Semifinal Friday in Belgrade features an intriguing contest between No. 4 seed Jiri Lehecka and qualifier Denis Shapovalov. In Metz, fellow left-handers Cameron Norrie and Corentin Moutet will battle for a place in the title match.

Belgrade Open: (4) Jiri Lehecka vs. (Q) Denis Shapovalov

It has been a disappointing 2024 campaign for Shapovalov, complete with physical problems and general poor play. However, the 78th-ranked Canadian is wrapping things up with his best tournament of the season. Shapovalov had to qualify simply get into the Belgrade main draw and now finds himself in his first ATP semifinal of the year. He qualified with wins over Constant Lestienne and Hugo Grenier before beating Marton Fucsovics, Nuno Borges, and Christopher O’Connell.

Up next for Shapovalov on Friday is a second meeting with Lehecka, who won their only previous encounter 6-4, 6-4 on the indoor hard courts of Rotterdam in 2022. The 31st-ranked Czech has also dealt with some injury issues in 2024, part of the reason why he has been up and down. Lehecka was on a three-match losing streak prior to this week but has advanced with hard-fought victories over Marin Cilic and Lukas Klein. Shapovalov’s last five set scores are 6-1, 6-2, 6-4, 6-2, and 6-2, and his beatdown of a previously red-hot O’Connell was especially impressive. Such momentum could give the lefty a slight edge in this one.

Pick: Shapovalov in 3

Moselle Open: Corentin Moutet vs. Cameron Norrie

Norrie and Moutet will be going head-to-head for the third time in their careers and for the third time in France when they clash in the Metz semifinals. They have split their two previous meetings; Norrie prevailed 7-5, 6-3 at the 2021 clay-court event in Lyon before Moutet survived a 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(3) thriller on the indoor hard courts of the Paris Masters in 2022.

The proverbial rubber match should be another good one, as there is little to choose between these two left-handers. Norrie comes in at 57th in the rankings and has advanced by taking out Roberto Carballes Baena, Luca Van Assche, and Zizou Bergs all in three sets. Moutet, who is No. 66 in the world, booked his spot in the last four with defeats of Sumit Nagal and Jan-Lennard Struff before getting a walkover from Andrey Rublev–who withdrew after qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals. In what figures to be another competitive contest, you have to like a battle-tested Norrie’s current prowess in three-setters.

Pick: Norrie in 3