MEN
7- JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO VS. 20- ANDY RODDICK
This could be the end of the road for Andy Roddick’s farewell tour at the US Open. He has played very well in is first three matches and had a blast in his highly entertaining and light hearted four-set win over Fabio Fognini. Roddick has to decided to ignore any aches and pains in his body because he doesn't care if he’s risking long-term injury because at the very least, sometime in the week on September 10, he will be able to rest for the rest of his years.
Because Roddick is playing so freely, he has good chance at an upset here. He has not played at Juan Martin Del Potro’s level for the vast majority of this season, but he can match him service bomb for service bomb, has a little more variety and is more comfortable at the net. But the Argentine has substantially more power from the baseline off his forehand and backhand side and moves as well or better, even though he stands 6-foot-6.
Roddick has to do so many things well to win this match if Del Potro plays even close to the best of his ability. Roddick has to get a lot of returns back deep, serve huge, mix it up from the baseline, retrieve with abandon, step in on short balls and come to net on his own terms.
While I see that occurring for two sets, I also see 2009 champion Del Potro blasting holes in the concrete with his huge groundies. If Del Potro were a rookie I would surely side with Roddick, but the 23-year-old has already contested plenty of important matches on the world’s biggest stages and will come though in memorable five setter.
2-NOVAK DJOKOVIC VS. 18-STANISLAS WAWRINKA
The defending champion has lost just 15 games in his first three matches and is brimming with confidence. He has put up a wall behind the baseline, and when he moves forward he is quickly seizing control of points. The world’s most notable returner is consistently getting good serves back in play, is serving very well himself and is chomping at the bit to show that Roger Federer has not completely retaken control of the tour.
That makes the very capable Serbian dangerous and in prime position to wipe out Wawrinka, a talented player that he happens to have a10-2 record against and hasn’t lost to since 2006. Wawrinka does have a wondrous one-handed backhand, a fair forehand and moves pretty well. But Djokovic is better all around and, at least for now, doesn't appear vulnerable to an upset. In fact, at this point, if he doesn't reach the final it will be shocker. Take the 2011 champion in straight sets.
OTHER MEN’S MATCHES OF NOTE
There are three things sure in life: death, taxes and that the rock-solid David Ferrer will grind hard and never play an atrocious match. Because Richard Gasquet has a lot of variety and has been playing well on hardcourts, this should be a very intriguing contest. But the Spaniard knows how to survive flurries and will come through in four… Janko Tipsarevic and Philip Kohlschreiber is a toss-up when it comes to shot making, but the German had to spend every ounce of energy he had in overcoming John Isner in a five setter and won’t have the legs to outlast the eighth seed. Take Tipsarevic in four.
WOMEN
3-MARIA SHARAPOVA VS. 11-MARION BARTOLI
Two of the tour’s most outspoken players face off here, with Sharapova having reached the quarters for the first time since she won the title in 2006 and Bartoli reaching her first quarter ever in New York after reaching at the least the final eight or better at the other three majors.
Sharapova has never lost to the Frenchwoman, but in one sense that doesn’t matter because when Bartoli catches fire she is capable of taking down anyone. Just ask Petra Kvitova, whom she buried in the last two sets of her three-set victory after being crushed by her just last month in Montreal.
The problem for Bartoli in this match is that Sharapova has been serving very well, with hard, well-placed first serves and heavy second serves. If Bartoli does not match her in that department, then Sharapova will be teeing off with her returns and the Frenchwoman won’t have a chance to control the center of the court.
Bartoli is a little faster than Sharapova is, but not my much. She can match up with her from the backhand side, but falls a little short on the forehand side. In straight rallies when they are both ripping the cover off the ball, Sharapova is 10 percent better, which is why she will win this contest handily in two.
1-VICTORIA AZARENKA VS. 7-SAMANTHA STOSUR
Let’s just hope that Stosur’s coach David Taylor comes up with a solid game plan for this match because Azarenka has owned the Aussie, leading their head-to-head 6-0 and has never dropped a set to the defending US Open champion.
All their matches have been on outdoor hardcourts, and only one – 2008 Los Angeles - was even competitive. Arguably the game’s most feared returner, Azarenka has only lost 13 games in her last four matches to the big server. In their sole meeting this year in Doha, she crushed Stosur 6-1, 6-2 in the final.
Essentially this is very bad match up for Stosur because Azarenka reads her serve like pulp fiction, isn’t bothered by her kicker, powers past her backhand with her hatchet of a two-hander, and can also force Stosur into errors on her beloved forehand side when she gets her on the run.
So what is Stosur to do? Mix it up, play more patiently, and don't give the Belarussian too much consistent pace to work with. Of course she should go for her first serves and forehand when she has chance, but Stosur has been blitzed in their straight-up power ball matches so there is no reason to hope that the same approach to this quarterfinal will work. In fact, even a different approach is unlikely to work. Azarenka is in Stosur’s head and game, and will win a quick straight setter.
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