The Shanghai Rolex Masters semi-finals will see ATP no. 1 Novak Djokovic take on old rival Andy Murray and a seemingly resurgent Rafael Nadal up against the talented Jo-Wilfred Tsonga. The Tennis Review previews the action and predicts the winner.
Novak Djokovic vs Andy Murray
Djokovic leads the head to head 19-9, is 15- 7 ahead on hard and leads 1-0 in Shanghai, winning an epic three set final in 2012.
Murray ended an eight match losing streak to Djokovic in the Montréal final back in August and that win, their last meeting, should give Murray some confidence.
The Scot will need it. Djokovic has made his last four hard court finals since entering Montréal, and for the first time in his last seven matches dropped more than three games in a set when Bernard Tonic took him to a first set tiebreaker in their Shanghai quarter-final.
Murray, playing his first event since a bruising loss to Kevin Anderson in New York, can also draw some confidence from his recent form. The Scot survived a tough match against John Isner and then dismissed old rival Tomas Berdych in the last eight for the loss of four games.
The Shanghai conditions will also give Murray some heart as he enters the Djokovic contest. Like Montréal, the Shanghai courts are faster than most hard courts on the tour which plays into Murray’s very fine hands. The Scot is at his best on fast hard courts on which he can use his defensive skills to track down balls and then his counter punching skills to send them back with interest and, thanks to the speed of the courts, out of his opponents reach.
Djokovic meanwhile prefers conditions a little slower so he can really find his much needed rhythm. But the US Open champ is no slouch on faster courts either, and he will be ready to be a little more aggressive versus Murray than against other players to get the win.
Prediction: With both men playing well and considering their Shanghai history, this will likely go the distance. Djokovic should edge the win – the heavier, slower night conditions will help him and he is on a 15 match winning streak in his most favourable part of the season.
Rafael Nadal vs Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Nadal leads the head to head 8-3 and 6-2 on hard.
Tsonga has had to hustle his way through to the semis, taking three tough sets to get past Federer’s conqueror Alberto Ramos-Vinolas and then Kevin Anderson. But those battles could prove to be just what he needs to prepare him for a scrappy encounter with Nadal.
Nadal is certainly improving this past couple of weeks, but he has not really been tested – Wawrinka was sub-par in their 62 minute quarterfinal and Raonic is still rusty coming back from injury- and we have yet to see him beat someone playing good tennis. Tsonga is hitting a lot of winners and is confident so this will be a real test for Nadal and will, if he wins, give us a better idea of where he really is game wise.
Tsonga needs to be absolutely aggressive if he is going to make his first Shanghai final. Any rally balls will just play into Nadal’s hands and he needs to go easy on the slice. The Frenchman needs to serve big, take cuts on the return, and outmuscle Nadal.
Prediction: Tsonga has a great chance here. If he can end points quickly and attack Nadal from the get go if he is hitting his rally balls short, he could overwhelm the Spaniard in straight sets. If Tsonga gets close to achieving that, and then lets Nadal back into the match, we may witness another big match slip away from the Frenchman’s grasp and see Nadal, once again, coming back to steal a win.
Commentary by Christian Deverille.
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