Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray are one round away from a semifinal showdown in New York. They are first set for respective Thursday meetings with Mikhail Youzhny and Stanislas Wawrinka.
(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (21) Mikhail Youzhny
Djokovic and Youzhny will be facing each other for the ninth time in their careers when they collide in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open on Thursday night. The head-to-head series stands at just 5-3 in Djokovic’s favor, but he has won three of their last four hard-court meetings and Youzhny has never gotten the best of his favored opponent outdoors. They most recently clashed this spring on the clay courts of Monte-Carlo, where Djokovic survived 4-6, 6-1, 6-4. Youzhny’s last victory came at the Rotterdam event in 2010.
Not surprisingly, it has been a different kind of fortnight so far for these two competitors. Djokovic has cruised past Ricardas Berankis, Benjamin Becker, Joao Sousa, and Marcel Granollers while playing just one tiebreaker against Becker. The top-ranked Serb had not been at the top of his game this summer, but he is in ruthless form at the moment. Youzhny needed three hours and 58 minutes to overcome Hewitt in a five-set battle on Tuesday afternoon. The 24th-ranked Russian preceded that win with defeats of Nicolas Mahut, Alexandr Dolgpolov, and Tommy Haas–losing only one set to Haas during that stretch. Youzhny is playing well, but this should be straightforward unless Djokovic delivers a suddenly mediocre performance.
Pick: Djokovic in 3 losing 8-10 games
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(3) Andy Murray vs. (9) Stanislas Wawrinka
Wawrinka and Murray will be squaring off for the 14th time in their careers and for the second time this season. Murray leads the head-to-head series by a modest 8-5 score, but he boasts a more daunting 6-2 mark on hard courts. They have split a pair of U.S. Open showdowns–Murray in straight sets in 2008 and Wawrinka 6-7(3), 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-3 in 2010. Their most recent encounter came this spring on the clay courts of Monte-Carlo, where Wawrinka rolled 6-1, 6-2.
Murray, of course, is a far more formidable force on the hard stuff. He is the defending champion in New York and so far this fortnight he has dismissed Michael Llodra, Leonardo Mayer, Florian Mayer, and Denis Istomin–losing sets to the first Mayer and Istomin in the process. The third-ranked Scot is 41-7 for the year, which includes a triumph at Wimbledon and also a title in Miami. This is the second Grand Slam quarterfinal of 2013 for Wawrinka, who suffered a heartbreaking fourth-round Australian Open loss to Djokovic but outlasted Richard Gasquet 8-6 in the fifth to reach the last eight at Roland Garros. The 10th-ranked Swiss has advanced in New York by taking out Radek Stepanek, Ivo Karlovic, Marcos Baghdatis, and Tomas Berdych. All signs point to a thriller, with a slight edge going to Murray based mostly on his confidence and experience from playing as a two-time major champion.
Pick: Murray in 5
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RT @TennisReporters: “Didnt realize that @ChrissieEvert has become mentor to Wawrinka, but thats what @darren_cahill says. Mental toughness 101. It shows”
This is a new WaWa we’re seeing. Deadly accurate with his serve and awesome return of serve.
Never seen Muzza this raggedy, tbh……
This is going from bad to worse. Murray down two sets and now broken in the third.
Lendl much just fire his client.
that should read ‘might just’
WaWa is totally in the zone now. A classic case of playing lights out tennis when there’s nothing to lose and Andy letting what’s at stake get into his head.
This is even worse than Fed’s effort against Robredo.
Agree
Has Muzza even had a look at a BP on Stan’s serve???
I am stunned….
If Feru had won his Qtr F and Muzz loses today, Muzz would have gone down to #4.
RT @BenRothenberg: “Murray has not lost to a lower-ranked player at a non-clay Slam since the 2010 US Open, when he lost to (wait for it) Stan Wawrinka. #usopen”
Is Stan kryptonite for Muzza?
I’ve kept myself from commenting so far but, what a dreadful performance from Murray and what amazing stuff Wawa is coming up with. Amazing bh as ever and incredible touch on the net.
Commies to Muzza fans
Muzz was lucky to win the title last year because he struggled through all the rounds.
Still waiting for Andy to come on court. That was somebody impersonating him that we were watching 🙁
….an impersonator indeed……
Awesome performance from Stan the Man.
It wasn’t Andy’s day.. pitty, would have loved to have a Djoko-Muzza show as all of us but this USO is turning out to be the survival of the so called unfittest.
I think we should count our blessings Muzza went out today to Wawa, Novak would have mauled him in the semis and dealt him permanent psychological damage.
Guess Wawa should give some bh courses to Fed, huh?
This must be a bitter pill for Fed to swallow and a sweet revenge for Stan after year’s of snide remarks.
Yep, looks like the Swiss clocksmith has changed neighborhoods
As good as Stan is and the way he has been playing, still I would not like him to win against Nole, else the final will be as dud as FO. Though I would love another AO’13 classic.
I’m giving up on watching anymore tennis for tonight. An early night is called for.
yep, I’m calling it a day too.
So long people – Rafa, Gasket, Wawrinka.. who will be our fourth semifinalist I wonder?