U.S. Open QF previews and picks: Djokovic vs. Murray, Wawrinka vs. Nishikori

September 3, 2014 Ricky Match previews 0

Djoker 2A matchup worthy of a Grand Slam final will take place during quarterfinal action at the U.S. Open on Wednesday, when Novak Djokovic faces Andy Murray. Kei Nishikori, meanwhile, is making a quick turnaround to battle Stan Wawrinka.

(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (8) Andy Murray

Djokovic and Murray will be colliding for the 21st time in their careers when they do battle in the U.S. Open quarterfinals on Wednesday night. The head-to-head series stands at 12-8 in Djokovic’s favor, including 10-6 on hard courts following four straight defeats of the Scot on this surface. They most recently faced each other earlier this season in Miami, where Djokovic cruised 7-5, 6-3. The Serb is 3-2 lifetime against Murray in Grand Slams, but Murray has won twice in major finals; at the 2012 U.S. Open at Wimbledon in 2013.

It has been an up-and-down summer for both men. After winning Wimbledon, Djokovic lost early in Toronto and Cincinnati. The world No. 1, though, appears to be back in fine form with routine victories this fortnight over Diego Schwartzman, Paul-Henri Mathieu, Sam Querrey, and Philipp Kohlschreiber. Murray had suffered uninspiring losses to Grigor Dimitrov at Wimbledon and to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Toronto, but he played relatively well in Cincinnati and has taken his game to a level reminiscent of the Murray of yesteryear in New York. The world No. 9 booked his spot in the quarters by taking out Robin Haase, Matthias Bachinger, Andrey Kuznetsov, and Tsonga while losing only two sets in the process. Murray was especially impressive against Tsonga, but that result notwithstanding, the two-time major champion has struggled immensely against top-10 competition over the past 14 months.

Pick: Djokovic in 4

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(3) Stan Wawrinka vs. (10) Kei Nishikori

Nishikori will be back in action 36 hours after wrapping up his previous match at 2:26 in the morning when he takes the court on Wednesday afternoon. The Japanese star survived Milos Raonic in a five-set marathon on Monday night–and also Tuesday morning–that tied the U.S. Open record for latest finish. Nishikori preceded that thrilling encounter with much easier demolitions of Wayne Odesnik, Pablo Andujar, and Leonardo Mayer. The world No. 11 is an awesome 38-9 for his 2014 campaign.

Up next for Nishikori is a third career meeting with Wawrinka, who leads the head-to-head series 2-0. The fourth-ranked Swiss prevailed twice in 2012; 6-4, 6-2 on the clay courts of Buenos Aires and 6-3, 6-3 on the hard courts of Cincinnati. Now a Grand Slam champion having triumphed at this year’s Australian Open, Wawrinka advanced to this stage of the U.S. Open by beating Jiri Vesely, Thomaz Bellucci, and Tommy Robredo. He also got a third-round walkover past Blaz Kavcic, so to say Wawrinka is the more well-rested of the two competitors in this match would be a gross understatement. The previous round will take too big a toll on Nishikori.

Pick: Wawrinka in 3

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25 Comments on U.S. Open QF previews and picks: Djokovic vs. Murray, Wawrinka vs. Nishikori

  2. Muzza is cooked. That is not the gait of someone who can go thru 2 5-setters…….

    I just have a feeling Kei has another 5-setter in him…….

    Reply

  4. At this rate, none of Muzza or Nole seem capable of taking Fed out. This is 2012 all over again with Rafa out and Fed looking like making a run

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    • I don’t see why anyone would think this was Fed’s to lose. RBA had nothing to trouble Fed, so it’s easy for Fed to look invincible. Fed hasn’t played anyone who could challenge him. I still think that Novak can win this.

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      • agreed..in fact, i think Djokovic is the favorite to win the title… Nishi will be tough but he wont be able to play another 5 setter…dont think so…that’s asking too much…dont forget the menta/emotional exhaustion..its his first semi as well

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      • Djokovic massive favorite for the title. He matches up so well against Nishikori and will be so fresh for the final. Just doesn’t seem as legit without Rafa there, such bad luck with the wrist.

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  5. I think Murray needs to take a page from Kei’s book. He has worked with Michael Chang on his fitness and it paid off in those back-to-back matches.

    With two days off until the semifinal, I think it is possible that Kei has another five setter in him. I am not about to write him off.

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    • No, I would not like to think so! I believe that its in Murray’s mind! He needs to forget about the injury like Rafa was able to do in the end. When Rafa returned after the tour he was really hsisitant and it showed in his game, but after a while he began to trust his form. Murray needs to do the same, if he did last night, I bet he would have taken the match to five. We all know he is very capable of beating Novak!

      Ooglymoogly…..im with you there, it not legit with Rafa out, but its not their fault either!!! But, oh how I miss the Spanish bull!!!

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      • Thank goodness it’s over. It was getting quite painful to watch………..

        Onwards and upwards Muzza!

        Novak needs to tighten up on those UEs because Kei is in the hunt.

        #Ironman
        #RealDeal

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  9. Murray is very good tennis . He is getting back to his best level but needs a bit more time perhaps…

    for this match, I got a feeling muzz gona take set 4

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  11. Now I understand why Rafa has managed his injuries so he avoids surgery, thus far, touch wood. Muzza needs to get help on that back……….

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  12. I felt that Murray wasn’t going to be able to win the fourth set. He seemed to be having trouble with the back. He just couldn’t stay with Novak that long. I think that he’s not all the way back yet. But he is playing much better lately. The good news for him is that he can only gain points from here on out because he was off this time last year.

    I don’t know that one can say he’s finished as a top player or won’t ever be the same. It’s true that surgery really takes a toll on a player and it takes a lot of time to regain strength, fitness and mobility. That’s why I think Rafa’s team made the right decision with the knee in avoiding surgery and taking the more conservative approach.

    It’s very physical to play Novak. Just ask Rafa! I just think that at this point, Murray isn’t quite there yet. But that doesn’t mean he can’t get there. He should keep on working, deal with any back pain and try to gain some points in the fall hard court season and move up in the rankings.

    I am looking forward to seeing Novak and Kei in the semifinal. Everyone will pick Novak for the win, but I am not counting out Kei. He’s shown us so much in these last two matches.

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    • Yes, i am countin gon Kei…..but playing Novak is whole different animal!!! I am thinking that the Bird is going to be the dark horse in this tourney!!!!

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  13. Murray’s back did for him, such a shame. If surgery didn’t do it, what his next move? I had a minor operation on my knee in May last year, just in a day surgery lasting about 10-15 mins because I slipped on a pavement and bruised the cartilage and I can still feel pain where the surgeon made the incision.

    Nole is virtually in the final because I don’t know how Kei ended up beating Stan in 5 ets because he didn’t seem super fit to me.

    Reply

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