Shanghai SF preview and pick: Lopez vs. Simon

Originally posted on The Grandstand:
Novak Djokovic vs. Roger Federer will steal the headlines on Saturday at the Shanghai Rolex Masters, but don’t sleep on the other semifinal. This one between Feliciano Lopez and Gilles Simon should be similarly entertaining. Lopez cannot be considered a specialist on one specific surface at one specific tournament, but…

Shanghai Semifinal Predictions (Tennis Abides is Back)

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…

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Federer saves 5 match points but needs just 1 in Shanghai

Originally posted on rogerfedererfan:
It’s been almost a month since we saw Roger Federer last but he made sure we got more than just a glimpse of him on his first match back on the hardcourts of Shanghai. Federer faced off against the fast rising Argentinean player Leonardo Mayer. Mayer was ranked 94 at the…

Thursday match picks, including Federer vs. Bautista Agut

Originally posted on The Grandstand:
Shanghai Rolex Masters (1) Novak Djokovic vs. Mikhail Kukushkin: Dominic Thiem lost 6-3, 6-4 to Djokovic in the second round and was “absolutely satisfied” with his performance while calling Djokovic’s tennis “noble.” If Thiem played well and still managed only seven games, what can anyone expect from Kukushkin? Djokovic in…