Zverev fancied to make life more difficult for Kyrgios

Roger Federer is a best-priced 1-4 with Ladbrokes to progress to the last four of the Miami Open with a victory over Tomas Berdych, which suggests the Magic Sign reckon the Swiss ace might be more vulnerable against the Czech in Miami than he was at Melbourne Park in January.

We’re back in an age when those on the other side of the court from Federer are dropping like flies and while serial underachiever Berdych enjoyed one of his finest moments on a tennis court when reaching the Key Biscayne final in 2010, it will be a surprise if he ousts the Australian Open and Indian Wells champion.

Federer, who beat Berdych 6-2 6-4 6-4 in Melbourne, is 4-6 to triumph in straight sets which can be considered, but the 35-year-old has been playing a lot of tennis in recent weeks so it’s not the most appealing of prices.

There may be a better bet to be had in the match between top youngsters Alexander Zverev and Nick Kyrgios.

It’s only their second meeting – Kyrgios won their first 6-3 6-4 in Indian Wells earlier this month – and this time we may see Zverev make more of a nuisance of himself against the more experienced Australian.

Zverev may struggle to avenge his loss to Kyrgios in the California desert, but the 8-13 that he captures at least a set on this occasion can be taken because the German will be on a high after fighting back to down top seed Stan Wawrinka 4-6 6-2 6-1.

In the first of the women’s semi-finals, Caroline Wozniacki takes on Karolina Pliskova.

Wozniacki deserves much credit for getting her game back to a point where she is competitive against anyone and there’s no sign that the Danish former world number one will let up in her push to climb back up towards the top of the WTA chart.

Wozniacki could make life tough for Pliskova but the Czech, who herself looks nailed-on to reach the rankings pinnacle in the near future, is becoming such an accomplished performer that it’s a surprise when she suffers defeat. For that reason, the second seed could see support at a shade of odds-on.

Recommendation
A Zverev to win at least a set
1pt 8-13 Ladbrokes