Big names and surprise packages alike make up the semifinal line-up at the ATP Delray Beach Open. Three Americans are left in the draw, including second seed John Isner who came through quarterfinal unscathed. However, the fourth-seeded Steve Johnson was upset by Radu Albot whilst defending champion Frances Tiafoe lost in the first-round. But Mackenzie McDonald, unseeded, ousted world #4 Juan Martin del Potro in the last match on Friday. But who will reach the final?
John Isner vs Dan Evans
The world #9 extended his domination over Adrian Mannarino with his sixth consecutive, and seventh overall, win. It also built on the momentum he has been building of late after also reaching the semifinals at last week’s New York Open. Evans, however, has had a confidence-building run of his own and will be looking to add Isner to his list of upsets this week. But that will not be easy. Indeed, of all four semifinalists, Isner is the only one who has not dropped a set this week.
Surprisingly, this will be the first match between these two players. In theory, Isner has more going for him in terms of his tactical acumen as compared to Evans. Yet, the latter comes into the match with more composure and less pressure on his shoulders than the American who, despite his back-to-back semifinal appearances, is yet to play his best tennis this year. And against Evans, anything less than his best may well not be good enough. Expect the world #141 to defeat Isner to make it to his second ATP tour final.
Prediction: Evans in 3
Mackenzie McDonald vs Radu Albot
McDonald needed three sets and three match points in the deciding tiebreak to end the challenge of top seed del Potro. But the 23-year-old weathered the Argentine’s attempts at comeback to claim his first win over a top-five player and reach a maiden tour-level semifinal. In Albot, McDonald will face an opponent with more than a passing similarity to his own game. The Moldovan’s second-round win over Kyrgios had been tried to be brushed aside as yet another manifestation of the Australian’s erratic nature. But by getting the better of Johnson in the quarter-final, Albot answered the scepticism directed his way.
But after back-to-back three-setters, it does bear asking if Albot has anything left in the tank to face McDonald? However, McDonald, too, is coming in from an equally tiring outing – both in terms of the score-line and the emotional highs – bringing the contest an unusual parity. It will also be the first time this pair have clashed, which would appear to further level the playing field between two men separated by two places in the world rankings. But McDonald will have the backing of the crowd and is in the best form of his life at the ATP Delray Beach. That should be just enough for him to edge out Albot.
Prediction: McDonald in 2
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