Tennis: Semifinal picks from Sydney and Auckland ATP events

Sydney ATP - Women
Semifinals

Ashleigh Barty over Kirsten Bertens
Barty was challenged for about a set in yesterday’s quarters by Elise Mertens. This match should be tighter, but Barty is destined here in her home country. If Barty plays like she has all week she should win in two close sets.

Petra Kvitova over Alikasandra Sasnovich
This should be a close, entertaining match, but the ease with which Kvitova yesterday dismissed Angelique Kerber, the world’s #2 ranked woman, shows that she’s playing some of her best tennis. Kvitova in a close three-setter.

Men

Alex de Minaur over Gilles Simon
This home crowd is gonna like this match. The players are mirrors of each other in almost every way and the match could go either way. De Minaur’s play this week has been a revelation, although maybe not as artistic as Simon’s. However de Minaur appears solid as a rock and should overcome Simon’s flamboyant flair. De Minaur in three close sets.

Auckland ATP - Men
Semifinals

Philipp Kohlschreiber over Tennys Sandgren
Kohlschreiber was unspectacularly solid in his win yesterday over Italian bad-boy Fabio Fognini . . . as usual. He’s really good, solid as a rock, and mentally tough. Sandgren is playing good hard-court tennis by attacking and being aggressive, but the German is simply the better player. Kohlschreiber in three.