A two-team panel makes its picks for four men’s singles matches on the fourth day of action at the U.S. Open.(13) John Isner vs. Gael Monfils
Steen Kirby (Tennis East Coast) – This is a highly-anticipated match between players who were able to sleepwalk during their opening matches against very weak competition. With a tied head-to-head series (3-3) and five of their six showdowns going to the maximum number of sets (the other went four), one would expect this to be another long one. However, Monfils’ health is still very much in question and–despite the blowout–he said afterward that he had considerable pain. Isner not having such issues and being in good form may make this one sort of straightforward as long as his serve remains solid as a rock and he can move Monfils around the court. Isner 7-6, 3-6, 7-6, 6-1.
Ricky Dimon – Isner is on fire on the American hard courts. In news that may or may not be related, sky is blue. Isner is 15-2 in the USA dating back to the Atlanta second round. Monfils is coming off a Winston-Salem final, but he retired in that match with an abdominal strain and it does not look particularly good even after a straight-set massacre of Adrian Ungur. To beat Isner right now, you have to be in absolute peak form…just ask Rafael Nadal. This will be entertaining, but it won’t live up to the hype. Isner 7-5, 7-6, 6-2.
Steen – The heralded but underachieving Aussie vs. the Brit who is just now playing up to his potential…. Evans was formerly known for Davis Cup heroics and not much else. Tomic has been dreadful this year after leaving his home nation, with personal issues lingering in the background. He played an up-and-down match against Albert Ramos, eventually prevailing over the cramping Spaniard in five sets, though his form at times was terrible and other times great. Evans, meanwhile, has torn up the Challenger circuit this summer and easily took care of a listless Kei Nishikori. There is no reason to pick against the qualifier now. Evans 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2.
Liking your picks, guys. Hope you’re right about Dan. Come on!
Watched Dan play DC several times. Talk about stepping up to the plate when your country needs you! As Steen says above, he’s turned in heroic performances in DC on several occasions. There is a fearlessness about him which I really like but he will need some coaching when it comes to being interviewed if he continues to do well. Hope he can keep it the good work against the tiresome Tomic.
correction: Hope he can keep UP the good work………..
#SleepDeprivation
Deucy: Are you watching the Evans-Tomic match? He’s fighting hard but struggling a bit with the Tomic cat and mouse game. One set all but he’s just missed 3 or 4 BP to go ahead in the 3rd set.
I’m at the match. Evans wants it more.
Well called Ricky and Steen.
OOOoooEEeeee
Dannyboy has just taken the 3rd set in a TB. Looking at the stats you’d expect Tomic to have won the match by now but Dan is such a gutsy player and prepared to take risks he is winning the crucial points. He is particularly effective when he comes into the net. He also has the crowd behind him – lots of chants for Danny, Danny.
He has just dropped his serve in the first game of 4th set. I think he might struggle if it goes to five sets – it”s hot and humid and unlike Tomic he is not accustomed to that.
On the other maybe not. He’s broken back immediately!
Yes! Dan takes the third with aggressive play.
Please shout extra loudly for me Rick 🙂
@ed
Gr8 to have another male Brit to cheer for at long last!
……..and broken Tomic again, who is now looking decidedly out of sorts. lol. Dan is playing with great variety and constructing points beautifully. His only weakness is his serve allowing Tomic too many free points
Will he be able to serve it out. That is the question.
Answer yes!
Yippee
The crowd loved him.
Yay! Yay! Dan’s the man alrighty 🙂
I take back what I said about his interview skills. He was priceless in his post Tomic match interview. Loved his laconic responses and total honesty.
http://preview.tinyurl.com/pky89ct
mind you, he was dealing with the British press corps. Not sure how he would’ve coped with the American convoluted questions.
Put up the wrong link to Evans interview.
Try this
http://www.usopen.org/en_US/news/interviews/2013-08-29/201308291377819396709.html
What has happened to Day 5 expert picks?
yeah I was wondersing that ! I am concerned about delpo’s match..I DO NOT want delpo to lose before qtrs because I know rafa will be facing fed so nole deserves delpo at least lol…. hewitt is a great competitor so I hope delpo can easily handle
Delpo lost the first set. He seems to be struggling right now. He has committed way too many errors with his forehand. I am watching the match now and hoping that Delpo can catch fire.
I want Djoker to face Delpo in the quarterfinals. As it is, his draw is so easy up to that point. I just don’t know what’s up with Delpo right now. He has to find his form and soon.
Del Potro is out. Hewitt simply thumped him in the 5th set. Djokovic’s draw is looking too easy now. He HAS to make it to the semis.
The commentators were saying that Delpo seemed to be favoring his left wrist. He was running around his backhand to hit his forehand and also sliced his backhands. Something was off with him. After two sets Delpo had 35 UE’s. He seemed to get back on track to win the second and third sets, but he was still making a lot of errors throughout the match.
Hewitt played very well, but if Delpo was on his game then he should have won this. So much for dark horses! I think Delpo had nothing left in the fifth set.
So now Djoker can practically sleep walk into the semis. I can’t see the likes of Haas or Hewitt taking him out.
It seems that every time people think Delpo is going to be a contender at the USO, it all blows up.
Well, this evens out the score, no? Both Muzza and Novak will be fresh at the semis so it will be an even fight. I am hoping Izzy is still carrying the scars of his match against LaMonf ie, the crowd rooting against him so he does not give Rafa too much of a fight.
So many prediction are going out of the window. I’ve stopped trying to second guess anything 🙁
Delpo is definitely in trouble with the wrist which explains why he has been up and down for some while now. He’s paying the penalty for relying on the heaviness of his shots.
I dont think we need to worry about Rafa – his mindset will get him through the next confrontation with Izzy! Just hope he does it without needing to go to five sets.