Damien Kayat previews the Dubai Tennis Championships semifinal matchups as Roger Federer takes Borna Coric and Gael Monfils battles it out with Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Roger Federer 4/10 | Borna Coric 37/20
Taking a quick look at Federer’s victory over Marton Fucsovics, one would have thought it was a relatively easy straight sets victory. That assessment couldn’t be further from the truth. There were large portions of that match where the Hungarian looked the better player. Federer ground it out and is now well on his way to his 8th Dubai crown. More pressingly, however- it will also be his 100th ATP title.
Federer has enjoyed a fairly low-key season after that early Aussie Open exit. Perhaps that early departure in Melbourne could serve to keep his ageing body fit. Federer’s 2018 campaign was only disappointing by his own lofty standards. He was ultra-consistent, perhaps underperforming most distinctly in the Slams; aside from the Aussie Open title which he captured. Federer has been challenged this week by occasional gusts of winds. It tends to disrupt the fluid ball-striking that so perfectly characterizes his indoor hegemony.
Borna Coric hasn’t had it the easy way. His monumental three-set match against Basilashvili was his 3rd consecutive three-set marathon. The 22 year-old Croat has started the year slowly and will be delighted to be in the business end of a tournament again. He enjoyed a breakthrough 2018, beginning with that glorious run to the Indian Wells semi-final. He would reach two further titles last year, winning in Halle and losing in Shanghai.
His blistering ball-striking on both wings is truly something to behold. He reached the quarterfinals here last season only to lose to eventual champion Roberto Bautista Agut. But Coric has matured immensely as a player and is comfortable locking horns with the best in the business. And as in the case of Roger Federer; you can make that very comfortable.
This will be their 5th meeting, with the pair sharing the spoils at two wins apiece. Federer won their first encounter way back in 2015: that funnily enough came in this very event. They actually played three times last year, with Coric winning their last encounters. Those were significantly finals, emphasizing the confidence that Coric will carry going into this match. The weight of chasing that 100th title may prove too much for the Swiss great and I fancy the Croat to make it three in a row.
Gael Monfils 7/10)| Stefanos Tsitsipas 11/10
This is a tantalizing prospect with both players in the midst of long unbeaten streaks. Gael Monfils won the Rotterdam Open last time out, which actually came on the back of a semi-final defeat at the Sofia Open. Three consecutive semi-finals is not usually what you would associate with the mercurial Frenchman.
The eight-time ATP title winner is very much a known quantity. His baseline play is up there with the best of them, though he does tend to drift listlessly in and out of matches. You can think of him as a more benevolent Nick Kyrgios. He seems a tad more focused this season and he won’t be able to take have too many languid interludes against his opponent: Stefanos Tsitsipas.
This Greek superstar is showing the consistency that will be necessary to finally break the top 3’s utter dominance of the Slams. The likes of Grigor Dimitrov and Dominic Thiem have drifted in and out of the reckoning while Alex Zverev remains a viable candidate in my eyes. His graceful movement coupled with sneaky power make for an irresistible, all-court game.
His victory at the Open 13 just validated that wondrous semi-final run in Melbourne. He performed well on all surfaces last season and seems comfortable under the media spotlight. It will be interesting to see how he adapts to the challenges of the upcoming clay-court season. That’s really where it all started for him last season, but now he will have a lot more tennis under his belt going onto that arduous terrain.
This will be their 3rd ever meeting with both players owning a victory. Coric won a tight three-setter in Shanghai last year while Monfils disposed of the Greek star at this year’s Sofia Open. Both players will be entering this match in a fairly exhausted state, though Monfils pulled out of last week’s Open 13. I would think that may give the lanky Frenchman the edge.
