Shanghai 2012 semis: Raja v Andy, Nole v Berdych

The Shanghai Masters 1000 tournament is approaching the final stages and the Big Three are occupying the semifinal slots. World #1 (and 2012 Wimbledon champion) Roger Federer will face 2012 US Open champion (and World #3) Andy Murray in one semifinal while in the other 2012 Australian Open champion (and World #2) Novak Djokovic faces  World #7 Tomas Berdych.

Murray (easily) won the last match he played Federer, the 2012 Gold Medal match at the London Olympics and used the momentum of that  victory to win his first ever major title in New York. He beat Federer (badly) in the 2010 final in Shanghai and is the 2-time defending champion here. He has 9-8 career record against the 17-time major champion.

Djokovic will face Berdych who he has a 9-1 career record against. The World #2 is gunning for the top spot by the end of the year, having defended his title in Beijing last week by defeating World #6 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Berdych beat Tsonga to grab the fourth and final slot, and may have cemented his slot at the ATP World Tour finals ahed of the Frenchman.

MadProfessah predictions: Murray d. Federer, Djokovic d. Berdych.