Sorry about my hiatus*

Novak Djokovic vs. Roger Federer

The two leaders in the rankings race for 2014 face-off for the 5th time this year.  Nole won their encounters at Wimbledon and Indian Wells.  Federer won in Dubai and Monte Carlo.  Djokovic has applied a sleeper hold to the race for #1 in 2014 and should finish the year on top.  A Federer title in Shanghai might make the numbers a bit closer as the season winds down.  Nole has been on a roll over the past two weeks.  Federer played well in Davis Cup action following the US Open and in his quarterfinal match.  I think either man is capable of winning this match, but I also think Novak being defending champion, being on a winning streak from last week, and being close to cementing the #1 ranking for 2014 means that Novak has an edge.

Prediction: Djokovic d. Federer 6-3, 3-6, 6-3

Gilles Simon vs. Feliciano Lopez

F-Lo has posted a lot of solid results since the start of the grass court season.  He is currently in 14th place for the World Tour Finals race.  The top 8 go, but if Rafa is out with surgery the top 9 will go.  Can he climb another 5 or 6 slots?  Obviously, a runner-up or title finish in Shanghai would help Lopez’s chances a lot.  His lefty serve and the surface are in his favor, but Gilles Simon is the pesky type of player who is going to hit an unexpected passing shot on the run or make Lopez hit one more backhand than he is comfortable with in a rally.

Prediction: Simon d. Lopez 7-5, 6-3

* – I have to admit that after the US Open my interest level in the current year dips, but that can’t explain my hiatus.  Maybe I needed a John McEnroe style sabbatical.  I did try to post interesting tennis stories I could glean from other WordPress related sites.