A downright shocking fourth-round affair on Monday at the All-England Club will pit Sam Querrey against Nicolas Mahut. Querrey is coming off a stunning upset of two-time defending champion Novak Djokovic. Adam Leigh previews the action.
Two tour veterans will offer up grass-court tennis in its purest form when they meet for a place in the last eight at Wimbledon on Monday afternoon.
Nicolas Mahut has sailed through his 2016 Wimbledon campaign thus far, dropping just a single set in wins over Brydan Klein, David Ferrer, and Pierre Hugues-Herbert. His routine passage represents a change of fortunes for the Frenchman at the All-England Club, having managed just one third-round appearance in 10 previous efforts.
Querrey has fared little better at SW19, with a solitary trip to the fourth round his best result in eight attempts. Regardless of what else he does in this year’s tournament, his 2016 showing will notably be remembered for derailing the calendar-year Grand Slam aspirations of world No. 1 Novak Djokovic. Prior to that signature win, Querrey toughed out a five-set contest against Lukas Rosol and a blowout of Thomas Bellucci in just a little more than 90 minutes.
Both men enjoy winning records this season and have a title to their names; Querrey on the hard courts of Delray Beach and Mahut with the third s-Hertogenbosch triumph of his career. Mahut accounted for the big-serving American on his way to the title in the Netherlands; his second win over Querrey following a straight-sets victory in last year’s U.S. Open.
This will be the essence of grass-court tennis, with Querrey raining bombs on serve while Mahut ill rush the front-court at every opportunity. At first look, people will see the win over Djokovic and assume Querrey will get past Mahut without much fuss, however in tennis that’s not quite how these things work. If the 6’6 Querrey deals another 31 aces as he did in his win over Djokovic, it will make life tough for Mahut. Though it’s just as likely he can’t put up a service performance like that again and Mahut has the tools on the grass to give Querrey plenty of trouble.
With less play out on court 18 and a lot of moisture about, the ball will sit up a little more and in a match almost exclusively decided by short points, Mahut will blunt Querrey’s service just enough to slice and volley his way to a first ever quarterfinal appointment at the game’s spiritual home.
Pick: Mahut in 4
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My feeling is that Mahut has the finesse to achieve a comprehensive victory over Querrey. Djokovic did most certainly play, one of the most uncharacteristic matches of his career.
I think this should be a good match between these two. My concern with Querrey us if he can replicate his performance against Novak. Can he come out serving as well and blasting all those aces? History has shown that it is tough to back up a great upset win with a victory in the next round.
I think Mahut could have the edge here. It’s hard to pick because I would love to see Querrey get through to the quarterfinals. But I think Mahut will prevail in 4 sets,
Going for the American, don’t care how many sets it takes.
Querrey could win this and it would be awesome to see him get through and have an American in the QF but my pick is Mahut in four. It would be sick to see him in the QF too so I’m not that sure who I’m rooting for. Maybe a little more Querrey because it would be awesome if he backed up the Djoker win. Still Mahut in the quarters would be pretty cool. This might be the match I’m looking forward to the most actually. First time grand slam quarterfinalist coming up.
Mahut playing great….should win in 4 (but bravo to Sam Q for the biggest win of the tourney!!!).
Mahut over the servebot that just handed Fed his backdoor 18th.
Murray hasn’t taken a set of Federer in their last four matches lol and hasn’t beaten him in well over three years.
How exactly is he the odds on favourite???
Querrey up two sets. Way to go!
Goffin and Raonic just started.
Querrey gets it done in 3 sets! ESPN commies said this is the first time an American man has been in the quarterfinals of a slam since 2011!
Way to go Sam! I am happy to be wrong about this one. Next it’s either Goffin or Raonic.
Querrey served lights out! He was unbelievable! Highly unlikely that he continues this performance….
I thought he wouldn’t continue it into this match! So he did capitalize on his big win over Novak!
Well if he picked up from where he left off after the Novak win I think he can keep it up after the Mahut victory. If he serves like that again he has a reasonable shot at the semis.
He won’t continue it against Fed.
#18NID
Hugely impressed by Querrey. Backs it up with conviction. He was just on fire pelting down aces and groundstroke winners all day. Superb performance from Sam. USA!!
Goffin just took the opening set against Raonic. Goffin is looking very sharp right now, reading the Raonic serve and returning well.
Not surprise with Querrey’s win over Mahut; Querrey is playing well this tournament, no fluke.
A bit surprised with Goffin winning two sets over Raonic the big server. I thought Raonic played OK the first few matches. I think Querrey stands a better chance vs Goffin.
I’m impressed with both Querrey and Cilic so far; hope both of them win their next match.
I am surprised to see how easily Goffin is beating Raonic. It seemed as though Raonic was going to have a shot a going deep here. But Goffin has been the better player.
I was not necessary surprised to see Querrey beat Mahut. I said that if he could continue playing the way he did against Novak, then he would have the chance to win. I just wasn’t sure if there would be the letdown that can follow such s big win. The fact that Querrey played well again and backed up his win, is a good thing!
Raonic up a break in the 3rd….
Yeah I wasn’t surprised because he was of course capable of winning after beating Novak but I picked Mahut because I expected a letdown from Querrey and a determined Mahut to take advantage. I am surprised though that Querrey won in straights because I expected maybe a little bit of nerves but holy crap he showed none. He just played lights out tennis. His serve was especially on fire.
I have to watch Goffin/ Raonic on my iPhone because ESPN us televising Serena and Venus.
Maybe Raonic can make a comeback.
Hope not. This will just be a dream for Fed if Goffin wins. Cilic could be a tough challenge but if Roger gets by him which I think he will he would have Goffin or Querrey in the semis. Such a huge opportunity for Fed already and it’s even bigger if Goffin wins.
Raonic up a break in the 4th.
Andy Nick warming up.
Raonic came back from two sets down to take it to a fifth set.
Crap Raonic won.
Gasquet retired at 2-4 in the second. I think because of a back injury. You could tell he didn’t want to but he had no chance. Lol that means if Isner had just won that match he would’ve been in the QF. And we would’ve have two Americans in the QF. Bit of a shame but that’s awesome for Jo Willy to be in the QF after his disappointing end to RG.
Didn’t know this but Querrey leads the head to head with Raonic. He’s still the underdog but he’s got a shot for sure.