Viktor Troicki is now the main favourite to win the title after Dominic Thiem’s elimination. Can the Serbian extend his winning streak in Sydney? Bookmakers Review breaks down the fixture below and lists the best available odds from green listed bookmakers.
Troicki vs. Muller
Viktor Troicki couldn’t ask for an easier task on his quarter-finals contest against Philipp Kohlschreiber. The German decided to withdraw from the Apia International due to a back injury, allowing Troicki to reach the semi-finals in Sydney for the third consecutive year. As we mentioned in our quarter-finals analysis, the Serbian loves the game conditions in Sydney with a phenomenal record over the last three years.
Gilles Muller is trying to reach his first final in Sydney after two consecutive defeats in the semi-finals. Known for his outstanding left-handed slice serve, Muller is always a tough opponent to beat. It hasn’t been an easy week for Gilles with the player from Luxembourg struggling with the hot conditions in Sydney. After a very difficult match against Matthew Barton in the 2nd round – with Muller thinking about retirement – the world no.34 played at a much better level against Pablo Cuevas in the quarter-finals.
Despite Gilles’ improvements, it’s important to mention that the conditions on Thursday were much better. However, Friday should be another hot day with 34ºC (93ºF) expected and it won’t be easy for Muller to perform at his best. Adding to this, Troicki is a terrible match-up for the Luxembourger with the Serbian winning their previous meeting – two years ago on this same event – by 6 – 2 6 – 4. Viktor’s powerful serve and terrific return to serve should be the key to his success, which makes him a great bet for this contest at 4/5 at Ladbrokes while Pinnacle offers 23/20 for Muller’s victory.
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