The Picks for November 11, 2012 – World Tour Finals Semis

ATP World Tour Finals – Semifinals

First Semifinal (Novak Djokovic vs. Juan Martín Del Potro) – Head to Head: 6-2, Djokovic

(Novak Djokovic won, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 – Read all about it here)

Amy’s Pick: I’d like to believe that Del Potro can hang with Djokovic, but in their last meeting at the US Open, Del Potro threw absolutely everything at Djokovic, and still emerged without a single set to show for it. I hope Del Potro proves me wrong and makes it a competitive match. But I have to go with Djokovic in straights.

Lindsay’s Pick: It’s Delpo time. I just feel it. The sleeping giant seems to have woken up, and winning in London would arguably mean more to him than to anyone left in the field, and set him (and the ATP) up great for 2013. I think he senses the opportunity–all the other players are tired and a step or two slower than usual, and he’s one of the few players that can take advantage of this. Djokovic will not be an easy out, of course. But I’m picking Delpo in 3.

Juan José’s Pick: Yes, I’m fully aware that the last time these two played in London, Del Potro won in convincing fashion, taking the bronze medal in the process. But after that, the pair met in Cincinnati and the US Open, and Djokovic won all five sets. Yes, DelPo was hampered by his left wrist, but I think the biggest issue was that Djokovic went back to his quasi-2011 form on his best surface – hardcourts. Also, Djokovic had Saturday off, while DelPo played a three-setter vs. Federer. I say Djokovic wins this in two straightforward sets.

Second Semifinal (Roger Federer vs. Andy Murray): Head to Head: 10-8, Murray

(Roger Federer won, 7-6 (5), 6-2 – Read all about it here)

Amy’s Pick: To be honest, I don’t really like what I’ve seen from Federer this week. We all know that’s no guarantee he won’t show up and play an incredible match against Murray. He’s done that many times before in big matches. I find Federer vs. Murray to be a particularly tough matchup to predict in general, and always have. But because Murray will be the better rested player, I’ll go with him in three sets.

Lindsay’s Pick: So. I feel like this is a toss-up. Neither man has played at the top of their game this week, but saying that feels like beating a dead horse. Murray has the fact that he is playing at home, where he’s made two important finals against Roger Federer this year. But this isn’t quite a final, and it’s not as magical of a setting as Wimbledon or the Olympics, and of course, it’s not grass. Federer just has a knack for pulling out matches like that, and I think he’s going to outlast Murray, much like Djokovic did a few days ago. I pick Federer in straights.

Juan José’s Pick: Roger Federer has not looked good this week. Aside from his first match, when Tipsarevic was so terrible he could’ve made me look good on the O2 Arena court, Federer was sub-par against Ferrer (escaped) and again on Saturday against Del Potro (did not escape). Andy Murray isn’t playing all that well either, but at least he’s playing at home, and managed his best performance of the week in the last Round Robin match against Tsonga. Murray also beat Federer in a rather straightforward way when the two met in Shanghai just a few weeks ago. For me, the Scot’s biggest issue will be dealing with the crowd, which will resemble the one he faced at the Wimbledon final, and not at the Olympic final. Yeah, I know – same location, right? But that Wimbledon final was notoriously pro-Federer, while the Olympic crowd was notoriously pro-Murray. Still, I like Maggie Mayhem’s owner in three up-and-down sets.

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Standings after the day’s results:

Juan José:   8-4

Amy:               6-6

Lindsay:       6-6

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