A couple of semi-final picks from 's-Hertogenbosch today, and at least one of them looks like it could go either way on a surface that tends to throw up surprises. Which result do you think is more likely to hold?
Libema Open Predictions
Adrian Mannarino vs Alex De Minaur
Head-to-head: Mannarino 1-4 De Minaur
The H2H looks bad for Mannarino, but those four De Minaur wins came mostly on hard courts, and this is a very different conversation on grass. Mannarino is one of the best grass-court players outside the top ten, with a low, skiddy slice backhand that causes real problems on this surface and a style that naturally suits the conditions. He's made it to the semis here for good reason.
De Minaur is dangerous and quick, and his results this year have been strong, but he's never been as dominant on grass as he is on faster hard courts. That said, Mannarino at this stage of a grass tournament, on his terms, is a tough ask for anyone, and I think the Frenchman nicks it in three.
Prediction: Mannarino in 3
Daniil Medvedev vs Marin Cilic
Head-to-head: Medvedev 3-1 Cilic
Cilic on grass is always a name that gets thrown around, and fairly so given his Wimbledon pedigree, but Medvedev has quietly become more comfortable on the surface and the H2H tells a clear enough story. Three wins out of four for Medvedev, and Cilic at 47 in the rankings, well past the peak years that made him a genuine Slam threat, isn't the same player he was a few years ago.
Hard to see this being competitive at all. He's good at not panicking when opponents go big and Cilic's grass-court game depends on getting his first serve in and finishing points quickly. If that's not clicking, it gets long pretty fast, and long suits Medvedev.
Prediction: Medvedev in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
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