The 2015 US Open Men’s Semifinals will feature four Grand Slam champions dueling in a pair of Friday matches. World #1 Novak Djokovic will face defending US Open Champion Marin Cilic, and World #2 Roger Federer will face his countryman, Stan Wawrinka, this years French Open champion. Our expert panel of Steen Kirby and Yesh Ginsburg of LWOS, and Joe Craven of Men’s Tennis Forums preview and predict the matches.
US Open Men’s Semifinals
Novak Djokovic vs. Marin Cilic
Steen:
Djokovic has dropped sets in both of his week 2 matches, which suggest to me Cilic will play well enough to also capture a set. With that said, Cilic’s power game is unlikely to break down Djokovic enough to win three sets against him, and the 0-13 h2h (including 0-2 this year) seems to demonstrate that. Cilic has done a fine job as the defending champion this year, but Novak appears set on another Grand Slam final and a chance at taking 3 out of 4 slams this season.
Prediction: Djokovic in 4 sets
Yesh:
Neither Djokovic nor Cilic has been sharp all tournament. This will come down to who buckles under pressure the least. That feels like Djokovic right now.
Prediction: Djokovic in 5 sets
Joe:
The two have played 13 times before and Djokovic has won all the meetings between them. Cilic has only got really close to beating Djokovic on one occasion which was at Wimbledon in 2014, where he led Djokovic 2 sets to 1. Djokovic is an extremely bad match up for Cilic because his insane defensive skills mean that it’s nigh on impossible for Cilic to hit through him with his ball bashing game style. I think Djokovic will go into this match swinging freely with the pressure on Cilic as defending Champion, Cilic may take a set, but Djokovic will run away a convincing winner in the end.
Prediction: Djokovic in 4 sets
Roger Federer vs. Stan Wawrinka
Steen:
The advantage in this match should tip to Federer given he’s 16-3 in the h2h against Wawrinka, having never lost to his rival off of clay. Wawrinka did capture their last meeting earlier this year at the French Open, and when Stan the man is on he rises to the occasion and plays top 3 tennis with his powerful backhand and a laser like focus, however Federer has been sublime all tournament, not dropping a set. In fact, the world #2 hasn’t dropped a set in 10 matches on North American hard courts this Summer. The biggest question may well be if the veteran Federer can run the table through his final two matches and keep that streak up, it’s unlikely, but Federer reaching yet another Grand Slam final at 34 is not regardless of Wawrinka’s form.
Prediction: Federer in 4 sets
Yesh:
This all-Swiss matchup is between two of the hottest players in tennis at this moment. The historic edge goes to Federer. But when Wawrinka can get this far, he somehow ups his level and becomes unbeatable. Still, Federer has been on a whole other plane this entire past month.
Prediction: Federer in 5 sets
Joe:
Federer has been in fantastic form this US Open, being broken only twice and he has been able to win all of his matches in straight sets. Wawrinka has played average Tennis most of the tournament although he played some fantastic stuff against Kevin Anderson in the Quarter Final’s. It is perhaps a testament to the way Stan plays in grand slams that he’s played fairly average yet only dropped one set and finds himself in his second USO SF within the space of 3 seasons. Stan certainly plays better in slams than lower level events and just like at the French Open where he convincingly beat Federer, I think that he’s once again going to give it all against his compatriot. However, with the form Federer is in I find it hard to believe that he’ll suddenly throw in a stinker unless he’s thrown off by a fast start by Wawrinka. I think the fact that Stan has been known to lose some matches against Federer that he shouldn’t have when he was in a winning position will give Federer the edge. I see this being close but Federer will edge it in the end.
Prediction: Federer in 5 sets
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