Sunday, January 24, 2010

Australian Open - Round of 16

Well by far the best 3rd round match was Uzbekistan's Evgeny Korolev vs. 2007 finalist Fernando Gonzalez from Chile. It was probably the best match of the tournament in terms of drama and quality of play. Both players were crushing the ball as two of the best forehands in the game were on display. Korolev took a tight first set in a tiebreak, but was broken quickly in the 2nd set, eventually losing 6-3. He dominated the 3rd set 6-1, crushing forehands and backhands, displaying power that only the top players in the game possess.

But Gonzo still remains one of the game's best, a solid top 15 talent who has vastly improved his defense and conditioning since his early years when he just relied on a crushing forehand. He took the 4th set, then got up an early break in the 5th, and finally took the match 6-4 in the 5th. The major difference in the match was Gonzo's variety. Korolev doesn't really have any variety to his shots, and is average at best at the net. Gonzo though, showed great touch with drop shots and slices, and played a very smart tactical match to advance to the 4th round here for the 3rd time in his career. But definitely watchout for Korolev, who turns 22 on Valentine's Day next month. I'd be shocked if Korolev (currently ranked 53) is not seeded at the US Open later this year. He can beat the big boys now.
So this brings us to the round of 16...let's look at the matchups:

Federer - Hewitt ---- Baghdatis didn't show up at all in his highly anticipated battle with Hewitt, leaving Hewitt well-rested and confident going into this showdown with the game's most dominant player. I do think Fed is vulnerable in this tourney, and would be surprised to see him take his 4th Aussie title, but I don't htink Hewitt will be the guy to take him out. Fed in 4 sets.

Verdasco - Davydenko ---- Davydenko is a cold-blooded assassin on the court, scrambling down every shot, and then hitting unreturnable, pin-point precise lasers. He's also the hottest player on tour right now, undefeated in 2010 and closing 2009 with a win at the Masters Series Champions event. Verdasco raised his game huge in 2009, losing to Nadal in an epic 5 setter in the semis here - maybe the best match of 2009. I think Davy takes him out in 5 sets.

Djokovic - Kubot ---- Kubot is ranked 86th in the world, and is 27 yrs old - a journeyman. Djokovic in 3 easy sets.

Tsonga - Almagro ---- Almagro is a talented Spaniard, but doesn't have enough speed or firepower to take out the 2008 finalist from France. Tsonga in 4 sets.

Roddick - Gonzalez ---- This should be interesting. This is the 12th meeting, with Roddick winning 8 of their first 11. They last met at the 2008 US Open where Roddick destroyed Gonzo 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 in the round of 16. I have a hunch Gonzo pulls the upset here in 5 sets. Either way, should be a fun one to watch.

Cilic - Del Potro ---- Great matchup, as these guys are destined to be big time rivals for many years. The both turn 22 in September this year, they are both 6' 6", and both very talented, top 10 players. They have met twice before, both times at Slams, and both times Cilic won the first set but then lost the next three. Del Potro doesn't look 100%, and I think this will be Cilic's first win vs. his rival - in 5 sets.

Murray - Isner ---- The tall (6' 9") American has really arrived, winning his first ATP event in a warmup tournament and seeded 28th here. Murray is Murray, a supremely talented, quick athlete who many are waiting upon to finally win a Slam. Isner takes one set here, but that's all - Murray in 4.

Karlovic - Nadal ---- The other giant on the tour, Ivo Karlovic (6' 10"), has made it to the 4th round of a slam for only the third time in 27 Grand Slam tournaments. Nadal will end his run 3 sets.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

US Open Mens Qualifying

The US Open starts Monday, but qualifying has already begun. Here's a glance at a few interesting notes...expect a main draw preview in the next few days.

Huge round 2 matchup - Grigor Dimitrov vs. Thomas Bellucci....too bad we can't have both these guys make the main draw...they should both be top 80 next year and get straight in.
Bellucci is the #1 seed.

Xavier Malisse lost in round 1, 6-1 in the 3rd to the #2 seed Zeballos, another Argentine. Other 'has been' names include Arnaud Clement (hasn't played yet), Gaston Gaudio (not played), Dominik Hrbaty - lost in straight sets to the one time promising young American Scoville Jenkins, and our favorite oddball American, Vince Spadea (not played).

If you were a fan of track & field in the mid 80's, you remember Sergey Bubka, who basically broke the pole vault record every other meet, it seemed. His son won his 1st round qualie match and plays Zeballos next. George Bastl, who's tennis claim to fame is beating 'the chimp' Pete Sampras at Wimby in 2002, got double-bageled by the immortal Roko Karanusic in round 1 - ouch!!

Finally, Carsten Ball, who came out of nowhere to make the finals in L.A. a month ago, won his first round match.

Monday, June 29, 2009

Wimbledon Round of 16

8 Matches...all interesting...here they are:

1. Hewitt-Stepanek...People think of Hewitt and Wimbledon as ancient history (2002), but his results since 2004 are QFs, SF, QFs, 4th, 4th. Lleyton takes down the awkward Stepanek.

2. Roddick-Berdych...this is Berdych's 3rd trip to the Round of 16 in his career, making the QFs in 2007. Nice resume for the tall Czech, but A-Rod's been to the finals twice - he'll move on.

3. Murray-Wawrinka...For the 2nd yr in a row, the 24 yr old Swiss #2 is in the round of 16. Murray, who made the 4th round here in 2006 as a 19 yr old, and QFs last year, will make this the 2nd yr in a row that Wawrinka goes down in the 4th.

4. Simon-Ferrero...JC F's Grand Slam wins since 2005 are the following: Aussie 8 match wins, French 7, Wimbledon 13, US Open 1. This is his best GS surface the last 4 yrs - a former clay champion making wise adjustments as he slows down. Simon is a legit top 10 talent, only 24 yrs old. This is a coin flip.

5. Haas-Andreev...What a revival for the 31 yr old German vet! He's in the 4th round here for the 2nd time in his career (2007), after scaring the daylights out of Fed in the 4th at Roland Garros last month. Ride the wave, Haas over the Russian in 4 sets.

6. Djokovic-Sela...Yes, Dudi Sela finally made a GS round of 16. Despite the funny first name, Sela is actually a rising young talent, also 24, who has steadily improved his ranking to inside the top 50 (46) now. That said, No Joke will show him the door.

7. Verdasco-Karlovic...For the 3rd time in the last 4 yrs, Verdasco has made the 4th round here. I think this will be the year he finally moves further. Amazingly, this is only the 2nd time that Karlovic has been in a GS 4th rnd match...and that was 5 years ago also at Wimby.

8. Federer-Soderling...How's this for a slam resume? Roger, when's the last time you didn't make the finals at Wimbledon? A: 2002. When's the last time you failed to make the semi's of any GS event? A: French in 2004. When is the last time you didn't win the US Open? A: 2003. Any success in Australia? A: 3 titles, made the semi's every year since 2003. As for the result of this match...see the French final a few weeks ago.