Novak Djokovic will be bidding for a quarterfinal spot at the U.S. Open when he takes the court on Monday against Philipp Kohlschreiber. Andy Murray and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga are also in action.
(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (22) Philipp Kohlschreiber
Djokovic and Kohlschreiber will be squaring off for the sixth time in their careers when they clash in round four of the U.S. Open on Monday. The head-to-head series stands at 4-1 in Djokovic’s favor, including 2-0 on hard courts. They most recently faced each other this spring on the clay courts of Rome, where Djokovic prevailed 4-6, 6-2, 6-1. Kohlschreiber’s lone victory over the current world No. 1 came via a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 decision in the third round of the 2009 French Open.
Kohlschreiber booked his place in the last 16 with a third consecutive U.S. Open third-round victory over John Isner. The 25th-ranked German, who preceded that triumph by taking out Facundo Bagnis and Michael Llodra (second-set retirement), is 33-20 for his 2014 campaign. Djokovic has apparently regained form and focus in the aftermath of early exits in Toronto and Cincinnati. The top-seeded Serb may not be at his very best level, but he looks more like the Wimbledon Djokovic that the one that was on display at the two hard-court Masters events. As such, he should be able to fend off a stern challenge from Kohlschreiber.
Pick: Djokovic in 4
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(9) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs. (8) Andy Murray
It will be a rematch of a recent Toronto showdown when Murray and Tsonga meet again on Monday in Flushing Meadows. Tsonga recovered from a break deficit in the third set to beat Murray 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-4, but the Frenchman is still just 2-9 in the head-to-head series. Murray has won five of their previous seven hard-court encounters, including a 6-4, 6-1 rout earlier this season in Miami.
Tsonga eventually captured the title in Toronto, where he posted four top-10 wins in succession (also over Djokovic, Grigor Dimitrov, and Roger Federer). It has been an otherwise disappointing season for the world No. 10, but confidence from that triumph seems to have remained. So far this fortnight, Tsonga has rolled over Juan Monaco, Aleksandr Nedovyesov, and Pablo Carreno Busta. Murray has not been as impressive while getting past Robin Haase, Matthias Bachinger, and Andrey Kuznetsov. Struggling down at ninth in the world, the Scot is generally a bad matchup for Tsonga but may not be able to capitalize on it based on the way he has performed of late.
Pick: Tsonga in 4
I do think Kohls will give Novak a test. He’s been playing well and has the game to at least make it interesting. I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see Kohls take a set off Novak. I know it’s been all about Novak being back after his surprising early exits at Toronto and Cincy, but this will be the first quality opponent that he has met.
If memory serves, Kohls gave Rafa fits as last year’s USO. I remember Rafa losing the first set and not being able to break Kohls despite so many chances. Finally he got it done to win the second set. But that one was his toughest match until the final. This guy may not win against the top players, but he can certainly give them a scare.
Interesting pick with Tsonga beating Murray. Normally this should be a no-brainer with Murray winning in straightforward fashion. But Murray hasn’t looked his best and Tsonga seems to be on fire. Unless Murray steps it up and plays better quality tennis, then I can see Tsonga winning this one.
^^^ I know it’s been all about Novak being back after his surprising early exits at Toronto and Cincy,
I don’t buy into the ‘poor’ showing scenario caused by the emotional turmoil of getting married. I surmised at the time it was a smokescreen. The showing at these two Masters has never been a reliable indicator of top players’ form prior to the USO. If you recall Rafa bowed out tamely to Baghdatis in the Cincy QF and went on to unveil his new, improved service in NY which helped him to win his first USO.
^^^^ I hope you are both wrong. I’m not putting any money on it but I believe Andy will step up to the challenge.
Murray in 5
Talking of a new, improved service since when did Djokovic pound down aces at will?
Agree with Ricky.
Tsonga tshould tsucceed vs a tstruging opponent who tstill hasn’t beaten a top 10 player this year.
Surely Murray could beat a top 10 player anytime now; the fact that he hasn’t done so recently doesn’t mean he’s never going to do it.
Not what I said nor implied.
#PRMC
#NoleFam
Nobody said that Murray’s never going to do it. For myself, I just don’t know that he can do it now against a red hot Tsonga. Normally Murray is a bad matchup for Tsonga, but Murray isn’t playing that great and Tsonga is on fire now.
I put in the caveat that Murray needs to step it up in order to beat a guy who is playing some outstanding tennis. So that doesn’t mean it can’t happen, won’t happen or will never happen.
^^that
Reblogged this on Tennis Abides.
Rather Muzza loses to Tsonga than to Djoker……………
Given the way he has been playing lately I am resigned to a Muzza loss.
Vamos Andy!!
ritb@7:18amHe’s still there though. Where there’s life there’s hope.
@ed,
I agree with you. I am not resigned to a Murray loss at all. Just calling it as I see it. You know that if it can’t be Rafa, I have no problem cheering for Andy. I would love to see him raise his level of play and get the win, but I don’t know that it will happen. We will see.
https://twitter.com/ESPNTennis/status/506487837060263936/photo/1
@hawkeye63 will be pleased…………
Any version of fed past or present won’t be able to beat this Nole.
Absolutely LOVE djokerNole giving it to the federazzi crowd when he saved set point in the 2nd cupping his hand to his ear and raising his arms and again when he pulled even at 5-all.
#LetsDoThis
Both guys look like freshly boiled lobsters. Hating the way Djokovic is working the crowd. Kohlbi’s spirit will be crushed now having failed to clinch the 2nd set when it was within his grasp.
Nothing now standing between Nole and another Slam.
I don’t believe he’s working the crowd. He’s giving it to them for their pro-Khols bias in vein hope that someone will save Fed from having to play him in the final.
If fed wins his 18th slam, he’ll also pass Rafa for No. 2 in the world.
#NE1butRF
#LetsDoThis
#Idemoooooo
^^^Wrong. The crowd were urging Kohlbi on for the simple reason they’ve paid big bucks to be there and want to get their money’s worth.
They wouldn’t do that vs Fed. Little love for Granollers yesterday at any point in the match.
#Federazzi
Also ed you do not know that I am wrong. We both have differing opinions neither of which can be proven nor disproved. You are not wrong for instance.
However, in my experience, the observation that the pro federazzi (IMO) crowd seldom if ever goes for the underdog vs Fed in my experience speaks volumes to me. It is common for Nole and I’ve seen it vs Rafa as well at times from the desperate federazzi.
#NoleFam
Point taken.
Vain
Had enough of watching this 🙁
Have switched over to the doubles – much more fun! Granollers & Lopez have just broken Steps & Paes in the first set.
Whoopsadaisy. The Tsonga-Murray match has started.
In Canada our main sports broadcaster went from two feeds to five claiming they would show simultaneous matches which they did earlier this week. However now they are showing Djokovic on one feed and the same football game on the other four!!! why aren’t the showing Tsonga Muzza which will likely be the mTch of the day???
#djokerNole
Marcel Granollers & Marc Lopez (Rafa’s friend) have reached the QFs!
Vamos Marcel & Marc!
http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/hand-gestures/hand-clap-smiley-emoticon.gif
^^And they beat Paes and Stepanek to get there!
Another doubles team from Spain – David Marrero & Fernando Verdasco – reached the QFs!
Vamos David & Nando!
http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/hand-gestures/clapping-happy-smiley-emoticon.gif
You can say what you want about TV scheduling but mark my words. Fed will get nice cool evenings like he has to date along with his comfy draw but he’ll definitely want (and get as he does) a day match or two prior to the final.
Aside: aguata08 and nadline I’m curious as to why you continue to twist my words and spread untruths just like the federazzi is known to do.
#EmptySeats
#FrenchLoveFedMost
#NoleFam
Nole looking fried.
Fed sipping on a cool drink in his air conditioned apartment.
#StickAForkInHim
Yay, Andy. One set down, two to go.
Go for it Andy. You can do it.
http://instagram.com/p/salCv0kf6O/
http://instagram.com/p/sakQuYEf4r/
#djokerNole
#noleFam
#teamdjokovic
#LetsDoThis
#ajdeNole
#idemoooooo
C’mon Andy! One more. Vamos!
Andy played a good first set but struggled quite a bit in the 2nd. Still he is up 2 sets but is looking done in. Seems to be having some problems – possibly cramping again. Not looking good. Does anybody have more info?
Tsonga breaks Murray in the 1st game 3rd set. Not sure if it is mental or physical but he looks in bad shape.
The ESPN commies have been talking about what’s going on with Andy throughout the match. JMac said that he thought Andy tweaked something at one point in the match and might be hurting. The conditions are supposed to be terrible with high temperatures and humidity. I don’t know if Murray is hurt or not. It’s hard to tell. Fortunately for him, Tsonga hasn’t been able to capitalize at all. He has folded when it really counted.
But I will say that overall I think Murray has played better in this match. Better serving, better groundstrokes. I did say that he would need to raise his level of play. I also think he’s played smart tennis. But something seems to be amiss with him. Hopefully he can close this out in straight sets.
Damn TV. My feed is showing Bouchard vs Makarova, WHO BLOODY CARES? Show us a real match, Muzza/Tsonga!
Hawkeye does for a start 🙂
He’s probably drowning his sorrows right now.
You didn’t miss much not seeing the Andy match – strange affair altogether. Wonder what the betting odds were on Andy taking it in straight sets lol.
Congrats to Makarova. Sorry for Genie in a Bottle.
#RanOutOfWishes
Muzza flailing about like a drunk old man, and Jo Willy, he will still lose in straight sets.
Another night match for Fed tomorrow……….19h00
That is just hysterical, hearing that Fed will get another night match. So sweating it out in the heat of the day for him!
I meant to say NO sweating it out for Fed in the heat of the day!
Fed will get one day match either QF or SF depending on which he prefers to get used to day conditions prior to the final.
#Idemo
I think tennis really needs deep introspection. They had to get a doctor out for Genie Bouchard mid match, she looked really bad. Conditions out there are brutal. It is not fair to subject some players to these sort of conditions, spare others and claim it is a level playing field. Not fair………
Anyone who says conditions are the same for both players is an idiot. Not all bodies are the same. We all handle heat differently. Tennis is meant to be a competition, not survival of the fittest. Genie loses, clearly distressed by the awful conditions.
Vamos Muzza!
I hope he gets a night match next……….
He won’t. They’ll want him in British prime time.
And what SKY wants they get.
Congrats to Muzza on his first top ten win in over a year. Can’t believe it took so long but he picked a good time to do it. Happy to be wrong with my prediction.
Murray Nole should be a great one and the winner of this match should be able to stop Cool Hand Roger.
My heart will be pulling for Muzza in this match
#TeamMuzzovic
C’mon Muzza! Save tennis!
The Eurosport commies accused Murray of gamesmanship and play acting that he was having some problems. Doh.
Like you said: it was brutal conditions for the players. Tsonga could barely toss the ball to serve by the end.
Would like to see how they’d fair in those conditions.
#ArmchairQBs
#federazziPropaganda
Pro fed crowd is naturally pro subStandard.
Vamos Tommy Can You Hear Me.
Kei over Milos. Kei has been by far the more impressive of the two so far.
That will be three and out today for the Canucks should he lose.
What a dork…
http://twitter.com/ESPNTennis/status/506594787806289921/photo/1
Did you hear when he yelled Vamos and then F@(k after winning the 3rd set? He and Robredo also had words while he was serving early in the 4th before wiping the court with Tommy’s face in that set.
^^Yes, I saw it.
Without his 1st serve, Raonic is a sitting duck………….Kei breaks to serve for the set and take this to a decider. If Raonic’s power on this 1st serves wavers then Kei will take the match because he is so much better on the groundies…..
Interesting that both players have ex Pro-players as coaches.
I think we are seeing who the real deals are, and it’s the young players who are left in the tournament:
Thiem;
Nishikori;
Dimitrov;
Raonic
We are into a 5th………..
Vamos Kei!!
Dimitrov?
Real deal, my ass………
This match is something else. I just love how Nishi is hanging in there and not giving up. Finally he breaks Raonic and serves it out to win the fourth set! Good job!
I had a feeling this was going to be a good win, but didn’t expect this marathon. I really want Nishi to win this. It’s been exhausting just to keep watching it. I took a few breaks. It’s just a shame that a lot of people won’t see it because it’s on so late.
RT @SecondServeHack: “So, Wawrinka gets the winner of this match (or possibly a walkover if Nishikori wins) and then the winner of Djokovic/Murray in the semis?”
Déjà vu, anyone??
RT @linzsports: “Nishikori has called the trainer. If you’re not already drunk, drink.”
Looking at Raonic right now, he is no longer chasing balls, meaning he is feeling like chopped liver out there. Meaning, technically, Stan has a walk-over whoever he faces next. After this marathon, none of these guys will be fit for dinner, never mind another Slam match.
Kei breaks in the 5th……….
Stan breaks into a huge smile.
I can’t believe this! It’s like a war of attrition out there. Kei has been just so tough. Love seeing Michael Chang in his box cheering him on.
It is unfortunate that whoever wins this probably won’t have anything left for Stan. Sometimes life and sport is unfair.
My guess is Kei will be in better shape than Mr. Walkover. He has the advantage of living and training in Florida so is well acclimatised to the heat and humidity whereas Stan looked like somebody had left him in the pressure cooker for two long.
Everybody suffered from the extreme conditions yesterday. Djokovic and Murray played in the afternoon when it was even hotter but both won in straight sets so you could say it’s a level playing field although I am concerned Andy appears to be struggling with the conditions more than Nole.
1st para: should read TOO long, not two long.
RT @juanjosetennis: “The cameras have caught Raonic with a weird expression on his face a few times since Nishikori made his move at the end of the 4th set. Kind of like a kid who’s terribly afraid of something bad that’s about to happen. Just a very honest expression of fear”
RT @juanjosetennis: “Qué cosa tan bonita, carajo! Take a bow, Kei Nishikori!”
1st serve is about all Raonic has left, Commies calling him one-dimensional.
I like Raonic, but I am rooting for Kei because I like to see these big servers/hitters humbled………….
RT @usopen : “#Raonic relying almost entirely on big serving in the 5th set. Holds to stay in touch with #Nishikori 3-4. #usopen ”
Vamos Kei!!
RT @juanjosetennis : “Not having a decent return game really hurt Raonic in this match. Kei was there for the taking in set 4. Raonic didn’t put him away.”
Kei wins.
Kei withdrawal watch………….
Commies say, tennis (the returner, the retriever, the guile) won the match, not the hard-banger. Ouch!
RT @juanjosetennis : “Fantastic from Kei. At one point, he just said “Screw You” to his endless injuries and fought to the death. Respect.”
I actually watched the entire match. I’m on the west coast, so it’s only 11:30 pm for me instead of 2:30 a.m. Very happy for Kei. Hope he has something left in the tank when he meets Stan on Wednesday.
Once Raonic is behind in a match he loses confidence in his serve and because that’s 90% of his game he’s there for the taking/ I wouldn’t like to see the game dominated by the likes of Raonic, Isner, Karlovic and Krygios.
Tommy and kei showed us the play book on how to beat the big hitters: bide your time, DO NOT DROPYOUR SEVE, stretch the match because they will tire and their only weapon, the serve, will become soft and then you can toy eight them.
One could almost read Kei’s mind in the 5th set: stretch Raonic to one corner and just concentrate on placing the return because Raonic was cooked, couldn’t follow up anything.
ed251137 says:
September 1, 2014 at 6:39 am
I had Murray to get the win in 5. Never thought for a moment he would do it in straight sets. Tsonga seemed flat from the go, was leaking unforced errors, and didn’t have any answers to a stubborn Andy.
Anybody know why my text has gone into italics?
My text has been in italics for a while now. I have no idea what it is and how to fix it.
But that is typical Tsonga ed251137. He blows hot and cold, always. In Canada he was smoking 1st serves, yesterday he couldn’t buy a 1st serve to save his life. This is why I find predictions based on Tsonga’s recent successes laughable……
https://twitter.com/BritishTennis/status/506762722252316672/photo/1
I like this positivity!
Vamos Muzza!!
Raonic didn’t lose because of his serve. He lost because of lack of movement and fatigue. That’s why the serve went. If the body goes, then the big serve goes. Raonic did have a chance when Kei seemed to be on the ropes in the fourth set, but he couldn’t get it done. When Kei got treatment for a blister on his foot, that seemed to help him.
Kei showed heart and guts out there. He just wouldn’t give up. But I also think that Raonic played some great tennis and it was more than just the serve. Kei showed that you don’t have to have a big serve to get the win.
I have no idea if Kei will have much left in the tank after this battle. The ESPN commies said that his match with Stan will be in the afternoon on Wednesday, with Novak and Murray at night. So he has less recovery time. Hopefully his team can work on him and help him recuperate and be as ready as possible.
You never know how these things work. A win like this could really give Kei the confidence and belief to get the job done against Stan. Also Stan isn’t in the best shape either after having the trainer come out and work on him during his match with Robredo. I think Robredo played poorly in the third set TB. He had his chances. So Stan is far from invincible.
Is this the Amélie Effect do you think? If (that’s a big IF) he were to get past Djokovic then then there’s no reason why he couldn’t make it a second USO title.
For me, the Lendl effect was very evident: the improved FH. I haven’t yet cottoned onto the Mauresmo effect, which is normal, they have only been a team for how long, 2 months? What I have noticed this far is that Muzza is blowing hot and cold: he will have ablisering set where he appears to be on a mission and next taper off as if he was bored! My sense is the current “issue” with Muzza is mental more than anything else: suspect motivation and this translates into what appears to be physical problems.
Well, the match against Djoker will be very revealing, I cannot wait………..
Vamos Muzza!!
^^^^
As a Murray follower of many years standing I can assure you it has forever been thus. Just ask Deucy and Alex. I don’t know if there is such a thing as the tennis equivalent of ADD but if there is he has TADD 😀
Joker looked awesome yesterday!
I quite fancy Thiem’s chances against Big Bird although it will be a tall order given his relative lack of experience and the amount of tennis he has played this week. Incidentally, he will be playing this match on the eve of his 21st birthday.
To date he has proved extraordinarily level-headed and able to cope under pressure. Let’s hope he continues to handle the glare of being in the limelight on the big stage with the same aplomb.
I kind of think that Murray may have regressed just a bit since Lendl departed. Lendl’s mental toughness was legendary back in the day. He would never give his opponents the satisfaction of letting them see that they got to him. I thought that Murray got his emotions and frustrations more under control after he started to work with Lendl. I think Lendl kind of put some of the missing pieces together and got it all working well.
I can’t say anything about Mauresmo because it’s too soon. I think that Murray has had trouble getting back to his best form this year. He is kind of up and down and inconsistent. However, I do think that in the match with Tsonga he played quality tennis. Novak is not Tsonga. He’s not going to choke in the big moments. But Murray has the game to take it to Novak. If he is ready, then this could be a classic.
I haven’t seen much of Muzza but from what I have seen, he seems to be much calmer on court (in a good way). None of the negative body language, hitting himself with the racquet, yelling at himself and his box. Much more even tempered. This could very well have to do with Mauresmo.
Should be a great match tonight. Glad it’s an evening match.
My heart is pulling for Muzza but my head says Nole has the better chance vs Fed so I will be ok with either outcome.
At least if Muzza wins, I can let up on the Becker hashtags! Otherwise…
#EyeOfTheStorm
^^Tomorrow night!
Hawkeye63 has finally persuaded me: even though I want Muzza to win, the consequences of a Fed win are too dire to contemplate. Not just the 18th Slam (which I can live with because Rafa can overhaul this) but the prospect of him overtaking Rafa in the rankings and becoming #2. Can you imagine the field day the establishment Federazzi will have with this in the draws? Rafa will forever be in Djoker’s half, all the better for the two to pummel one another so that Fed only plays chopped liver in the final, all the better to pad his Slam resume beyond reach.
Federer must be stopped. I confess my faith in Muzza doing this is thin.
Vamos Nole!
Bamos Nole!
Adje Nole!
Let’s do this. (Borrowed from Coach BB, whom I am bestowing with my affections for this week only)
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