Novak Djokovic and Stanislas Wawrinka are two rounds away from a rematch of last year’s Australian Open epic. They first have to get past Denis Istomin and Vasek Pospisil, respectively, on Friday.
Denis Istomin vs. (2) Novak Djokovic
Djokovic and Istomin will be going head-to-head for the fourth time in their careers when they collide in the third round of the Australian Open on Friday. All three of their previous encounters have gone Djokovic’s way, but the most recent one was competitive; the Serb prevailed 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 last summer in Montreal. Djokovic, the three-time defending champion Down Under, is off to a solid start this fortnight and has extended his winning streak to 26 with routs of Lukas Lacko and Leonardo Mayer.
Istomin may not be a huge name on tour, but he is no stranger to the big stage. The 49th-ranked Uzbek is through to the last 32 of a Grand Slam for the sixth time in his career and he has been to the fourth round twice. Istomin lost a four-setter to Andy Murray in the fourth round of last summer’s U.S. Open and he battled Rafael Nadal in an extremely entertaining second-round U.S. Open showdown in 2010. The underdog will believe he can be competitive, but he won’t believe–nor should he–that he can actually win.
Pick: Djokovic in 3 losing 11-13 games
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(8) Stanislas Wawrinka vs. (28) Vasek Pospisil
Wawrinka does not need to be told that Pospisil is a serious question mark heading into this clash; the Swiss knows first-hand. They faced each other two weeks ago in the Chennai semifinals, when Pospisil’s back issues began. Trailing 6-4, 5-5, the 30th-ranked Canadian retired from that match and threw his Australian Open campaign in doubt. Pospisil recovered in time to dismiss both Samuel Groth and Matthew Ebden, but he struggled physically against Ebden.
Meanwhile, Wawrinka is riding high and in complete cruise-control. The eighth-seeded Swiss booked his spot in this stage of the event with routine scalps of Andrey Golubev (via second-set retirement) and Alejandro Falla. Wawrinka is now 6-0 in 2014, having captured the title in Chennai. Pospisil would be a considerable underdog in this one even at 100 percent, so an in-form Wawrinka has to be the pick.
Pick: Wawrinka in 3
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Reblogged this on Tennis Abides.
Pospisil WDed. Which was my real pick that i had to disguise as “Wawrinka in 3.”
creative
#YOU_ARE
I think djokovic may lose a set against Istomin but will come through to win 4-6 6-1 6-1 6-3
Bold but I like it
Istomin will play aggressive tennis. He’l go down the line on both wings often enough to trouble djokovic. To win a set ,he would obviously require some lapse from djokovic …..possible though ! he gave djokovic trouble in montreal… can do it again !
Istomin was ‘overaggressive’ at times in their last match…must try to strike a better balance… lets see if he can make this somewhat competitive
Big fan of the site Ricky, however I’m not particularly inspired by your predictions hit rate!
i’m way off my game so far this tournament!
^^^Hahaha! I for one am hoping Ricky’s mis-hits continue right up to the final!
vamosrafa,
I like your observation that Istomin was “overaggressive” at times in their last match. I had the exact same impression of him. I remember watching him at last year’s USO and thinking that he doesn’t know when to hold back and use the aggressive play opportunistically. It’s just hit hard, harder, hardest.
I also actually like Matt’s pick. It is bold. Good for him!
I will watch with interest to see if Istomin can take a set off Djoker.
yea NNY.. hard, harder and hardest is indeed how he goes about his business against good players… lets see how he does today…
Nando has lost to Gabashvilli
???
Rafa’s R2 post match conference. He looks OK to me:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sC-a3-vQ4w
This is the
://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGW2oL7OxUo&list=TLoM5D3sV4Mb6oQL-15sKRGbO3gKdqTT7q
Sorry, this is the Press Conference link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGW2oL7OxUo&list=TLoM5D3sV4Mb6oQL-15sKRGbO3gKdqTT7q
anderson over ERV
saved 1 MP
I caught the last half of the final set of the Anderson/ERV match. I was watching it on the ESPN3 stream. I don’t know who those announcers were but I was amused by the one commentator’s remark when ERV missed the volley on the first point when he was serving for the match. “What a gag.” He sure didn’t mince words.
It seems to have a mind of it’s own. Follow the above link and you will find it listed:
The Fog is two sets to love up against Querry… Fog-Djo will be boring
Blimey, it’s Ana Ivanovic who shoulda hired BB……..her volleying is awful.
haha…her volleys have always been bad…forehand is so destructive though…
I really like Ana, her professionalism, competitiveness and dedication to her craft. Gosh, she has the looks (a la Madame Sugarpova) to parlay for lucrative commercial deals but she has remained true to her craft. She revealed just recently she turned down a not so insignificant acting gig…….
Unfortunately for her she is running into Serena next, tall order……………
Oh Stosy……..
Djokovic strolling in for his practice session now……………..
I think Coach BB is already earning his keep here, Djoko hit a smash with aplomb and showed some silky volleying skills there…………..
we will see,no? When he is able consistently able to hit good volleys in response to 4500 rpm forehands , we will talk about it 😉
The writing is on the wall for Istomin. He’s already called the trainer.
couldn’t be less atmosphere in this istomin djokovic match. Say what you will about djokovic being a great player but he has no power over the crowd whatsoever.
he does at some tournaments. Maybe not Down Under.
RT @jon_wertheim: “Denis Istomin is the ultimate third-round-night-session-respectable-but-ultimately-unthreatening-opponent-to-the-stars”
A good hitting partner then, Jon?
That’s the thing with Istomin, like many journeymen before him, cannot pinpoint a part of his game which would trouble the big boys…………..
RT @SI_BTBaseline: “Big win for Tommy Robredo, ousts No. 9 Gasquet 26 75 64 76 to set up a 4R vs. Wawrinka. #ausopen”
To paraphrase @deucy: Crashquet………
#MyFan
#Humble
Gosh, are Djokovic’s forehands usually this flat?
Djokovic is showing he really understands the dimensions of this court, very few mistakes………
https://twitter.com/4AllSurfaces/status/424026985128812544/photo/1
#awkward
that was some shot!
Istomin just played 2 unreal points, both on the run, a FH and BH……….sumptious.
^^^should read, “sumptuous” you pollock………
djokovic getting angry that istomin is getting all the love from the crowd. He really is so needy for attention.
better get used to it. Crowd almost always likes an underdog (except in Federer matches).
From here on in, Federer IS the underdog.
hahaha best game of the match ! Istomin rocked
that’s the sacred 11th 😀
Djokovic is broken serving for the match……just doing it to save Ricky’s blushes, preserve Ricky’s prediction of games lost by Istoman.
RT @NeilHarmanTimes: “Can’t recall Djoko often losing serve when serving for the match under previous management.”
#Facepalm
Very poor from Djokovic. Even the Commies are chiding him for it. Let out an almighty roar after breaking Istoman to serve again for the match.
Istoman is a journeyman,he is injured and you are winning comfortably in spite of the last wobble, really necessary to do that?
….and the camera pans to Coach BB who beaming and clapping. Commies say maybe that is the kind of ‘tude BB told Djoko he wants to see.
Nice one from Neil! Lol.
Oh dear djokovic is death staring the crowd again. What is his problem.
at what point in the match? want to go back and watch.
why is he so excited???!!! he is going to beat some nobodies through to final! I mean what the hell wrong is with him!?
there are a lot of boos and whistles for djokovic at the end of that match. Cant remember a number 1 that evoked such crowd dislike than djokovic.
why?
#Lendl
#Humb1
#Noles-Not-Number-1-ble
Er, correction, Mr Djokovic is a #2, not #1. Unless you meant to say a former #1……..
Nadal-Monfils and other Day 6 picks – https://tenngrand.com/2014/01/17/australian-open-day-6-picks-including-nadal-vs-monfils-and-raonic-vs-dimitrov/
Not a fan of Djokovic’s “Star Trek” on court kit but that jacket rocks!
just watched Istomin-Djoker. Istomin may have done Rafa a solid by helping to get the crowd against Djoker.
#Maybe
#ProbablyNot
Still do not understand what the fuss was all about from Djokovic. I would have thought he had learnt his lessons from that Madrid debacle.