Saturday will deliver four equally enticing semi-finals from the Internazionali BNL D’Italia.  There were some excellent quarter-finals on Friday with Novak Djokovic’s 7-5 4-6 6-3 victory over David Ferrer and Ana Ivanovic’s 6-4 3-6 6-4 win over Carla Suarez Navarro the pick of the bunch.  As I write this, Nadal v Murray is still to come! This week in Rome and the 2014 clay court season in general, has seen a remarkable number of lopsided head-to-heads snapped.  Today saw Errani (d. Li) and Jankovic (d. Radwanska) jump on that bandwagon.  I always take the time to tell you how abysmal my predictions are.  Well, despite not having faith in Errani up against Li today, I did correctly predict a Jankovic-Errani semi-final in my orginal predictions, which I made last weekend 🙂

1. Serena Williams v Ana Ivanovic (WTA Rome, SF)

Ana Ivanovic

The second of the womens semi-finals promises to be a thriller as the world number one, Serena Williams goes up against one of 2014’s in-form players, Ana Ivanovic.  This match wil have glowing signficance because Ivanovic defeated Williams in Melbourne, coming from a set down to prevail, 4-6 6-3 6-3 in the fourth round.  After several years of producing reasonably consistent performances, but not being able to beat the top ten players, 2014 has been different for Ana.  She has been winning the big matches and in style.  Not only has she beaten Serena, but she snapped a seven match losing streak against Maria Sharapova in the third round of Rome.  In Australia, she was unable to back up the win over Serena but here in Rome, she’s into the semi-finals.  Ivanovic defeated Carla Suarez Navarro, 6-4 3-6 6-4 in a high quality quarter-final match.  After years of suffering, Ana fans are starting to get a return for their loyalty.

Serena has been in devastating form this week; she has lost just 11 games in three matches and has shown no ill effects of the thigh injury that forced her to pull out of her quarter-final match in Madrid.  Taking place not before 3.30pm in the UK, this is a match I won’t be missing! Serena will be eager for revenge, but Ivanovic is playing with a tremendous amount of confidence right now.  She had her moments against CSN on Friday, but she got that all important win.  I think Ivanovic will come out on fire, but Serena, who will be fully aware of the challenge that meets her across the net, will rein her opponent in and sneak into the final.  I’m expecting a fantastic match… please don’t be an anticlimax. I’d particularly LOVE to hear your thoughts on this match!

Prediction: Serena d. Ivanovic in 3 sets

2. Jelena Jankovic v Sara Errani (WTA Rome, SF)

Sara Errani

Jelena Jankovic loves Rome.  I keep repeating it like an annoying person, but that fact has been once again proven in 2014.  JJ scored her biggest win of the year, snapping a five match losing streak to beat Agnieszka Radwanska, 6-4 6-4.  It was a very good match and I thought Radwanska was thwacking the ball with a great deal more venom than she normally does.  The match was also surprisingly serve dominated with just four breaks in 20 service games on a pretty heavy clay surface.  Jankovic was brilliant again and has overcome a tough draw that also seen her beat Svetlana Kuznetsova and Flavia Pennetta this week.

There is a fair argument to say that Sara Errani loves Rome today.  Sporting a new service action this week, Errani earnt a first ever win over Li Na, 6-3 4-6 6-2.  There were reports that Li wasn’t feeling at her best during this quarter-final.  However full credit to Errani for a fabulous win.  This will be another tough semi-final.  In their most recent match, it was Errani who prevailed over Jankovic on a ridiculously slow Istanbul court, 6-4 6-4.  That match was a dead rubber.  I get the sense that most people think this will be a walk in the park for Jankovic.  It won’t.  I’m going for JJ, but I think it will be a very closely fought match and Jelena will lose her first set of the week.  Good match, ladies.

Prediction: Jankovic d. Errani in 3 sets

3. Novak Djokovic v Milos Raonic (ATP Rome, SF)

Novak Djokovic has come through consecutive three setters in Rome, but all looks hunky dory with the wrist.  In the third round, he made a terribly slow start against Philipp Kohlschreiber.  He finished in great form with some breathtaking defence in the third set to complete a NID win, 4-6 6-2 6-1.  In the quarter-finals, Djokovic edged Ferrer in three sets over two hours and 31 minutes.  Djokovic will meet surprising semi-finalist, Milos Raonic on Saturday.  The Canadian’s performance of the week came in the third round when he earnt a first ever win over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.  To be honest, Raonic has been dealt a pretty favourable draw.  He’s taken his chances though and that is all he can do.  Djokovic and Raonic have only ever met once before and that came in Davis Cup action last year.  I’d be surprised if Novak loses a set…

Prediction: Djokovic d. Raonic in 2 tight sets

4. Rafael Nadal v Grigor Dimitrov (ATP Rome, SF)

The late night match in Rome on Saturday will feature Rafael Nadal and Grigor Dimitrov.  Nadal defeated Andy Murray in cracking quarter-final, 1-6 6-3 7-5.  Murray was fantastic throughout the first set, dictating play with his backhand.  Nadal changed tactics in the second set, hitting more to the Murray forehand and it began to pay off.  Murray led 4-2 in the decider, but Nadal was not to be denied.  This was the Spaniard’s shortest match of the week at two hours and 40 minutes! He has spent just shy of nine hours on the court this week and it will be interesting to see if that has an effect on him in this semi-final.  Dimitrov celebrated his birthday with a retirement win over Tommy Haas.  The top ten is fast approaching for Grigor and this is his best ever result in a Masters 1000 event.  Nadal and Dimitrov have played each other on four occasions and Dimitrov has won a set in each match.  In their last encounter at the Australian Open, Dimitrov pushed Nadal all the way, eventually falling in four tight sets, 3-6 7-6(3) 7-6(7) 6-2.  I think Grigor’s got a great chance in this one and he’s always pushed Nadal hard.  I’m not quite brave enough though.

Prediction: Nadal d. Dimitrov in 3 sets