At the Auckland Open, just four men remain in contention for the trophy. After rain halted proceedings on day two, the weather has turned for the better. The tennis too has been excellent and all four semifinalists will feel they have a real chance of claiming the ASB Classic trophy. But who will book their place in the final?
ATP Auckland Open Semifinal Predictions
John Isner vs Ugo Humbert
Head-to-head: Isner 1-0 Humbert
This last four clash is a battle between two players who have relied on their strengths so far at the Auckland Open. The Frenchman Ugo Humbert has been particularly impressive. He had to battle hard against Casper Ruud in his opener, but he has found his feet since, to notch excellent wins over Marco Cecchinato and second seed Denis Shapovalov. He held all his service games against Shapovalov, butt will likely need to replicate that performance against the big-serving John Isner.
There are few, if any, who can match the American from the line and his quarterfinal served as further evidence of that. Kyle Edmund is a fine baseliner and had one of his better returning days, forcing nine break points. But Isner saved all of them with some thunderous serving. And that proved to be enough for Isner, who claimed a 7-6 7-6 win, having served 25 aces. That serving should allow him to put real pressure on Humbert to hold his own serve, pressure that could well eventually tell on the relatively inexperienced Frenchman.
Prediction: Isner in 3
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Benoit Paire vs Hubert Hurkacz
Head-to-head: Hurkacz 1-0 Paire
Hubert Hurkacz, who is enjoying a fine start to his year, squandered six match points against Feliciano Lopez in the second set of their quarterfinal. But the Pole’s confidence is such that he merely redoubled his effort in the decider, eventually claiming a deserved 6-4 6-7 6-4 win to reach the semifinals. Most impressive in that match was his return, with Hurkacz creating chances against Lopez’s often formidable serve through the 130 minute contest.
Benoit Paire too had to fight till the very end against a confident John Millman to earn his place in the semifinals. But he did struggle in his previous match, which came in Winston-Salem. That match saw Hurkacz claim five breaks of serve against the Paire serve, with the Frenchman breaking four times himself. But on the quicker courts in New Zealand, it seems unlikely that this match will see so many breaks. Indeed, Hurkacz has dropped serve just once so far at the Auckland Open.
Perhaps concerningly for Paire, he has seen his serve broken six times this week. Nor indeed can he match Hurkacz for power from the back of the court, particularly off the forehand side, which remains a real weakness in his game. He does, however, have a world-class backhand, one he will need to take full advantage of in his match. But Hurkacz looks in assured touch in all areas of his game and has not yet lost a match this season. Expect him to prove too strong for Paire.
Prediction: Hurkacz in 2
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