Let’s dive into this week’s exciting Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships Semi-Finals slated for 2 March.
Roberto Bautista-Agut 1/5
Malek Jaziri 31/10
This semi-final is a bit of a throwback, showing less about the so-called ‘next gen’ of tennis stars. The 29-year-old Spaniard Roberto Bautista-Agut has surprised many this season after a strong show at the Australian Open. Despite a brief slump post-Melbourne that had us questioning, his commanding victory against Borna Coric signals a return to top form. Expect the seasoned Bautista-Agut to come in as the firm favourite, but watch out for the challenger making waves, Malek Jaziri.
The 34-year-old Tunisian wildcard entrant has been the revelation of the tournament, stunning fans by knocking out Grigor Dimitrov in the first round. He continued with impressive wins over Robin Haase and young star Stefanos Tsitsipas, despite showing some physical strain during matches. Jaziri is the first Arab player to reach the semi-finals since Morocco’s Younes El Aynaoui in 2002, marking a remarkable run in his first ATP 500 semi-final. His massive forehand has been a weapon, which he’s wielding with great effect throughout this tournament.
Though Bautista-Agut leads their head-to-head 1-0 from a 2009 Futures event, Jaziri’s determination to target Roberto’s vulnerable backhand could make this a fascinating contest. Plus, the passionate crowd support for Jaziri might just tip the scales – there could be hidden value backing the Tunisian here.
Lucas Pouille 6/10
Filip Krajinovic 12/10
Lucas Pouille has navigated a tough draw much better than Dimitrov, taking down former top 10 player Ernests Gulbis and tour winner Karen Khachanov, before a gritty quarter-final comeback against Yuichi Sugita. His 2018 record of 10-3 is impressive and positions him as one of the tour’s rising dark horses, flourishing outside the typical limelight.
Serbian number two Filip Krajinovic has had a remarkable rise, emerging from the long shadow of Novak Djokovic. After a standout run to the Paris Masters Final last year, bolstered by several Challenge Tour titles, Krajinovic is showing his potential in 2018 with a quarter-final berth in Marseille and victories over Joao Sousa and Gilles Simon. His rivalry with Pouille stands at 1-1, with Krajinovic’s recent commanding quarterfinal performance suggesting he could pull off another upset, especially away from the partisan home crowd’s roar.
With a tied head-to-head, Krajinovic looks like a savvy bet, particularly considering the tough road Pouille has taken this week.
To Win Outright – Bautista-Agut 1/1, Krajinovic 9/2, Jaziri 10/1, Lucas Pouille 15/8
Final Verdict: Krajinovic stands out as an excellent value bet after that impressive quarterfinal; with Pouille’s challenging route, expect the Serbian to make strong waves in this tournament full of surprises.
