U.S. Open R4 previews and picks: Federer vs. Bautista Agut, Berdych vs. Thiem

September 2, 2014 Ricky Match previews 0

Fed 3Roger Federer will continue his U.S. Open campaign when he eyes a quarterfinal spot at the expense of Roberto Bautista Agut on Tuesday. Tomas Berdych and Dominic Thiem are also in fourth-round action.

(17) Roberto Bautista Agut vs. (2) Roger Federer

This time last year, Federer had already bowed out of the U.S. Open with a fourth-round loss on Labor Day to Tommy Robredo. Fast forward 12 months and this is a much different Federer despite seemingly being past his prime at 33 years old. The Swiss finished runner-up at Wimbledon and in Toronto, triumphed in Cincinnati, and so far this fortnight has taken out Marinko Matosevic, Sam Groth, and Marcel Granollers.

Federer’s relatively favorable draw continues with a first-ever clash against Bautista Agut during round-of-16 action on Tuesday night. Bautista Agut is a rock-solid baseliner who is in the midst of by far his best season on tour, but he has no real weapons with which to trouble his heavily-favored opponent. The 19th-ranked Spaniard booked his spot in the second week by defeating Andreas Haider-Maurer, Tim Smyczek, and Adrian Mannarino. Bautista Agut almost lost to Haider-Maurer and this is where his friendly draw comes to an abrupt end.

Pick: Federer in 3 losing 8-10 games

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(6) Tomas Berdych vs. Dominic Thiem

Berdych and Thiem will also be going head-to-head for the first time in their careers on Tuesday. Thiem’s breakout 2014 has continued with what is now the best and most notable result as a professional. The 20-year-old Austrian is through to the fourth round of his first-ever U.S. Open after crushing Lukas Lacko, coming back from two sets down to upset good friend Ernests Gulbis, and easing past Feliciano Lopez. Thiem has done the majority of his damage on clay this season, but his hard-hitting game can also work well on fast hard courts and it is doing just that in Flushing Meadows.

Although Berdych is still on course for another World Tour Finals berth, he has not played well since getting destroyed by Gulbis in the French Open quarterfinals. The seventh-ranked Czech’s summer hard-court results have included early losses in Washington, D.C., Toronto, and Cincinnati. In between straight-set routs of Lleyton Hewitt and Teymuraz Gabashvili this fortnight, Berdych struggled against Martin Klizan in a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 win. His confidence, though, should be back after thrashing Gabashvili and he has the benefit of facing an inexperienced opponent who has never been in this kind of situation. Talent-wise, Thiem can hang in there; Berdych’s experience and slightly superior ability to win free points on serve will be the differences.

Pick: Berdych in 4

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58 Comments on U.S. Open R4 previews and picks: Federer vs. Bautista Agut, Berdych vs. Thiem

    • @hawkeye,

      I saw some of that match. ESPN didn’t show much because of the lopsided nature of it, but the paucity of people in the stands was impossible to miss.

      I also noticed it in the Cilic/Simon match. It wasn’t as empty, but the stands weren’t full.

      Reply

    • I think Tiggy’s underestimating the Serb youngster, Krunic. I see something in her far more wily: brains. I see her running rings around the WTA pretty soon.

      Reply

    • Poster called @Roxitova at the bottom of the article adds the players’s current ranking which Tiggy did not. Certainly gives more perspective to the overall picture.

      Bouchard 20 yrs 8
      Bencic 17 years 59
      Kyrgios 19 years 60
      Thiem 21 yrs 45
      Krunic 21 years 143

      I see Kyrgios’s game as closer to Raonic’s. However, even at 19 (Kyrgios’s current age) Raonic was much more mature and professional in his approach to the game, which in my mind is a big part in his current Top 10 ranking. This is why I have a hard time agreeing with Tiggy’s projected ranking for Kyrgios right now. Who knows, he may change, become more mature and professional in which case Tiggy’s prediction could be right.

      Reply

  7. I don’t include Theim with players like Raonic and Dimitrov. He showed in the match with Berdy that he’s not ready for the big stage yet. It doesn’t mean that he can’t get there but right now still a work in progress. Jerzy had his supposed breakout year in 2013, yet hasn’t been able to follow it up this year. It’s true that he did have some injuries, but despite predictions that he would be in the top ten this year it just hasn’t happened. Kyrgios is another one who is still an unknown quantity. Only time will tell if he can do something in this sport.

    Raonic and Dimitrov are now in the top ten. That’s an accomplishment.

    Reply

      • @hawkeye,

        Point taken. But that’s why I don’t like to see Theim and Kyrgios lumped in with players like Raonic and Dimitrov. I believe that Raonic and Dimitrov are working towards realizing their potential. They have shown enough consistency to get into the top ten.

        As I said previously, everyone was raving about Jerzy as the next big thing in tennis. I was a bit more cautious because of his emotional outbursts and mood swings on court. He immediately reminded me of Marat Safin. The jury is still out on him. He’s young and still has time. The injuries did him in this year, but I don’t know if he is capable of being consistent enough despite having the shots and game to do something in this sport. I see Kyrgios as being similar to him in many ways. I think he’s even more tightly wound. But at least he was fined for bad behavior in Davis Cup, so hopefully that might set him on the right road.

        Reply

      • Agreed.

        Again though, Jerzy was ranked between No. 200-300 at 19. So I think the potential upside on Kyrgios is greater. But for sure he is a diamond in the rough and only time will tell.

        Dimi and Milosh are more accomplished but they have less time and more overlap with the Top 4.

        #ABirdInTheHand?

        Reply

  8. awkeye63 says:
    September 3, 2014 at 11:58 am
    “Sunday’s U.S. Open final between Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka drew the highest overnight ratings for a U.S. Open women’s final in 11 years—a 4.9 rating—which was higher than the men’s final’s ratings on MONDAY. Rafael Nadal’s four-set win over Novak Djokovic, also broadcast on CBS, earned a 2.8 overnight rating, according to Sports Business Daily.”

    The men’s final was held over until Monday because of bad weather which was a working day and ticket holders had to return to work because the tournament was supposed to finish on Sunday.

    Don’t try to obfuscate the facts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply

  9. hawkeye, you posted that newspaper quote to support your view that Rafa is not popular. You massage the low turnout where Federer is concerned but bend over backwards to prove that Rafa is unpopular. That piece should not have been used to support your views because of extenuating circumstances.

    They reduced the cost of the tickets for Federer’s match to $8 the other day, what have you got to say about that?

    Reply

    • Where do I say Rafa is not popular? Show me this. He is the second most popular player of all time!!! That’s extremely popular.

      Your favourite singer must be Chubby Checker. Let’s twist again. You and gussie could really boogie down to that one, for sure, no?

      I already addressed the $8 price heresay above. (No facts BTW just saying.) Please to read more carefully hahahaha.

      This is a riot! It’s KILLING Me!!!!!

      Not as fun as winding up ol’ scoretracker but still too funny!

      Reply

      • @hawkeye,

        You make me very nervous when you mention scoretracker. Now I have to anti-jinx!

        Of course you did not say that Rafa isn’t popular. Why would anyone say that? His popularity is not even up for debate.

        Loved the reference to Chubby Checker. Back in the day, I could do a mean twist!

        I appreciate your good sense of humor about it all, but I truly don’t see anything funny about one or two people going after other Rafa fans because they are not adhering to the party line. Are we supposed to say that Fed is unpopular just because we are Rafa fans? Has it really come to that? I want no part of it.

        Reply

      • Yes nny, we are all supposed to twist the truth just like the federazzi apparently.

        I completely hear and understand you regarding scoretracker as I remember your history with that nutbar stalking you but on some chubby checker level, it meant he valued what you said otherwiise he would not have responded.

        It seems I’m having my own “history” here!

        I will continue to defend my opinions with facts where applicable in a good natured way. I won’t let people twist my words nor will I twist theirs. This is the tool of the federazzi of which I want no part of.

        Keep on rockin’ nny!

        Reply

  11. The story is that Rafa is not the 2nd most popular player he is the most popular:

    FB

    Nadal
    14,625,178 likes

    Federer
    14,509,154 likes

    Twitter

    Nadal
    6.6m

    Federer
    2.13m

    Yea, yea, yea, Federer has won the Fans’ Favourite Award forever. If you believe that you’ll believe anything.

    Reply

    • Well again nadline I’m sure that the vast majority on Facebook follow both guys. Besides, even then, the difference is less than 1%.

      Social media like facebook and twitter are a skewed population. In addition, you yourself leave out a key stat that Federer has only been on twitter for a short period of time compared to Rafa.

      I do not say it is a fact that Fed is more popular than Rafa. I certainly nowhere have said that Rafa is not popular as you have ridiculously stated. It is my opinion based on watching tennis for many years especially overall crowd support. Again, it is only at the London Olympics where I’ve ever seen the crowd overall support for his opponent but that was cheering for their home country. In Wimby 2012 final and 2012 WTF final both in London, the crowd picked Fed over Murray.

      In addition, sometimes fans cheer for the underdogs in all matches to “get their money’s worth”. It is a common and understandable behaviour. I’ve seen it against all top players except for one.

      It is just my opinion. Nowhere have I tried to claim this as a fact.

      Reply

  12. hawkeye: “The same would occur regardless of if it was Rafa vs nobody. Especially wit tennis lack of interest in the US.today.”

    Why drag Rafa into this because it looks bad for Roger? Didn’t you say that Federer practices to a packed house, in which case, what does it matter who he is playing?

    Reply

    • Your first question is unclearly stated. I don’t understand your question “Why drag Rafa into this because it looks bad for Roger?” Please be so kind as to clarify and I will respond to the very best of my ability for you nadline.

      Both Roger and Rafa practice to a full house and Nole and Muzza too!

      In case you haven’t noticed, Ashe has a slighly higher capacity than practice courts.

      #ApplesAndOranges
      #PotsAndKettles
      #EmptySeats
      #MuchAdoAboutNothing

      Reply

      • I’m not really sure…………………… 🙂
        but basically Hawkeye has taken the Chairperson and the honorary news/pic editor of the Tenngrand Rafa fan club to task on the subject of who is the more popular player.

        Reply

      • The issue is that if anyone dares to say that Fed might be as popular or more popular or draw bigger crowds than Rafa, then they are just federazzi. Apparently, you can’t be a Rafa fan if you have anything good to say about any of the other top players.

        Of course Rafa must draw the biggest crowds, be the most popular player ever, have the most fb followers, twitter followers, while Fed is purportedly being propped up by the media and relying on rent-a-crowd to make it look like he can draw fans to his matches.

        That’s about it in a nutshell.

        Reply

  14. Length of time on twitter is irrelevant. How long does it take to follow someone on twitter? A nano second. Fed has been on it long enough to catch up.

    You said that tickets for Roger’s match were going for $8 because he was playing a nobody and the same would apply if Rafa was playing a nobody, that’s why I asked why you have to drag Rafa into it.

    Reply

    • i guess cause Nadal is Spanish and Fed is Swiss.

      if Fed were from Spain or Argentina, he’d prob have like 30 million.

      Del Potro trends worldwide on Twitter every time he goes to the bathroom.

      Reply

    • Irrelevant to the biased cherry picker perhaps.

      I drag Rafa and any other player into it (not just Rafa – please read more carefully).

      I mentioned Rafa by name because his fanatics here (you and augusta08) artificially prop him up by trying to put down Fed on observations that don’t’ just apply to him but to many players.

      I find no need to cheapen Rafa’s achievements with twisted information. This is how the federazzi NEED to prop up Federer as GOAT. They have no choice. To support Rafa’s greatness requires only facts.

      To each his/her own. Not my way.

      Reply

      • @hawkeye,

        You and I have definitely had our disagreements, but this latest post is now my favorite! Thank you for saying it! Someone had to, for heaven’s sake! All you need to do is read tennis-x where the real federazzi, the worst of the worst, have their home base. If any Fed fan there dares to say anything except fulsome hero worship praise, they will get tarred and feathered. If it’s not Skeezer, then madmax aka maxie, aka matheser, aka fleur, will do the job. She went after a few disheartened Fed fans on that site last year when they dared to get down on Fed for his annus horribilus. It’s not allowed.

        We should not emulate the likes of Skeezer or madmax.

        Reply

      • nativenewyorker7@:September 3, 2014 at 9:04 pm

        Once again, hawkeye63 is the ONLY person, who calls (some of) Rafa fans the federazzi here!!!

        As for tennis-x, I don’t visit it. I have read enough Fed fans’ nasty comments on other forums.

        Reply

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