The 2019 Halle Open has provided some thrilling matches so far and, with the semifinals ahead, the quality looks set to go up a notch. All four men remaining in the draw will rightly feel they have a real chance of claiming the title in Saxony-Anhalt, although only Roger Federer has won in Halle before. But who will book their place in Sunday’s final?
Halle Open Semifinal Predictions
David Goffin vs Matteo Berrettini
Head-to-head: first meeting
Both Goffin and Berrettini come into this semifinal clash in excellent form, Berrettini particularly so. The Italian is riding an eight-match winning streak after lifting the title in Stuttgart last week, without losing serve once, and is understandably full of confidence. He has continued that fine form at the Halle Open, where he has beaten sixth seed Nikoloz Basilashvili, his compatriot and former-finalist Andreas Seppi and third seed Karen Khachanov, losing just one set in the process.
Goffin, meanwhile, may not have made such a good start to the grass-court swing, but he did reach the last eight in Rosmalen and looked very sharp at the French Open where he made the third round and was one of just two men to take a set off eventual champion Rafael Nadal. This week, he has shown impressive battling qualities to rally from a set down in both the second round and the quarterfinals, where he edged German #1 Alexander Zverev in a final-set tiebreak.
The key to Berrettini’s somewhat surprising grass-court excellence has been just how well he has been serving. Up against Goffin, one of the better returners on the men’s tour, he will need to continue that fine form from the line. Berrettini will also need to stay aggressive. Goffin may not be one of the biggest hitters on the tour, but he excels at taking the ball on the rise and if given time will be able to punish Berrettini. But such has been Berrettini’s form in recent weeks, it is hard to see him failing to overpower the man from Liege.
Prediction: Berrettini in three.
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Roger Federer vs Pierre-Hugues Herbert
Head-to-head: first meeting
In what promises to be an excellent grass-court clash, nine-time former champion Roger Federer will take on Pierre-Hugues Herbert of France. The Swiss has long been the tour’s foremost proponent of all-court tennis and his ability to hurt opponents from all areas of the court has been on full display so far in Saxony-Anhalt. But he has to play some of his very best tennis to come through a tricky draw, battling past John Millman, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Roberto Bautista Agut, having been taken the distance in the latter two matches.
Herbert, who is set to play with Andy Murray in the doubles at Wimbledon, has continued his fine year in singles. The Frenchman proved too strong for his countryman Gael Monfils in the first round, before edging out fellow serve-volleyer Sergiy Stakhovsky in the last 16. He then benefited from defending champion Borna Coric’s withdrawal, with the Croatian pulling out after losing the first set 5-7 to send Herbert into his third tour-level semifinal of the year.
Both men will look to play this match on the front foot, Federer particularly so. Herbert cannot match his opponent’s weight of shot, but he is almost certainly the better volleyer of the two, which will put Federer at an unusual disadvantage. But the Swiss only very rarely loses to players such as Herbert thanks to his impressive variety. That ability to change up the looks he gives the Frenchman should be enough to see him over the line into yet another Halle Open final.
Prediction: Federer in two.
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