U.S. Open Tennis Quarterfinals Preview
By Jamie Lay (Posted Sept. 3, 2008)
Rafael Nadal vs. Mardy Fish
Nadal defeated
Bjorn Phau (7-6, 6-3, 7-6)
Ryler DeHeart (6-1, 6-2, 6-4)
Viktor Troicki (6-4, 6-3, 6-0)
Sam Querrey (6-2, 5-7, 7-6, 6-3).
Fish defeated
Robert Smeets (7-6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4)
Paul-Henri Mathieu (6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4)
James Blake (6-3, 6-3, 7-6)
Gael Monfils (7-5, 6-2, 6-2)
I’d really like to give Mardy Fish a legitimate chance against Rafael Nadal but it’s difficult. Fish is 0-4 vs. the Spaniard and hasn’t beaten one of the top three (Federer, Nadal, Djokovic) since March when he upset Roger Federer at Indian Wells. Fish is playing well – I wouldn’t take that away from him – but he’s cruised through a relatively easy draw. He defeated two Frenchmen, who might look more comfortable at Talladega Superspeedway than the hard courts of the Billy Jean King Tennis Center, James Blake, who appeared tired from the Olympics, and Robert Smeets, the No. 154 player in the world.
Andy Roddick, friend and fellow quarterfinalist, said Fish must stick to his game – moving into the net and volleying – if wants to compete with Nadal.
“Well, Mardy's going to have to serve well,” said Roddick. “That's first and foremost, and he has been. Mardy's going to – I'm sure he's going to be getting in on everything. He's not going to want to sit back there and have a lot of long rallies. But this court is playing quick enough that if he can serve well, he's got to try to make it a match. Once you're in the trenches, then who knows?”
Nadal’s extreme forehand grip gives every ball he hits unbelievable topspin but it also makes it difficult for him to pick up a low slice. As he has developed his all-around game this year, Nadal has improved upon this, but it’s one of his only vulnerabilities. Fish is realistic but believes he can attack it.
“He doesn't miss,” Fish said. “I'm not going to last out there against him. He's going to last a lot longer than me. I knew that against most guys these days I'm going to try to keep the points as short as possible, try to come to the net.
"The courts are quick,” he continued, “They move through the court. I felt like on the second serve returns he went to my forehand almost every time on the deuce side, and I was able to chip that pretty low and kind of knife it through the court, kind of down the middle of the court. The ball stays pretty low, and it's a tough shot for anybody to come up with a pass from that position.”
Juan Del Potro vs. Andy Murray
Del Potro defeated
G. Canas (4-6, 7-6, 6-4, 6-1)
T. Bellucci (4-6, 6-1, 7-5, 6-3)
G. Simon (6-4, 6-7, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3)
K. Nishikori (6-3, 6-4, 6-3)
Murray defeated
S. Roitman (6-3, 6-4, 6-0)
M. Llorda (6-4, 1-6, 7-5, 7-6)
J. Melzer (6-7, 4-6, 7-6, 6-1, 6-3)
S. Wawrinka (6-1, 6-3, 6-3)
Andy Murray won the ATP Masters Series Cincinnati two weeks ago upsetting Novak Djokovic in the finals, his second win over the lad in two weeks. He also beat him at the ATP Masters Series Canada and has proven to be a solid player on hard courts. The only player – less Nadal – with more momentum rolling into the quarterfinals is Argentine Juan Del Potro, unbeaten in his last 23 matches.
Much has been made about the supposed rivalry between the two players – “Murray accused Del Potro of firing a volley straight at his head when the two players met in Rome in May and Murray was angered because his opponent did not apologize. Then during a change of ends the pair exchanged words, with Argentinean Del Potro launching an insult about Murray's mother.” – but Murray insisted there is no bad blood. He is more concerned with Del Potro right now.
“Del Potro doesn't miss a whole a lot. He moves pretty well for a big guy. You know, he does everything good,” Murray said. “He's got a good crosscourt backhand and, you know, he just hits the ball hard and solid and doesn't make a whole a lot of mistakes.
This afternoon match between the two, who might one day challenge Federer and Nadal, is expected to extend well into the night.
Andy Roddick vs. Novak Djokovic
Roddick defeated
F. Santoro (6-2, 6-2, 6-2)
E. Gulbris (3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 7-5)
A. Seppi (6-2, 7-5, 7-6)
F. Gonzalez (6-2, 6-4, 6-1)
Djokovic defeated
Clement (6-3, 6-3, 6-4)
R. Kendrick (7-6, 6-4, 6-4)
M. Cilic (6-7, 7-5, 6-4, 7-6)
T. Robredo (4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3)
Andy Roddick is pissed. He’s tired of listening to everyone whisper, “He’s good, but his best years are done.” That’s not something he wants to hear anymore. This match tonight against Novak Djokovic is Roddick’s opportunity to rally the American faithful firmly behind him and make another run at the US Open.
“Roddick, we all know, he's former U.S. Open champion, couple times Grand Slam finalist, of course, and No. 1,” said Djokovic. “He has all the things under his belt that he needs to have. He's playing in front of his crowd, on his favorite tournament.”
Of the top 3 players in the world, Roddick has the best chance of upsetting Djokovic. The last time they faced one another on hard courts in Dubai, Roddick won. It helps too, that Roddick is playing wonderfully and he is rested from skipping the Olympics. On the other hand, Djokovic is suffering from a number of ailments that may affect his game.
“I think more than anything I had a full week to prepare here for the first time in a long time,” Roddick said. “I think that helped.”
Against the dark sky tonight, the stars will be perfectly aligned for a Roddick victory, and we’ll see how far he has come.
Gilles Muller vs. Roger Federer
Muller defeated
L. Recouderc (6-4, 6-0, 4-6, 6-4)
T. Haas (2-6, 2-6, 7-6, 6-3, 6-3)
N. Almagro (6-7, 3-6, 7-6, 7-6, 7-5)
N. Davydenko (6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6)
Federer defeated
M. Gonazlez (6-3, 6-0, 6-3)
T. Avles (6-3, 7-5, 6-4)
R. Stepanek (6-2, 6-3, 6-3)
I. Andreev (6-7, 7-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3)
Last week a friend offered qualifier Gilles Muller a ticket to tonight’s NY Giants-Washington Redskins game. He passed on the ticket thinking he would have already left New York, a first or second round loser. To his surprise, and many others, Muller faces Roger Federer in the quarterfinals.
“It's really crazy. I wasn't thinking about it myself, to be here the second week, and Thursday of the Grand Slam,” Muller said. “I was used to watching second week, and especially quarterfinals, from home, I mean, on my sofa, watching on TV. Now I'm here, and I'm in it.”
Federer isn’t taking Muller lightly. He is well known for upsetting Andre Agassi at the 2004 Legg Mason Tennis Classic, Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon in 2005 and Andy Roddick at the US Open.
“I'm definitely aware of how well he's playing,” Federer said. “I saw a little bit how he plays. He played aggressive. Serves well. He didn't beat Andy for nothing here a few years ago. That's why I definitely won't underestimate him because he's a good player.”
Now that Federer has, in many ways, lost his aura of invincibility, qualifiers like Muller recognize he is beatable. In Federer’s five-set 4th round match with Igor Andreev his feverish double fist pump in the fourth set contrasted his usually calm demeanor on the court. I think he felt a genuine sense of triumph and he is finally accepting the challenge of having to prove he is the best player in the world.
Muller presents Federer with an interesting challenge but Federer appears unstoppable, for the first time since losing the No. 1 spot, ready to begin his next reign.