The Grandstand’s Ricky Dimon and Joey Hanf of The Tennis Nerds preview and pick the best men’s singles matchups on Day 4 of the Australian Open. This is the fourth of 13 installments of expert picks during the season’s first Grand Slam.
Yen-Hsun Lu vs. (22) Grigor Dimitrov
Ricky: Don’t look now, but Yen-Hsun Lu is one of the hottest players on tour. Chinese Taipei’s top player boasts a 6-1 record this season and he was the best man–by a decent margin–from start to finish in Auckland (John Isner struggled all week but served his way out of trouble against Lu to win a competitive final). Lu, who destroyed countryman Jimmy Wang on Tuesday, should benefit in hot conditions against Dimitrov. The Bulgarian’s fitness has always been a question mark, as is his ability to play five-setters. Lu 6-4, 2-6, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-2.
Joey: This one should be fun to watch. It pits Grigor’s new “no-nonsense” approach with coach Roger Rasheed against one of the most in-form players on tour, Rendy Lu. The key factor for Lu is to get in as many backhand-to-backhand rallies as possible, in which he has the advantage. Everywhere else Dimitrov holds the edge, and in the end I think the Bulgarian’s big serve will win him a lot of free points in big moments. Dimitrov 7-6(4), 6-3, 2-6, 7-5.
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Marin Cilic vs. (18) Gilles Simon
Ricky: Simon transformed Melbourne into Sparta on Tuesday evening. The Frenchman arrived at the Australian Open on crutches, but–after being expected to withdraw from the event–he turned in an absolute warrior performance against Daniel Brands. Incredibly, he saved seven match points before prevailing 16-14 in the fifth. Cilic also needed five sets, but he arguably has even more momentum after storming back from two sets down against Marcel Granollers. Simon should not be doubted after what he did in round one…but I’m going to doubt him anyway. Cilic 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-4, 6-1.
Joey: I didn’t think Simon would be playing his first-round match against Daniel Brands, let alone winning it 16-14 in the fifth. Cilic came back from two sets to love down to beat Granollers. This one has five sets written all over it–if Simon can manage his ankle injury. Cilic has been playing more aggressively to start 2014 and his serve should be the difference in this one, which could take a very long time. Cilic 6-4, 6-7(4), 7-5, 4-6, 7-5.
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(27) Benoit Paire vs. Nick Kyrgios
Ricky: The future may be now for the 18-year-old Kyrgios. He has a huge game and a great draw Down Under. The Australian already capitalized once by dismissing Benjamin Becker and although Paire is way more talented than Becker, the Frenchman rarely maximizes his talent. Kyrgios is going to want this one more, and what is sure to be a raucous crowd will be quick to jump on any unnecessary antics by Paire. Kyrgios 7-6(6), 2-6, 6-1, 7-6(5).
Joey: The crowd will be rocking in this one. The young Kyrgios has some serious game. A big serve and monstrous groundstrokes make him extremely dangerous. Paire might be the most up-and-down player I’ve ever seen; if nothing else, he’s exciting to watch. Expect Paire to drop-shot the teenager without end. The only thing that concerns me about Kyrgios is a shoulder injury he is nursing. But in front of his home crowd, the adrenaline should minimize that pain. Kyrgios 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-2.
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(24) Andreas Seppi vs. Donald Young
Ricky: Speaking of warriors saving match point, Seppi surprised the home crowd by holding off an in-form Lleyton Hewitt on Tuesday afternoon. The Italian survived 7-5 in the fifth after thwarting a match point with an ace at 4-5 in the decider. That effort may take just a little bit out of Seppi, but he rarely has trouble staying on the tennis court all day long. He is content to play long point after long point and should have too much consistency for an erratic Young. Seppi 5-7, 6-3, 6-3, 6-4.
Joey: After taking out Hewitt in a five-set marathon, you might think Seppi will have some sort of letdown in this one. However, he is playing the much-denounced Young, so anything could happen. Young has been playing well on the Challenger circuit for the last seven months and he’s started 2014 well, taking a set off David Ferrer in Auckland. The lefty forehand could give Seppi some trouble, but Young doesn’t have anywhere near the composure and confidence of the Italian. Seppi 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, 6-1.
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who u got?
Reblogged this on Tennis Abides.
Dimi, Cili, Pairi and Seppi
I am going back and forth with Lu and Dimitrov. Normally I would just pick Dimi, but Lu seems to be playing some outstanding tennis. Oh well, I will go with Joey and pick Dimi in four sets.
Cilic in four sets. I will also go with Kyrgios in four. Also Seppi in four. Still on the four sets kick!
HEAT RULE
Sharapova and Knapp still going…over 3 hours now. Brutal conditions.
this Knapp is good
Yes, they have invoked the heat rule -not matches on outdoor courts.
It’s supposed to be about 120 degrees Fahrenheit on the court itself.
Is this match ever going to end? Doesn’t Rafa come on next?
No, Wozniacki and McHale are after this. Then Rafa. And here for once I thought I’d be able to watch him at a decent time.
Wozniack-McHale will last for at least 5 hours
Plus there’ll be the extra delay after this match while they close the roof.
we got at least 4-5 hours before the Kokk Zero match.
I didn’t want to stay up late tonight. I had hopes that I might get to see Rafa at a decent time. I have to get up kind of early tomorrow.
I can’t believe there is another women’s match now.
When are they closing the roof? Now?
Yep, closing the roof now. I bet it’ll be 4-5 hours before Rafa takes the court. They have to close the roof, but they also have to get the ventilation system going. Then it’s also possible after the next match that they would re-open the roof, since by then the temp/humidity factor will have dropped. That would be a further delay.
Woz needs to win in straights
Kokk is the kind of player who go for broke and throws caution to the wind against Rafa.
Vamos Rafa!
Woz doing us a favor
#NeedForSpeed
#RickyBobby
Rafa is playing under the roof.
Vamos Rafa
may give Tennessee an extra game or 2
Good serving by Rafa!
this kid has some game
break to Rafito
Rafito. 🙂
Fed looking good
hows rafa playing?
solid. letting the kid miss.
2 breaks to R. Nadal of Spain
Rafa looks ready for this kid. He is returning serve very well.
kid has to just guess where Rafa is gonna hit his groundstrokes. has no chance to reach them without guessing.
Yes, I noticed that the kid doesn’t seem to know where Rafa is going to hit the ball. He’s kind of lost out there at this point. I wondered why he wasn’t moving and then I realized that he was trying to figure out where Rafa would hit the ball and was wrong!
Rafa is absolutely sledgehammering his backhand
1st Rafa -: 62
woow, good to hear that Rafa is solid on the backhand
Kokkinakis looks like he’s on the beach wearing those shorts.
rafa is hitting all the spots so well with his serve..