Queens, Birmingham, Halle Final Predictions: Murray-Cilic, Hantuchova-Vekic, Federer-Youzhny

Andy Murray v Marin Cilic (Queens, Final)

Marin Cilic

Queens had a rather calamitous day today as rain forced the first semi-final between Lleyton Hewitt and Marin Cilic (which had briefly begun on Centre) onto the No.1 court as Andy Murray and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga played on Centre.  Both went to three sets, but it was Murray, the 2011 champion, who will take on Cilic, the 2012 champion.  Murray came back from a set down to defeat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 4-6 6-3 6-2.  Murray served poorly in the first set and Tsonga had his chances to break in the second, but Murray came through dominantly in the decider.  Hewitt gave it another good fight, but Cilic won 6-4 4-6 6-2 in what has been his best week of the year so far.  Cilic has been playing well, but has lost his last four encounters to Murray including wasting a massive lead in their US Open match of last year.  Murray is not playing his best, but it should be good enough for another Queens title.

Prediction - Murray to beat Cilic in 2 tight sets

Daniela Hantuchova v Donna Vekic (Birmingham, Final)

Donna Vekic

Hands up if you correctly predicted that Daniela Hantuchova and Donna Vekic would make the Birmingham final.  Vekic, just 16 years old, beat off Magdalena Rybarikova in a rain affected three set match to make her second WTA final.  The Croatian player has had a terrific week and is likely to start the hype train with her performances this week.  Her opponent in the final tomorrow, Hantuchova, has had a resurgence this week and proved to be tough as nails to get past Francesca Schiavone (3 hours 22 minutes) and Alison Riske (2 hours 11 minutes) in her last two matches.  Of course this is a first time match-up and I just have a feeling its going to be the icing on the cake of a fairytale week for Donna Vekic.

Prediction - Vekic to beat Hantuchova in 3 sets

Best of the rest: ATP Halle Finals Prediction

Roger Federer to beat Mikhail Youzhny in 2 sets - there is little point in me writing a full preview for this match as Youzhny is 0-13 against Fed and I will be shocked if Youzhny grabs a first ever win.  Federer had a good win today, beating Tommy Haas in 3 sets.