Paris QF previews and picks: Del Potro vs. Federer, Djokovic vs. Wawrinka

November 1, 2013 Ricky Match previews 0

Juan Martin Del Potro and Roger Federer will be facing each other for the second time in six days when they meet again on Friday in Paris. Novak Djokovic and Stanislas Wawrinka are also looking for a place in the semifinals.

(5) Roger Federer vs. (4) Juan Martin Del Potro

Del Potro and Federer will be squaring off for the 19th time in their careers and for the second time in six days when they collide again in the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Masters on Friday afternoon. Federer leads the head-to-head series 13-5, but all five of Del Potro’s wins have come on hard courts compared to eight for Federer. The Argentine has won three in a row in the series after beating Federer 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-4 in the Basel title match on Sunday.

Both men have continued to win in Paris as they heard toward next week’s World Tour Finals. Del Potro, also a champion in Tokyo and the runner-up in Shanghai, booked his spot in the last eight by taking out Marin Cilic and Grigor Dimitrov. Federer advanced with straight-set dismissals of Kevin Anderson and Philipp Kohlschreiber. The fifth-seeded Swiss does not have home-court advantage this time around, but at some point fatigue has to catch up to Del Potro. If it happens sooner rather than later in Paris, it would not be such a bad thing because it would give the world No. 5 at least some rest before London.

Pick: Federer in 3

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(7) Stanislas Wawrinka vs. (2) Novak Djokovic

Wawrinka and Djokovic will be meeting for the 16th time in their careers and for the third time this season. Their two previous 2013 encounters were memorable, to say the least. Djokovic prevailed both times, but not without huge struggles. He scored a 1-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-7(5), 12-10 victory at the Australian Open before persevering for a 2-6, 7-6(4), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win in the U.S. Open semifinals. Overall, the head-to-head series is not exactly so competitive. The Serb has won 13 of their 15 matches, including 12 in a row and eight of nine on hard courts.

Since losing in New York two days later to Rafael Nadal, Djokovic is a perfect 14-0 with titles in Beijing and Shanghai. So far in Paris, the world No. 2 has dismissed Pierre-Hugues Herbert and John Isner–losing one set to Isner in the process. Wawrinka, who clinched a berth in London on Thursday, has defeated Feliciano Lopez and Nicolas Almagro. While his record against Djokovic is not encouraging, the eighth-ranked Swiss has to take heart from his showings in this year’s thrillers. Wawrinka is due for a win, and if he puts in first serves while also firing on point with his one-handed backhand, he can disrupt Djokovic’s timing on an indoor hard court. Don’t be shocked if the underdog finally gets over the hump and gives Djokovic a head start to London.

Pick: Wawrinka in 3

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137 Comments on Paris QF previews and picks: Del Potro vs. Federer, Djokovic vs. Wawrinka

    • Would be nice indeed! Rafafans could open the No 1 bottle of champagne, then. But my gut tells me, we have a little longer to wait. Hope, my gut is wrong, as it often is 🙂 .

      Reply

      • My gut seems to be on song today 🙁
        But honestly, Wawa hasn’t played great lately. And he’s saving himself for London, lol!

        Reply

  4. Oh please…………..get off the court, Wawa if this is your idea of game………….

    Go pack for London, we know that’s where your heart’s at already…….

    Reply

    • At least we haven’t got Jaw Dropping Koenig but one of the commies has called Djokovic The Best Player In the World. Way WaWa is playing anybody would look good against him.

      The crowd will get really nasty if he goes on like that. They want a battle.

      Reply

  5. Apparently, Djokovic looks scary good out there, is this true Rafans?

    RT @NeilHarmanTimes: “There is something about Nole today #frightening”

    I mean, should we order the hemlock?

    Reply

  6. The purring continues……………

    RT @NeilHarmanTimes: “The best set of tennis I’ve seen from Djokovic for quite a while. Ruthless”

    RT @bgtennisnation: “@NeilHarmanTimes playing lights out with a sence that he can run table next 2 weeks to have shot at #1”

    Rafa’s quaking in his boots…………not.

    Reply

  9. Nole is good but this is just another example of a weaker player making an excellent player look like a GOAT.

    Surprised you picked him Ricky. Possible sure but far from probable. Wawa is 2-13 h2h and hasn’t beaten him since 2006!!! Wawa really has no tools to hurt Nole when Nole is near his best. Wawa can throw a temporary scare into Nole but that just wakes him up. AO was hairline close but he still lost.

    Reply

  15. So djokovic overreacts again when someone hits through him. Great example of why he isn’t nominated for edberg sportsmanship award.

    Reply

  26. why does djokovic never shake the umpires hand properly, just limply puts his hand in the umpires, makes no eye contact, and is already pulling away to celebrate. Marked contrast to Nadal/Federer who both give strong, respectful handshakes.

    Reply

  29. very few do. Nadal and Federer are the exception, not the rule. And I don’t agree that Nadal gives a strong handshake to umpires while making eye contact. He rarely does.

    As long as you shake, it doesn’t matter how you do it.

    Reply

  30. “And I don’t agree that Nadal gives a strong handshake to umpires while making eye contact.”

    Wrong and provably so. Watch any of his match endings on Youtube.

    “As long as you shake, it doesn’t matter how you do it.”

    This is clearly a strange opinion to have and I’d guess you would be in the small minority in thinking this way.

    Reply

    • don’t have to. I’ve watched more than enough Rafa matches both live and on TV to know.

      And no. It is the majority opinion. Very few people think it is necessary to give any kind of specific handshake after playing a tennis match. As long as you do it all, it’s good. When you don’t, then there’s a problem.

      Reply

  33. “Very few people think it is necessary to give any kind of specific handshake after playing a tennis match”

    I’ve been playing top county level tennis in the UK for 10 years, playing tennis in general for 20 years, have been to all 4 grand slams live, and watched thousands of hours of televised tennis. I think a handshake and the quality of it IS pretty important, and so do the majority of players who I play against. Considering djokovic’s success and position in the game it is very little to ask for a former world number one to be respectful to the official. Taking the care to shake the umpires hand as a former world number 1 sets a great example to those watching.

    Reply

    • first of all, none of your credentials have anything to do with why your opinion on this matter should be more or less important than anyone else’s.

      I have played tennis longer than you have and have been watching it longer; that doesn’t make my opinion any more or less meaningful than yours.

      But you’re definitely the first I’ve heard to criticize someone for shaking an umpire’s hand. Just because it wasn’t “firm.”

      And that last statement is an entirely different argument. Obviously I agree shaking the umpires hand sets a good example. Which is one reason why almost everyone, Djokovic included, does it after every match.

      Reply

  34. “first of all, none of your credentials have anything to do with why your opinion on this matter should be more or less important than anyone else’s.”
    November 1, 2013 at 2:54 pm

    Then why did you originally try and qualify your own opinion?! Bit odd:

    I’ve watched more than enough Rafa matches both live and on TV to know.”
    November 1, 2013 at 2:42 pm

    Reply

  35. Ready menu for the Federazzi after TMF’s loss to Delpo today:

    a. He doesn’t care, Paris is beneath him;
    b. He’s too old now;
    c. He felt sorry for Delpo, after all, he (Delpo) only has 1 Slam;
    d. He has more important things to do, like get his hair ready for London.

    It’s okay to pick all 4 above…………..

    Reply

    • Trawl out a video of a Rafa handshake AFTER a loss @hawkeye63, then it will really be NID……………

      #RafaIsAGoodSport

      Reply

  41. Wailing and gnashing of teeth in Federazzistan:

    RT @bgtennisnation: “Fedfan needs this win in the worst way with Delpo still has not has a top 10 win since Ausopen vs Jo-Willy”

    Reply

  43. Groan……..I hope this is a case of “full of sound and fury, signifying nothing”:

    RT @bgtennisnation: “Fedfan looking very sharp so far in this 1st set vs Delpo like what i am seeing so far”

    Reply

    • Federer was in his element today. Gaining confidence with every match.

      Impressive stats for 1st and 3rd sets. Still pretty good even in the middle set.

      Not sure how much effort Delpo put into the match or whether he was just fatigued.

      Reply

  55. in all fairness, while barely visible there was nothing tentative about that particular handshake…. after one of his most devastating losses of all the years prior or after … and it is clear too he looked right at the umpire.

    Reply

  59. Delpo’s loss means that he’ll remain behind Ferru in the Race to London. Delpo will be in Djoko’s group at the WTF (and Ferru – in Rafa’s group). Well done, Delpo! 🙂

    Reply

  61. Just realized Nole and Fed haven’t met once this year.

    Last meeting was WTF final last year.

    Nole gonna lay the hurt on the old goat.

    Interviewer: What’s your prediction for the fight?
    Clubber Lang: My prediction?
    Interviewer: Yes, your prediction.
    [Clubber looks into camera]
    Clubber Lang: Pain!

    Reply

  62. Augusta – How do the seedings work in RR matches in WTF? can youtellme please?

    BTW I am picking Fed to beat Djoko tomm .. He looked very good tday except midway to the end in 2nd set.

    Reply

  63. Augusta – How do the seedings work in RR matches in WTF? can youtellme please?

    BTW I am picking Fed to beat Djoko tomm .. He looked very good tday except midway to the end in 2nd set.

    Ricky – Why do u say Djoko-Fed will be ugly?

    Reply

    • My father judged all my prospective boyfriends by their handshake. Anyone with a limp handshake got short shrift from him and had their fingers crushed on the next encounter.

      #SortingWheatFromTheChaff

      Reply

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