A couple of Barcelona semi-finals to get into today, under clear skies and a high of 70°F that should make for perfect conditions on the clay. Both matches have interesting angles, so let's get into it.
Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell Predictions
Rafael Jodar vs Cameron Norrie
Head-to-head: Jodar 2-0 Norrie
The ranking suggests Norrie should be the favorite here, but the head-to-head tells a different story. Jodar has beaten him twice already and Norrie has genuinely looked uncomfortable against him. The Spaniard is playing in his home country, on clay, in a semi-final, and already owns this matchup. That's a lot going in one direction.
Norrie hasn't been in great form over the past few months and his game can go flat quickly when things aren't clicking. Jodar, for his part, is the kind of clay-court grinder who makes you earn every point, and on this surface in Barcelona, that's a hard style to break down. I think Jodar finds a way to close this out, though Norrie will push him.
Prediction: Jodar in 3
Andrey Rublev vs Hamad Medjedovic
Head-to-head: First meeting
Medjedovic making a semi-final in Barcelona at 22 is a real statement, and he's clearly a player to watch on clay. But Rublev at his best is a nightmare on this surface, with that heavy topspin forehand that just buries opponents in the corners and doesn't let them breathe from the baseline.
Rublev's results have been a bit inconsistent this season, so you can't completely write off Medjedovic's chances of making this awkward. First meetings are unpredictable, and the young Serbian has shown he can compete with anyone these past few days. That said, Rublev has the experience and the firepower to get through this one, all things considered.
Prediction: Rublev in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Marti Segura Ramoneda/ZUMA Press Wire