Ricky Dimon of the Grandstand and Pete Ziebron of Tennis Acumen preview and pick the two men’s singles matches on Tuesday at the Australian Open. Tomas Berdych is looking to upset nemesis Rafael Nadal while Nick Kyrgios hopes to continue his magical run at the expense of Andy Murray.
(7) Tomas Berdych vs. (3) Rafael Nadal
Ricky: How many people are going to fall into the trap and pick this one to be extremely competitive–if not pick Berdych to win altogether? I already know a lot of people are…and I’m expecting more and more to do so before the match starts. The Czech’s style is one that should trouble Nadal and his form at this Australian Open has been scary. But…but…we’ve seen this story before and we know how the story ends. Berdych is 0-17 in his last 17 matches against Nadal and on more than a few occasions he was playing incredible tennis prior to meeting the Spaniard. The best among a plethora of examples is Wimbledon in 2010, when Berdych took Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer to the woodshed in consecutive rounds then promptly lost to Nadal in straights in the championship. It doesn’t help the underdog that Nadal has dominated two matches since his second-round scare against Tim Smyczek. Berdych knows he can’t beat Nadal. HOW MANY TIMES must Nadal beat him before everyone else figures out the same thing? Nadal 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.
Pete: Berdych, my pre-tournament dark horse selection, comes into his quarterfinal match against Nadal having not dropped a set through the first four rounds. Berdych is appearing in his fifth consecutive Australian Open quarterfinal and he hopes to at least equal last year’s semifinal berth with a win. However, the Czech has dropped 17 consecutive matches to Nadal and has only managed to win three of 40 sets played in those contests. Nadal’s five-set, second-round thriller against Smyczek seems like long ago and now the Spaniard will seek to continue the form he showed against Kevin Anderson in the round of 16, when he cruised to a straight-set win. Berdych will manage to stay with Nadal early on and have opportunities to do damage, but it will be business as usual once again for Nadal in this lopsided matchup. Nadal 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, 6-3.
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(6) Andy Murray vs. Nick Kyrgios
Ricky: Murray and Kyrgios have no such extensive head-to-head history, of course, since the Aussie is really in just his second season on tour. In their only previous encounter, Kyrgios was still in a twilight zone after Wimbledon and got clobbered by Murray 6-2, 6-2 in Toronto. It won’t be so lopsided this time around with the youngster in outstanding form and enjoying circus-like crowd support. But Kyrgios has been tested physically throughout this tournament and mentally he has had plenty to think about (minor controversy over his on-court antics, for example). His awesome run this fortnight has been predicated on winning free points in the most important moments. He won’t win many of those against the Scot. Murray 7-6(6), 7-5, 6-1.
Pete: At the ripe age of 19, Kyrgios finds himself in his second quarterfinal in the last three majors. The Aussie has been able to meander his way through a tricky draw, finally steadying his game late in his first-round match and then escaping yet again in the round of 16 as he staged a dramatic, five-set victories in both. Murray, a three-time Australian Open finalist, has taken a much more efficient route into this quarterfinal. The Brit had not been threatened in the tournament until the fourth round, when Dimitrov nearly took him to a fifth set. The battle-tested Kyrgios will feed off of the boisterous crowd at Rod Laver Arena, but it will certainly not be nearly enough against the experience and craftiness of Murray, who will relish this particular challenge and gladly play the villain role. Murray 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4.
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I think Stan will beat Nishikori. I wasn’t impressed with Nishikori’s performance against Ferrer today. They both played ping pong catch me if you can and most of the games went to several deuces.
This is Robbie Koenig’s offering on what he thinks will happen between Nadal and Berdych. They’ve dug up footage from the 2008 SF where Tsonga beat Nadal as evidence.
http://www.ausopen.com/en_AU/video/index.html?id=8c8pqz066tztje_gmti7fn4f77y9dhwx
Unbelievable, am watching BBC Sport and who do they have as a pundit to assess the men’s quarters: Tim Smycek! Why? Because he nearly beat Rafa………..
you must be kidding…hilarious…where does this world go?!..
Rafa is the man. Just taking a set off him makes a player for life. This is why players go all out against him something the other top players don’t have to put up with. Anderson has beaten Djokovic and Murray, but no mention of that ever, but they were gunning for it yesterday so Anderson can join the Nadal gravy train. Coric got an award for beating a sick Nadal, because I’m struggling to think what exactly he’s done to get that award.
Djokovic must feel ignored. Even beating Federer doesn’t cut it. Stan beat a fully fit Djoker at the AO last year and all they mention is his win over an injured Rafa.
EPIC
what’s more important? selling airtime and viewed pages or accuracy and attempts at objectivity?
what did Smee say?
He looked bemused, like, “why am I here?”! Yes, they asked him to assess Rafa’s game since he last played him, yes, you heard that right……………………..
He said Rafa has improved, blah, blah, blah. To be honest I was in too much shock at seeing him on my screen than actually listen to what he was saying. He was laughing a lot too…………
Too funny………….
Off to bed, get some shut eye so I can get up early to watch Rafa/Berd……………..
Berdych has won 3 sets in his 17 straight losses while losing 37 sets to Rafa. He hasn’t managed more than a set in a year against Rafa.. 1 in 2011 (Miami), 1 in 2012 (Australia), 1 in 2013 (WTF). 0 from 2007-2010. Australia was the only time he won the opening set.
Berdych is 1-16 in his last 17 sets. 0-17 in his last 17 matches.
Just wondering if there is any reason there are so many rafa fans on here. I am a Murray fan but it just suprises me how many rafa fans there are on here. PS Murray in 3
not sure? I mean, it’s not an anti-Rafa site, so why shouldn’t site!?!? but yes, it’s not a Rafa site either (aside from the majority of posters) so I’m not sure why….
basically there were all parties at Tennistalk, but only the Rafans merged when I moved from TT to Grandstand.
but if you could corral some Murray fans over here that would be outstanding! 😛
Yes, Elliot that would be excellent!
I will do my best to try and get some more Murray fans over here so that there is a slightly more balanced spread of supporters posting on here. Also do you think that Murray will beat Rafa if that is the semi on Thursday
Some of us rafans here are also murray fans, btw, including me.
I’m a Murray fan!! despite my handle. I love his personality too, and especially love Maggie May.
ditto to the dog
Elliott,
By all means get some Murray fans over here! It would make for some great discussion! I like Murray, but don’t love some of his on court behavior. I thought that Lendl’s influence could be seen as Murray was doing less of the screaming and cursing and yelling. But I guess it’s part of who he is and how he rolls.
Murray is playing much better now than he was last year. It’s nice to see him coming back to some good form. I think he will handle Kyrgios in three or four sets. He will be ready for the crowd. It seems that Murray likes to be the villain in the match!
natashao,
Great point as to who would we choose out of those potential quarterfinal opponents! That puts it in perspective. I just tend to get really nervous at this point in slams.
I cannot believe that Koenig is digging up Rafa’s loss to Tsonga at the 2008 AO to make his case as to why Rafa will lose now in 2014 to Berdy! Unbelievable! That’s kind of desperate. Rafa’s game has evolved so much since then and he has handled Tsonga with ease, also the likes of Sod after that one-off loss at the 2009 RG due to Rafa’s knees. Rafa has proven that he has the answers to guys who are supposed to give him trouble. Koenig is making himself look even more ridiculous than usual.
where did Koenig do this?
and BTW no way Murray is losing to Kyrgios…Andy in three fairly easy sets…
Ricky,
Here is the link that nadline posted regarding Koenig using footage of Rafa’s loss to Tsonga at the 2008 AO.
http://www.ausopen.com/en_AU/video/index.html?id=8c8pqz066tztje_gmti7fn4f77y9dhwx
Reply
The first time I watched the clip there was some footage of Tsonga but it had disappeared the next time I watched it.
Thanks for letting me know because I watched this one and couldn’t find anything about Rafa’s loss to Tsonga. But just listening to Koenig’s reasoning was more than enough! This guy kills me!
it ends at 17…Berdych in 4…and Murray in 3.
I’m mindful that nothing is written in stone; look what happened in the final last year when Rafa seemed to have it on his racquet then his back played up. If Rafa is fit and healthy, then Berdy is going to find it hard going.
RT @Dimonator : “i really like Patrick McEnroe’s pick of Berdych to beat Nadal……..if they were racing Alaskan dog sleds in the Iditarod”
Love Rick’s comment in answer to PMac’s pick of Berdy. They started off the broadcast on ESPN tonight with PMac using Vitas Gerulaitis’ famous quote about nobody beating him seventeen times in a row. Cute! So he is predicting that Rafa will lose to Berdy. It’s not exactly a surprise coming from a guy who is an unabashed Fed fan. He’d love to see Rafa get bounced out.
I hope that Rafa makes him eat those words!
Rumble in the jungle…….
Bull on court.
Gosh, how I missed these moments: sweaty palms, racing heartbeat……….all because Rafa is on court, about to play a match!!
Vamos Champion!!!!
I know. I try to stay calm but always nervous before Rafa starts a match.
points so far. Berd 5, Rafa 0.
Mo in charge……..
40-0
Berdych holds to love
Some commie says that Valverdu would have passed on some gem to Berdych from his time with Llendl on Murray’s team. You couldn’t make it up. Incidentally, Murray and Rafa never played when Lendl was in charge.
Koenig coaching Berdy………….
on what channel is he commentating?
PMac is driving me crazy with his commentary. I wish they kept him with the women’s matches. His bias gets in the way. He’s talking up Berdy like he’s the greatest thing since sliced bread.
Rafa’s FH not clicking yet……….
one-way traffic so far
some god awful returning, even by Nadal’s standards