The Grandstand goes head-to-head with Bleacher Report, as they weigh in with their picks for the best Friday matchups at the Australian Open.
(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (31) Radek Stepanek
The Grandstand: Djokovic isn’t exactly in Maria Sharapova mode, but to say he is in cruise control would be an understatement. The top-ranked Serb has not lost a set through two rounds and he dropped a mere six games in total against Ryan Harrison on Wednesday night. It would not be unfair to say that Stepanek’s thrashing of Feliciano Lopez proved that Spain going with Lopez instead of Nicolas Almagro in last fall’s Davis Cup final would not have made any difference. But that’s the only statement in made. Djokovic, of course, is a much different beast than Lopez. This one won’t be competitive. Djokovic 6-2, 6-4, 6-3.
Bleacher Report: Roddick? I thought he may have been considering retirement last summer, but it looks like he opted against it. And much to the chagrin of Jockovitch, too, because the American has a clear edge in this one. Roddick, a three-time Australian Open champion, will be able to dictate points with a powerful backhand and aggressive net play. Furthermore, he wants to avenge a previous Melbourne meeting in which Roddick was forced to retire due to a serve case of bird flu (diagnosed and confirmed by Dr. Sanjay Gupta). Jockovitch, still in search of his first slam title, is mired in a prolonged slump and he just barely scraped past Christian Harrison on Wednesday. Roddick 6-2, 6-2.
(4) David Ferrer vs. (28) Marcos Baghdatis
The Grandstand: This isn’t as bad as having to face each other in the second round, but it’s still too early for the world No. 5 to be facing the 2006 Australian Open runner-up. Alas, that is the hand we–and more importantly they–have been dealt. Baghdatis upset Ferrer 4-6, 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-1 three years ago, but the Spaniard won’t stand for that this time around. Ferrer, although not yet in peak form this season, is showing no signs of slowing down. He is favored to reach the semifinals and he is not going to let that opportunity slip away in the first week. Ferrer 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.
Bleacher Report: Ferrer, who is bidding to reach the fifth round for the second time in his career, is still a formidable opponent, but he is starting to wear down at 35 years old. Baghdatis, the only man from Greece ever to win a Grand Slam title, is starting to emerge as a serious force and he looked awesome against Go Soeda in round two. Count on this being an extremely competitive serve-fest, but Baghdatis’ supremely steady mental game should prove to be the difference in a fifth-set tiebreaker. Baghdatis 0-6, 7-5, 6-0, 1-6, 7-6(12).
(8) Janko Tipsarevic vs. (32) Julien Benneteau
The Grandstand: These two also faced each other in the third round of last year’s French Open, with Tipsarevic cruising 6-3, 7-5, 6-4. Both players are coming off tough second-rounders on Wednesday; Benneteau against fellow Frenchman Edouard Roger-Vasselin and Tipsarevic against an inspired Lukas Lacko. Tipsarevic took a medical timeout in the fifth set against Lacko, but medical timeouts are not news when they are taken by Tipsarevic. Assuming the Serb is 100 percent, he should take care of business like he did against Benneteau in 2012. Tipsarevic 7-5, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2.
Bleacher Report: Tipsarevic eased past Lukas Rosol on Wednesday and he is accustomed to Austrian Open success (he once beat Roger Federer 10-8 in the sixth set), so you have to like his chances. That being said, Benneteau captured his 21st career ATP title earlier this season in Sydney. Afterward, he announced, “there’s no stopping me,” and that he feels “unstoppable.” Unless another armadillo comes onto his tennis court (just as one did at the U.S. Open last summer) and stops him, the Frenchman should roll. Benneteau 8-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1.
(10) Nicolas Almagro vs. (24) Jerzy Janowicz
The Grandstand: This one is absolutely must-see. The serving and hitting will be absolutely huge, the screams will be heard all the way in Rod Laver Arena, and the fist pumps will register on the Ana Ivanovic Scale. As for the outcome, Almagro should have the edge. The Spaniard routed countryman Daniel Gimeno-Traver in round two and he has far more experience at this point of Grand Slams. Janowicz survived a thriller against Somdev Devvarman in which the towering Pole suffered a major meltdown, stormed back from two sets down, then almost collapsed late in the fifth–yes, all in one match. Almagro 6-7(5), 7-6(4), 7-5, 6-3.
Bleacher Report: Just as it did for Fernando Verdasco in 1998, a Davis Cup title appears to be propelling Almagro to new heights. After winning the decisive Davis Cup rubber last fall, Almagro had an epic triumph over Roddick in the final of the prestigious Miami exhibition. Alas, this is a tough matchup for the Argentine. Janowicz reached the French Open final last year and he triple-bageled India’s Devvarman Somdev on Wednesday. Janowicz 6-2, 5-5, 6-4.
(15) Stanislas Wawrinka vs. (20) Sam Querrey
The Grandstand: Both previous meetings between Wawrinka and Querrey have gone the distance. The Swiss has emerged victorious both times; 2-6, 7-5, 7-6(8) at the Indian Wells Masters and 7-6(9), 6-7(5), 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 at the 2010 U.S. Open. Querrey, the highest-ranked American in the draw, may not even be here had it not been for Brian Baker’s devastating knee injury in the second round. Baker won the first set before being forced to retire. Based on head-to-head history, a slight edge in current form, and a relative lack of pressure, Wawrinka gets the nod. Wawrinka 6-3, 3-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-3.
Bleacher Report: Querrey, widely recognized as the most exciting player on tour, is coming off an incredible performance against Baker in the fourth round. His confidence will be off the charts after such a dominant showing. In fact, it was so good that there really isn’t even any point in talking about Wawrinka. Querrey 3-6, 4-6, 6-1.
(22) Fernando Verdasco vs. Kevin Anderson
The Grandstand: Verdasco is no stranger to five-setters Down Under and this screams five-setter louder than Janowicz’s “How many times” tirade. The Spaniard overcame David Goffin in a five-set opener before easing past a hobbled Xavier Malisse on Wednesday. Anderson, meanwhile, is in outstanding form. The 6’8” South African finished runner-up to Bernard Tomic in Sydney and he has dropped only a single set so far in Melbourne. Verdasco 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(5), 2-6, 6-4.
Bleacher Report: Gonzo! Fernando’s two-handed backhand is the most feared weapon in the sport. It helped the Chili destroy Rafael Nadal, Tommy Haas, and Roger Federer en route to the 2011 Australian Open title. As that year showed, the clay courts of Melbourne are perfect for Gonzo’s game. This is a bad matchup for Andersen, a diminutive North African who relies entirely on his defense. Gonzalez 6-1, 6-1, 6-1, 6-1, 6-1.
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