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