Terra Wortmann Open Semis
The Terra Wortmann Open reaches the final four with the current 1orld No. 1 and tournament top seed, Daniil Medvedev, leading the charge. Joining the Russian star in the semifinals is Australian Nick Kyrgios, Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz and home favorite Oscar Otte.
Saturday’s ATP Halle semifinal lineup will get underway with Medvedev facing off against Otte and Kyrgios going head-to-head with Hurkacz.
With the matchups set, news, and the tennis odds in full swing, we analyze both these semifinals below and serve up choice tennis predictions and picks.
Medvedev vs Otte
Medvedev entered this week’s ATP Halle as the top seed and newly minted world No. 1 player. It’s his second grass-court tournament after finishing as the runner-up to Tim Van Rijthoven at s’Hertogenbosch.
Medvedev booked his place in the semis following a straightforward win over Roberto Bautista-Agut. The 26-year-old Russian dispatched the veteran Spaniard 6-2, 6-4.
The world No. 1 served eight aces, won 82 percent of his first-serve points and converted 3 of 5 break points. Importantly, he fought off nine break points to maintain his winning form in Halle.
Medvedev hasn’t dropped a set since the start of the tournament. Indeed, the only time Medvedev dropped any sets during this summer’s grass-court swing was at the Liberna Open final. He’s won 12 of the last 14 sets played on grass.
Otte received a special exemption into the main draw of the ATP Halle tournament this week and he’s seized the opportunity with both hands.
Otte opened his tournament with a straight-set win over Miomir Kecmanovic before edging Nikoloz Basilashvili in a come-from-behind, three-set victory. In the quarterfinals, the 28-year-old German came from behind again to defeat Russian Karen Khachanov.
On paper, this is a total betting mismatch. Medvedev is the runaway favorite tipped at -600 at the sportsbook exchange while Otte is the longshot bet at +450.
“First time in an ATP final and you destroy the number 2 in the world” 🤣
Medvedev congratulates @timvanrijthoven on his unbelievable week!@LibemaOpen pic.twitter.com/h1as9t3Lob
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) June 12, 2022
Upsets can happen. Medvedev’s loss in the Netherlands last week is a perfect example of that. It was the quintessential upset that few would have predicted. It was so unexpected that it even took Medvedev by surprise. One has to believe after that experience, he won’t be caught unawares for the second time in a row.
PICK: Daniil Medvedev -4 (-115)
Kyrgios vs Hurkacz
Kyrgios is enjoying fine form right now and advances into his second semifinal on the grass in as many weeks. Kyrgios reached the semis in Stuttgart before losing to Andy Murray in straight sets, 6-7 (5), 2-6.
The Australian isn’t seeded in Halle, but he’s without a doubt one of the best grass-court players in today’s game. On a good day, he can beat any top player on this surface. Fact. And that fact makes him a dangerous floater during this ever-so-brief grass-court swing.
He served up one of the big upsets of the tournament when he defeated second seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Round of 16.
Kyrgios came from a set down to dispatch the Greek, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4. He backed it up the following day with a routine win over Pablo Carreno Busta, 6-4, 6-2.
OUTRAGEOUS 😯
Casually ridiculous from @NickKyrgios! #TWO2022 pic.twitter.com/xrLVE9RuHY
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) June 15, 2022
Poland’s Hurkacz is competing in his second tournament on grass after suffering an early exit in Stuttgart last week. Hurkacz was a first-round casualty in Stuttgart, losing to Marton Fucsovics in three sets.
This week, Hurkacz appears to have found his form on grass. He’s through to the semis after dispatching promising young talent Felix Auger-Aliassime in straight sets.
The top Canadian was the last player to defeat the great Roger Federer in Halle, so this is a win Hurkacz will cherish. Aliassime threw the kitchen sink at him, but he held his nerve to win 7-6 (2), 7-6 (4).
This is the first-ever meeting between Kyrgios and Hurkacz, but it should be a right cracker. The Aussie is the betting online favorite, but he can be unpredictable and emotional. All too often he loses matches that he shouldn’t.
Should Kyrgios lose his cool, Hurkacz is the kind of player that will capitalise. That said, Hurkacz does have the weapons to give Kyrgios a run for his money on his own merit too.
PICK: Nick Kyrgios -160
