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US Open Tennis - Who will pass the Quarters?

Sep 09, 2009 at 02:34 PM

Del Potro beats on an old horse!
Juan Martin del Potro was very impressive with his bashing of Juan Carlos Ferrero with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 victory.

At times Juan Carlos Ferrero just looked old. The legs had no spring in them, the strokes did not have bite or penetration, everything he did was gobbled up by a younger, more powerful, more present Del Potro.
'I have the confidence in the best moment,” said del Potro. “I beat many good players in Washington and Montreal, and now I beat good players on this surface. I have everything to do a good tournament. I am doing well, but I would like to be in the semis or in my first final.'

Sure, they all want to be in the semis and then the final, but first Del Potro will have to deal with a Marin Cilic that serves as well as he does and that seems intent on getting inside the court and pounding balls away!

Will Del Potro play the sidelines and make Cilic run or will he do what he often does - play the center of the court and risk a beating from Cilic?

This match-up, the way I see it, could hold the winner of the US Open or an extremely tired player ready for slaughter in the semis!

Cilic Sends Murray back to Scotland!

Marin Cilic played a crucial match in his young career that very much reminded me of a young Pete Sampras in the 1990 US Open, trashing his opponents one by one all the way to the title.

Will Marin Cilic do the same? By the way, he gave Andy Murray a one-way ticket back to Scotland, but for the title he may have to play a strong Roger Federer who moves faster than Cilic and who can match his power. It would be interesting to watch!

Nevertheless Del Potro has plenty to say before a clash between Federer and Cilic would ever happen!

No. 2 seed Murray said, “I just struggled today. I played poorly. I'm obviously very disappointed. I didn't find a way to get myself into the match. Normally the return is the one part of my game where even if the rest of my game is struggling, I find ways to break serve and get into points, and I didn't do that.”

Whatever Andy Murray's plans are, the answer is his woes do not lie just in that. The major hurdle the Scott will have in his career will be to develop a winning shot from his weak forehand! Yes he needs to be able to hit winners with the forehand, until he does, he will forever struggle at the slams.

A very shaky Nadal wins!

Rafael Nadal’s physical condition never concerned me, as a good athlete his getting back in top form is not a problem.

Nadal dismissed Gael Monfils with 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 but a lot of question marks popped into my mind as I watched the match unfold.

As in Madrid and in the French I saw far too many a topspin backhand being miss-hit and that is a sign of insecurity that Rafael will not be able to afford in the next three rounds if he wants to win the US Open as he says.

The Chilean Fernando Gonzalez, is a very big hurdle and if I read his game right he is not going to give Nadal the luxury to back up behind the baseline 3 or 4 meter and rally! No, that will be suicide for Nadal, but the courts are fast Gonzales is fast and has a huge forehand so Nadal will have to play inside the court which he does not like, so... we might be seeing a Gonzales in the semis!

Gonzalez Delights but Jo-Wilfred Tsonga Disappoints!

The Chilean Fernando Gonzalez deservingly defeating World No. 7 Jo-Wilfred Tsonga 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(3), 6-4 in a tight fought match to reach the US Open quarter-finals.

Jo-Wilfred Tsonga disappointed because there is a sense of lack of condition which is unforgivable at the professional level. You can lose for all other reasons but not lack of fitness!

The lack of continuous high level play and constant up and downs that at times were reflected in missing very easy volleys and many other shots including the return, are the tell-tale signs of an athlete that is either performing well above his limits or that is not fit enough!

It could be both, but since I saw it also at Roland Garros, my only advice to Tsonga is to hit the track and field, the road and the gym in a hurry!

In the meantime Gonzalez is ready for Nadal and I do not think he fears Nadals defensive skills or running. This is what Francisco said;

“It's going to be tough,” Gonzalez said. “In this time of the event…every time it's going to be a tougher match, especially Rafa is playing against Monfils, two great players. Rafa [has] much more experience in this kind of tournaments, but I have a lot of confidence. I have to be worrying about myself only. Try to make my best tennis, and that's it.”

Sorry for Rafael Nadal but I believe Gonzalez can do it!

Finally An Easy one For Djokovic!

After a very uncomfortable match against Jesse Witten where the American could have taken it into a miserable fifth set, Novak Djokovic's made it into the US Open quarter-finals with a comfortable win over 15th-seeded Czech Radek Stepanek 6-1, 6-3, 6-3
It may have been a case of misplaced contact lenses for Stepanek, but sure enough it was a very lopsided win for Djokovic who had his eyes focused on the quarter-finals!

“He improved his game drastically from last year,” said Djokovic about his upcoming challenger. “Forehand is obviously his strength and his weapon in the game. He's going to try to move me around the court and get a lot of free points there. But I guess I have to stay a bit closer to the line because I cannot be able to give him opportunity to have time to do whatever he wants with that shot. So I just have to be aggressive and hope for the best.”

That is just not enough Novak Djokovic, you will need to return fantastic, attack the second serves inside the court, serve very well and go for some big winners! Yep, Novak will not get a win from Verdasco unless some BIG tennis is played.

Verdasco defeats a dangerous Isner!

Isner was not an easy task for Fernando Verdasco and he must be very pleased he came out a winner without the need of a fifth set 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.

This was a large blow for American tennis. It marks the first time that no American tennis player had reached the men’s quarter-finals in US Open history. In my opinion there is a huge blunder in American junior development.

Anyway Verdasco made it and now faces a Novak Djokovic who feels has the upper hand and he might, but Verdasco is a lefty with a wicked forehand. This is a hard one to read, if Verdasco built on the match he played against Nadal at the Australian Open this year and plays a similar match, Djokovic could be boarding the airplane home in a couple of days!

Federer the Wunder Kind Does His Bit

What can I say about Roger Federer? If Lleyton Hewitt was a 'Lecker bissen' No. 14 seed Tommy Robredo with a 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 romping was dessert!
The right-hander is bidding to become the first man since Bill Tilden in 1925 to win a sixth straight US Open crown.

And Federer said this about his impressive 22nd straight Grand Slam semi-final streak:

'I guess when it snaps is when it's a pity. As long as it's going, you go with it. It's not something I aim for. I'm aiming for almost bigger, to be quite honest. I try to defend the title here, not just to reach another semi so my streak stays alive.'

The perfect Swiss is looking very strong and focused, Soderling is next and I almost feel sorry for him!

Unless Soderling does something radically different Roger is in the semis!

Soderling in a Good year!

Is it possible that Nikolay Davydenko's retirement with Soderling leading 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 could be a 'harbinger' of good things to come for Robin?

Unfortunately I have to say, no! It's just hard to fathom that someone with a 0 Record 11 against Federer will be a threat!

Sure enough all matches must be played and accidents can happen and in my view Roger would have to break a foot for Soderling to win!

Sergio Cruz

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