset in straight sets by the tournament’s eighth seed Timea Bacsinszky 6-4, 6-4. She was simply unable to find a way through Timea’s defence on court and only managed one break of serve, while allowing herself to get broken three times during the encounter.

For Timea, a player who had dropped past No. 230 in 2014 and worked her way back to the Top 50, looked ecstatic with her win over a gracious Kvitova.

“Timea played really well,” Kvitova said. “She has a really great backhand. Her forehand has more topspin, which is a little bit different. She served well in the important points too.”

This is just the second time that Halep and Timea cross paths on the professional tour, with the Romanian leading the series 1-0 with a victory in Belgium nearly five years ago. Given Timea’s upset win over Kvitova, one should not underestimate her game against Halep, who has not played her best tennis this week in Shenzhen. While the Romanian still deserves the advantage, this could potentially head to a deciding set.

Prediction: Simona Halep in Three Sets

After passing through their quarter-final obstacles, respective national No. 1s Kei Nishikori and Milos Raonic will meet to determine who will advance to the final berth on Sunday. This is the sixth time that the two competitors will meet on the professional tour, with Nihiskori leading the head to head series 4-1.

Watch the match live here: Raonic v Nishikori

Nishikori dispatched a motivated Bernard Tomic 6-0, 6-4 to reach the final four in Brisbane. He managed to win 92% of his first service points and convert four break point opportunities to close out the match in 58 minutes of court time. He will certainly be the fresher of the two semi-finalists, as his opponent was forced to play three sets on Friday.

Faced with a fellow big-server on Friday, Canadian star Milos Raonic advanced to the Brisbane International semi-final with a 7-6(5), 3-6, 7-6(2) win over Sam Groth. His Australian adversary struck 22 aces, seven more than Raonic’s count for the match, and managed to break him in the second set to force a decider. It was Groth’s second match against a Top 10 player.

“I think he played better than I did, and I sort of got through with experience and sort of just grit in that match,” said Raonic.

Groth agreed with his opponent’s rationale.

“I actually think I had the better of the match until both tie-breakers,” said Groth. “I think that’s the next step for me. Against these better guys, they don’t give you anything in the big moments. I maybe gave him one or two points. Someone with a quality serve like Milos, you can’t afford to do that.”

This marks the sixth time that Raonic and Nishikori will cross paths on the tour, with Kei leading the series 4-1. He is also 3-0 against the Canadian on hard courts, which does not bode well for Raonic’s chances on Saturday. He has also won their last two meetings on the tour; once to reach the US Open quarter-finals and once to lift the Tokyo title near the end of the 2014 season.

Prediction: Kei Nishikori in Three Sets

17-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer was given a surprisingly stiff challenge in his first professional match-up of 2015, but managed to claw his way out of danger to set up a quarter-final clash with another Australian in James Duckworth. This is the second time that the two competitors cross paths on the tour, with Federer leading the series 1-0 with a victory t last year’s Australian Open.

Watch the match live here: Federer v Duckworth

In less than an hour of professional competition in the New Year, Roger Federer found himself down a set and a break to a player ranked outside the Top 150 in the ATP World Tour. After saving three set points in the opening frame, Federer quickly found himself down 6-4, 3-1 and facing an unrelenting opponent. He eventually fought back to defeat John Millman 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.

“I thought I got quite lucky,” said Federer on-court. “He was playing great tennis until maybe the last couple of games. I had to fight very hard. Credit to him for pushing me to the edge.

“I didn’t play badly, but maybe felt a bit tired at times. The first match of the season you never know quite what to expect. I am sweating like crazy. I am happy we had a good match and I got through in the end.”

Federer is now just four matches away from reaching 1,000 victories on the professional tour. Only Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl hold that honour. His next contest is against James Duckworth, who saved two match points against Jarkko Nieminen to win 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-3 in two hours and three minutes.

“I just wanted to really to focus on holding my serve and then putting pressure on his serve, looking to be aggressive and try and dictate. I think I did that quite well in the game that I broke at 1-0 in the third.”

This marks just the second time that these two competitors will cross paths on the professional tour, with Federer leading the series 1-0. Their last meeting took place at the Australian Open, which Federer won in straight sets. Given his ability to work his way out of danger on Thursday, the Swiss star is unlikely to face more more difficulty against Duckworth.

Prediction: Roger Federer in Straight Sets

After breezing past her Spanish opponent on Thursday afternoon, Maria Sharapova finds herself two wins away from a first title of the season in 2015 at the Brisbane International. Her next challenger is world No. 28 Elina Svitolina, whom she has only encountered once before on the professional tour. Sharapova leads the head to head series 1-0.

Although this particular competitor has challenged her in the past, Sharapova had no trouble with Carla Suarez Navarro on Thursday, as she was able to breeze past the Spaniard 6-1, 6-3 to reach the semi-final stage of the event. The Sochi star only needed 68 minutes to close out their quickest encounter yet.

“We went back and forth with our victories in 2014 so I’m always a little bit aware of girls that I lose to,” Sharapova said after the match. “I certainly know that she’s capable of playing really well, though. She plays defense great and makes you hit a lot of balls. Especially on a slower court like here, you just don’t want to give her that much time to play her game. I thought I did a good job of that today.

“Maybe I made a little too many unforced errors in the beginning, but I finished strong.”

Sharapova’s next match-up is against one of the WTA tour’s rising stars Elina Svitolina, who rallied from a set down to upset third seed Angelique Kerber 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. This was the second time that the Ukrainian prospect managed to score an upset over her German foe.

“She’s a young girl that’s already in the Top 30 with a tremendous amount of potential, and someone you’ll be seeing in the top very soon,” Sharapova said. “She definitely has a good game. She’s an all-around player. It’ll be a tough match-up for me, but one that I’m looking forward to, actually.”

This marks just the second time that these two competitors cross paths on the professional tour, with Sharapova leading the series 1-0. The Russian’s victory took place last year in Beijing, where she defeated the Top 30 player 6-2, 6-2. While this could be a slightly more competitive match, it will likely still end in straight sets fr the top seed.

Prediction: Maria Sharapova in Straight Sets