We preview the second men’s and women’s semi-finals at the 2018 Australian Open.
Men’s SF 2
Hyeon Chung 17/4 | Roger Federer 1/7
On paper, this semi-final looks like a walk in the park for the legendary 19-time Grand Slam champion, Roger Federer. However, the South Korean prodigy Hyeon Chung, affectionately known as ‘The Professor’ for his intellectual style of play and bespectacled look, promises to deliver a fierce contest. They have never faced off before, which might work to Chung’s advantage, especially as he has already stunned the tennis world by defeating six-time champion Novak Djokovic and the Zverev brothers. Federer, meanwhile, cruised past Tomas Berdych to enhance his head-to-head to 20-6.
Chung’s relentless energy and powerful groundstrokes have been a breath of fresh air this season. Beyond his physical prowess, his magnetic on-court presence has impressed many. Often, lesser-known players tend to feel the pressure on such big stages, especially when matched against giants like Federer or Nadal. But since capturing the Next Gen tournament last year, Chung has been working alongside ATP Coach of the Year Neville Godwin, who notably coached Kevin Anderson to the US Open final. Godwin is surely aiming to steer Chung towards an improbable final run.
Federer has sailed through the tournament fairly calmly, not even needing to play his best to knock out Berdych. The absence of Nadal in the draw will undoubtedly boost Federer’s confidence as he looks to extend his Grand Slam lead over his rival. Backing Federer to take this match seems like a smart move – definitely worth a spot in your multiples. While Chung’s performances have been inspiring, Djokovic is still recovering, and Zverev is nursing injuries.
Women’s SF 2
Angelique Kerber 13/20 | Simona Halep 23/20
In a rare twist, the women’s draw has been more predictable than the men’s so far. Angelique Kerber is showing why she’s one of the favourites, just edging World Number 1 Simona Halep in the betting odds. Kerber’s form has been sensational – an unbeaten run at the Hopman Cup, clinching the Sydney title, and currently riding a 14-match winning streak, including a commanding win over Madison Keys in the quarters. She also dispatched Maria Sharapova with ease and is looking close to her peak form seen when she won here in 2016.
Halep faces huge pressure this week. Beyond chasing her maiden Grand Slam title and shedding the memory of her dramatic French Open loss, she also risks losing her Number One ranking to Caroline Wozniacki. Halep will have welcomed a straight-sets victory over Pliskova, especially after a draining marathon match against Lauren Davis. Head-to-head, Kerber leads 5-4 from nine meetings, including the last two on hardcourts in straight sets. Their only Grand Slam clash was at Wimbledon 2016, where Kerber triumphed in straight sets. However, they haven’t met on tour since then.
Kerber is in outstanding physical condition and appears ready to add another Grand Slam to her tally. Halep, on the other hand, seems weighed down by the enormous pressure of pairing her top ranking with a first Slam victory. Kerber’s current form and mental toughness make her look excellent value at 13/20.
Written by Damien Kayat for @Hollywoodbets.net
