A Shanghai quarterfinal lineup with a few surprises and plenty of intrigue will be highlighted on Friday. Among those in action are Andy Murray, Tomas Berdych, Novak Djokovic, and Bernard Tomic.
(3) Andy Murray vs. (5) Tomas Berdych
Murray and Berdych will be facing each other for the 13th time in their careers when they battle for a semifinal spot at the Shanghai Rolex Masters on Friday. Berdych once led the head-to-head series 3-1, 4-2, and 6-4, but Murray has leveled it at 6-6 thanks to a pair of 2015 victories. The second-ranked Scot won a heated Australian Open showdown 6-7(6), 6-0, 6-3, 7-5 before cruising 6-4, 6-4 in Miami. Murray has won six of their nine previous hard-court encounters.
Berdych appears to be rounding back into form after a mostly disappointing spring and summer. The fifth-ranked Czech lifted a winner’s trophy earlier this month in Shenzhen and so far in Shanghai he has taken out Jack Sock and Gilles Simon. Ranked 14th, Simon represented Berdych’s best scalp since upsetting then-No. 3 Rafael Nadal in Melbourne. Murray punched his ticket to the last eight by getting past Americans Steve Johnson and John Isner. The third seed is an incredible 16-2 lifetime at this event with two titles and a runner-up finish. All signs point to a Murray victory.
Pick:Â Murray in 2
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(1) Novak Djokovic vs. Bernard Tomic
Djokovic has been just about unbeatable this season and his career in Asia is no different. The world No. 1 recently improved to 29-0 lifetime in Beijing by capturing his sixth title at that event last week. He is now 21-3 in Shanghai with two titles and zero losses prior to the semifinals in five appearances. So far this week Djokovic has destroyed Martin Klizan and Feliciano Lopez, improving to 70-5 for his 2015 campaign.
Up next for the top seed is Tomic, who is 0-4 lifetime in the head-to-head series. They played a close one at Wimbledon in 2011 but since then it has been absolute one-way traffic–including a 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 beatdown at the All-England Club this summer. Still, Tomic has been playing surprisingly inspired tennis of late and he is wrapping up his best season on tour. The 23-year-old Aussie is up to 20th in the world and will reach at least No. 18 next week. Tomic advanced to Shanghai quarters by defeating Fernando Verdasco, David Ferrer, and Richard Gasquet. His match against the Frenchman was impressive to say the least, but a two-hour and 13-minute struggle one day before meeting Djokovic will not help.
Pick:Â Djokovic in 2 losing 5-7 games
[polldaddy poll=9128826]
Same.
Djokovic in 2 easy sets and Murray in 2 competitive sets.
Im thinking of betting mortgage on Murray for -200
Yeah that is very good value
I agree with Ricky’s picks.
Berdych playing well enough to force a 3rd set, and Joker in an easy two sets.
Murray in 2. Because berdych
Murray in 2. Because berdych.
1-0 Wilfried
On serve so far with Anderson and Tsonga. I don’t think that I will make it to Rafa’s match. I have to be somewhere tomorrow, so it’s time to go to sleep.
Good luck, Rafa!
Tsonga takes the 1st set TB
as I said, Novak does not look impressive and making uncharacteristic UEs mainly I believe due to the fact that his body must feel tired at this point…Too bad it’s Tomic on the opposite side of the net as he has no mental capacity to win the match against Novak…
Spot on Nats. He’s definitely jaded and I doubt he was expecting to have to work so hard.
But it’s hilarious watching the Djoker looking so discomforted.
That was Tomic’s chance to steal a set. Novak gonna start up the steamroller now.
great call
but knowing Tomic this is about it…he will surrender now…
Tomic’s game is a little bit woolly but he is making in roads. The emergence of Curious and Cocky has concentrated his mind.
I hate the way they are dressed alike.
Exactly. Like watching identical twins, plus they have a similar walk.
I admire the way Tomic has overcome all the turbulence in his life to play as well as he is these days.
Have to go out for a couple of hours so will have to play catch up on the Murray match later.
The Murray/Berdy hagi baji between Murray and Berdy is alive and kicking.
Murray mad
I wish Rfa was playing Fed in the SF.
🙂
Murray is going for a matching score line against Berdy?
Muzz won, 61 63.
If Andy raises his level a bit he will beat Novak tomorrow…
I said a few days ago Andy can beat Nole just like he did in Montreal.
If anything, Shanghai is even faster than Montreal.
if he wins more sets than Novak he will beat Novak tomorrow
All Murray has to do is win the last point IMO. The rest doesn’t matter in this meeting.
https://tenngrand.com/2015/10/16/shanghai-sf-preview-and-pick-djokovic-vs-murray/
Rocky puts all of his polls below my posts because he knows what time it is.
looks like you guys are humorous about the encounter tomorrow 🙂 but I am being serious about it…I think this is the chance for Murray to beat Novak…the Serb looks drained…
I’m serious too. I’m picking Muzzard in 3 (unless Ricky picks him).