Yesterday Roger Federer survived an onslaught from last weeks ATP Tokyo champion and rising Russian star Danil Medvedev in Shanghai. Overcoming the star eventually 2-1 Federer kept his hopes of defending his title and retaining his 1000 ATP points alive. I haven't seen Federer have to cover the court with such effort for a long time as yesterday, not even some of his matches vs Nadal or Djokovic have resembled his exhaustive match yesterday with Medvedev. What got him through it in three sets was his forecourt ability where he shut down an incredible amount of points. Actually I didn't see the Swiss star miss one volley - ok maybe one or two.
Today he plays a similar opponent to Medvedev but crucially one without the legs and energy the 22 year old Russian possesses. Roberto Bautistat Agut is a solid baseline dueller but has never beaten Federer in their previous 7 matches. In fact in those matches he has never won a single set against the 20 times grand slam champion, that is quiet extraordinary!
Expect Federer to maintain his aggressive approach play, perhaps with a little more finesse and control this time, especially off his backhand now that he's had a match to warm up on the fast courts.
My tennis predictions of late have sucked, I have been tirelessly chasing the upsets so here I will be more conservative with my picks.
Prediction: Federer to Win, Plus 2-0 Correct Score
Watch Federer Survive a Fright vs Medvedev in Shanghai Yesterday
Revenge: A Dish Best Served Cold for Novak
Djokovic perhaps has today's opponent to thank for his remarkable turn around in form for the second half of the year. It was after his shock defeat to Italian Marco Cecchinato back in the French Open that Djokovic decided to go hiking in the South of France. Together with his wife he sat at the top of Montagne Sainte-Victoire reflecting on his tennis in 2018 and suddenly saw his relationship with the sport in a different light - he reconnected with his positive feelings towards the game and great accomplishments of the past.
2 Grand Slam titles plus a Golden Masters later and he is a totally different player. You can see the composure, calculation and confidence in his tennis has returned. Perhaps not to the level prior to his elbow surgery just yet but that's even better news for Djokovic fans - there's a greater spectacle yet to be seen.
Yet with all this said, can he remain as cool and calculated when he faces the Italian for a rematch today? It's easy to say given Djokovic's recent results that this will be a simple walk in the park today, yet there's no guarantee this will be a straight sets victory. Cecchinato has had a poor run of form of late including a first round exit at the US Open plus early exits at St Petersburg and Beijing. But he's won his first two matches here including beating Korea's Hyeon Chung when at 3/1 to win.
I think Djokovic won't make too much of the fact he's facing his French Open ouster. But don't expect a clean match with no drama, it may take him three sets to prevail, there were a few signs of frustration in his first round match vs Jeremy Chardy when at times he didn't look so controlled and confident. Cecchinato has more talent than Chardy and could prove a frustrating obstacle to Novak.
Prediction: Djokovic to Win, Plus 2-1 Correct Score
The Brit Just Keeps Getting Better
Kyle Edmund is doing a great job filling the void in British tennis left by the injured and battle scarred Andy Murray. He made the semi finals of Beijing and is now ranked a record high 14th in the world. Today he faces an unknown opponent in the form of Chile's Nicolas Jarry who shocked World Number 6 Marin Cilic yesterday beating him 2 sets to 1.
Edmund is looking very composed and confident coming into the final part of the tennis year. Anyone who can beat the World Number 6 deserves respect, but my biased British nature tells me to side with a clean victory for Edmund who so far in Shanghai has not dropped a set. Edmund has been serving and hitting his big forehand with dominance, I cannot see him being phased by Jarry, business as usual for the British number 1.
Prediction: Edmund to Win, Plus 2-0 Correct Score
The Tower to Edge the Young Croat
Borna Coric is hardly the most likeable character on the men's tour, he comes across as rather flat and dull as a personality plus his game is somewhat boring to watch - I don't particularly like him. Yet there is no denying he is a highly effective young player with an excellent back court game plus his forecourt game is improving all the time - we saw that in action vs Stan Wawrinka.
Even so I will happily see him be edged out of this tournament by the Tower who hopefully is getting over the sickness he experienced in the final of Beijing. Yesterday he overcame the revitalised fancy Frenchman Richard Gasquet who enjoyed a good run in Beijing beating Kevin Anderson and Nik Kygrios in straight sets.
Del Potro saved 4 sets points in the second set tie break to win 2-0 against Gasquet. Now he faces a very capable baseline slugger who is seeking his second ATP title of the year, Del Potro his third. This is the second time the two have met this year, Del Potro demonstrated his superiority in their previous encounter at the US Open where he prevailed 3-0.
I expect this one to be a tighter match than then.
Prediction: Del Potro to Win, Plus 2-1 Correct Score
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