Shanghai semi-finals preview & predictions: Djokovic and Federer seek revenge on Zverev and Coric

The Shanghai Masters semi-final line-up has been set, with former champions Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic still in the mix.

Both enjoyed straight sets wins in their quarter-final ties and both will face an opponent who beat them in their last encounter.

Following the doubles semi-final on Center Court between Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo against Oliver Marach and Mate Pavic – where the winner will face Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares – Djokovic will take on world No. 5 Alexander Zverev before Federer meets Borna Coric.

Here we take a look at the match-ups and predict the winners.

Shanghai Masters Saturday schedule

Kubot/Melo vs Marach/Pavic

Zverev v Djokovic

Federer v Coric

Novak Djokovic (2) vs Alexander Zverev (4)

Djokovic is in stunning form. The second seed is on a 16-match winning streak and has only lost one match since the start of July.

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Hes looked ominously good in his opening three matches, with Jeremy Chardy, Marco Cecchinato and Kevin Anderson all being swatted aside.

But Zverev represents a far greater threat – particularly at this level.

While hes hardly set the world alight at Grand Slams, he has three Masters 1000 titles to his name already.

One of those victories – Rome, 2017 – came at Djokovics expense, with the 21-year-old putting the Serb to the sword in the final of the Italian Open.

Zverev can become just the third man to enjoy a 2-0 head-to-head record over the Serb, with Nick Kyrgios and the retired Marat Safin the other men to lead the 14-time Grand Slam champion by that margin.

Djokovic v Zverev Shanghai

Djokovic

R1: Bye
R2: 6-3 7-5 Chardy
R3: 6-4 6-0 Cecchinato
QF: 7-6 6-3 Anderson

Zverev

R1: Bye
R2: 7-5 6-4 Basilashvili
R3: 6-1 6-4 De Minaur
QF: 6-4 6-4 Edmund

Head-to-head

Zverev 1-0 Djokovic

Last meeting

Rome 2017: Zverev 6-4 6-3 Djokovic

Beating Djokovic this time around, though, is a very different test.

The 31-year-old appears to be close to the levels of his all-dominating 2015-2016 stretch and has his eyes firmly focused on catching Rafael Nadal to end the season as world No. 1.

A win over Zverev will move him up to second in the rankings above Federer, and it seems probable he will do just that.

Prediction: Djokovic in 3

Roger Federer (1) vs Borna Coric (13)

Federer has endured three tricky encounters on his way to this stage but looked to shake off the post-US Open rust in his impressive win over Kei Nishikori in the quarter-finals.

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Hell hope to be finding form at just the right time so he can exact revenge on Coric, who surprisingly defeated him to deny the Swiss a 10th title in Halle, though he did look a little jaded in the back end of his win over Kei Nishikori.

Coric, too, suffered a little physically – requiring treatment on his thigh – but will be heading into the tie in a confident mood after some impressive wins over the likes of Stan Wawrinka and Juan Martin del Potro.

Federer v Coric Shanghai

Federer

R1: Bye
R2: 6-4 4-6 6-4 Medvedev
R3: 6-3 2-6 6-4 Bautista Agut
QF: 6-4 7-6 Nishikori

Coric

R1: 4-6 6-4 6-3 Wawrinka
R2: 6-4 6-2 Klahn
R3: 7-5 (RET) Del Potro
QF: 7-5 6-4 Ebden

Head-to-head

Federer 2-1 Coric

Last meeting

Halle 2018: Coric 7-6 3-6 6-2 Federer

The Croat has enjoyed a terrific week and is into the second Masters 1000 semi-final of his career.

In his first, he suffered a defeat to Federer at Indian Wells. Will history repeat itself again?

Prediction: Federer in 2

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