Just four men remain in contention at the ATP’s New York Open and all are perhaps surprise semifinalists. Regardless, all four will surely now have high hopes of securing their spot in Sunday’s final at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum and potentially the title. But who will advance?
New York Open Semifinal Predictions
Jason Jung vs Andreas Seppi
Head-to-head: first meeting
Jason Jung does not arrive into his semifinal with a wealth of experience of tennis at this level. Indeed, he has never previously reached a tour-level semifinal, although he has won four Challenger titles so far in his career. And he has been in impressive form at the New York Open, having come through the qualifying. In the quarterfinals, he delivered surely his best performance of the week to beat the defending champion Reilly Opelka from a set down.
Andreas Seppi, in a marked contrast, is one of the most experienced players on the ATP Tour. Although the Italian is surely now on the decline, he has had a fine career. Seppi has reached the second week at a Major six times and won three ATP titles, with a career-high ranking of world #18. And he has rolled back the years in New York, picking up wins over Damir Dzumhur, Steve Johnson and Jordan Thompson, rallying from a set down to beat the Australian.
What may prove crucial in this match is nerves, particularly for Jung. This is unquestionably a massive opportunity for the Taiwanese to reach a tour-level final, one that may not come around again. But if he cannot control his nerves, it could get away from him. Seppi, who has a wealth of experience to draw on and a solid all-round game, should have the edge in that department and that could well prove to be the difference.
Prediction: Seppi in 3
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Miomir Kecmanovic vs Kyle Edmund
Head-to-head: first meeting
Miomir Kecmanovic is looking for his first ATP title at the age of 20, but has shown once again that he has a bright future in the sport, which bodes well for the Serbian establishment, who will one day face the unenviable task of trying to fill the hole left by Novak Djokovic’s retirement. Kyle Edmund, meanwhile, has had a good career in his own right, but he has one just one title so far and his form has tailed off badly over the last 12 months, in part due to injury.
Both men had to survive three-set battles in the quarterfinals. Kecmanovic came from a set down to beat the talented Frenchman Ugo Humbert, who last year reached the fourth round at Wimbledon. Key to his victory was his clinical tennis when facing break points and when trying to convert his own. That saw Humbert break just once, despite forcing five break points, whilst Kecmanovic managed to convert three out of the five he created.
Edmund too found himself a set down against the South Korean Kwon Soon-woo. Recently, Edmund has struggled to come from behind in matches and so he deserves great credit for turning the match around. With both men having served well so far at the New York Open, this match may well be decided by who has the better returning day. That would seem to favour Kecmanovic, with Edmund’s return of serve still a real weakness in his game. Expect Kecmanovic to keep Edmund moving and restrict his opportunities to deploy his big forehand. Do that and he should be able to reach the final.
Prediction: Kecmanovic in 3
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