There should be no shortage of excitement on semifinals day at the Marseille Open in southern France with two potential thrillers on the slate. All four players left in the draw will surely be desperate to book their place in the final. But who will advance to Sunday’s title match and who will fall to defeat?
Marseille Open Semifinal Predictions
Felix Auger-Aliassime vs Gilles Simon
Head-to-head: Auger-Aliassime 1-0 Simon
This could be some match, with both men in good form. Felix Auger-Aliassime has not had the most straightforward of weeks so far, having had to save match point in both the first and second rounds. But the Canadian enjoyed a more comfortable day on court in the quarterfinals, beating the Belarusian Egor Gerasimov in straight-sets to reach his third semifinal of the season and second in as many weeks after his run to the final at the Rotterdam Open.
Gilles Simon, meanwhile, clearly enjoys the conditions in Marseille where he has twice won the title, in 2007 and in 2015. He has recaptured that form so far in 2020, storming into the semifinals without dropping a set. His performance in the last eight, where he crushed top seed Daniil Medvedev 6-4 6-0, was reminiscent of him at his very best. But his strengths are his consistency and his court-coverage, which could see him struggle against the powerful and athletic Auger-Aliassime.
The Canadian’s serve has been particularly impressive in recent weeks and helped him over the line against Gerasimov, as he served nine aces. He has also been using his forehand to good effect. Simon will surely make a lot of balls, but Auger-Aliassime has the quality to keep an opponent under pressure off the ground. Expect a close contest, but for the young gun’s greater ability to hit winners to give him the decisive edge.
Prediction: Auger-Aliassime in 3
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Alexander Bublik vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
Head-to-head: first meeting
Both Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Bublik are looking to reach their first final of the season. The Kazakh has been in excellent form at the Marseille Open so far. In the first round, he dismissed the challenge of Marton Fucsovics in straight-sets, before rallying from a set down to beat Benoit Paire in three. He then scored another battling win, defeating Denis Shapovalov 7-5 4-6 6-3, to secure his place in the semifinals, where the second-seeded Greek awaits him.
Tsitsipas is the defending champion in Marseille and has been playing like it. After a first-round bye, he opened his title defence with a comprehensive 6-1 6-3 win over Sweden’s Mikael Ymer, before beating the in-form Vasek Pospisil 7-5 6-3. Bublik will surely need to be at his very best up against the ATP Finals champion in their first meeting, with Tsitsipas yet to face a break point in Marseille. That said, Bublik’s unorthodox style can make him a difficult opponent to face. But Tsitsipas has looked very assured in his game this week and should have enough to beat the Kazakh in two tight sets.
Prediction: Tsitsipas in 2
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