ATP Barcelona Open semi-finals: tips, odds, betting preview & TV channel

TV: Amazon Prime, 12.30pm Saturday

Kei Nishikori won successive Barcelona Opens in Rafael Nadal's wilderness years in 2014 and 2015, but the Japanese number one may struggle to cope with his semi-final opponent Daniil Medvedev.

World number 14 Medvedev turned many heads with a fine run to the semi-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters last week and the Russian has carried on the good work in Barcelona.

Nishikori, ranked seventh on the ATP chart, had already seen off Taylor Fritz and Felix Auger-Aliassime in the Godo this week and in the quarter-finals he had to work hard to deny lucky-loser Roberto Carballes Baena.

The Spaniard may finally be stepping things up in his career but Medvedev, who edged out another lucky-loser, Nicolas Jarry, in three sets in the last eight, is more experienced at high level than Nishikori's recent victims. It's no surprise to see he has already been backed to reach the final.

Rafael Nadal, seeking a 12th title in Catalonia's premier ATP tournament, edged into the last four with a 7-5 7-5 victory over Jan-Lennard Struff.

Recommendation
D Medvedev
1pt 21-20 Betfair, Paddy Power

Follow us on Twitter

Like us on Facebook RacingPostSport