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Four time Australian Open champion Roger Federer faces 2009 US Open winner Juan Martin del Potro in what is sure to be a competitive quarter-final. Join us for live scores and blog later this afternoon.
After a relatively straight forward passage to the quarter-finals, Federer could have his hands full against Del Potro – the man who managed to defeat the Swiss maestro in the 2009 US Open final.
Federer however remains the firm favourite for this match, given that the world No.3 plays an opponent that is only just beginning to regain the form that won him his first Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows.
With seemingly the world at his feet, disaster struck for Del Potro early in 2010, as the Argentine succumbed to a wrist injury that forced him to miss the majority of the season.
Since making his return from injury in November 2010, Del Potro has steadily risen up the rankings and now finds himself on the verge of once again cracking the top ten on the ATP tour.
At his best, Del Potro certainly possesses the game and temperament to beat Federer. The question however remains whether or not the Argentine is once again ready to play at the level that saw him reach a career high ranking of world No.4 two years ago.
Unlike Del Potro, Federer has remained injury free for many years and approaches this Australian Open quarter-final with form on the board.
Federer is currently on a 20 match winning streak, with his last defeat coming at the 2011 US Open semi-finals where he lost an epic five setter to Novak Djokovic.
Judging from Federer’s fourth round win over Bernard Tomic, the Swiss Maestro is now starting to showcase the form that continues to make him such a staple for the latter stages of all the Grand Slams.
Prediction:
Like in the 2009 US Open final, Del Potro will look to bully Federer from the baseline with his aggressive hitting, particularly off the forehand side where he can do so much damage.
When on song, Del Potro’s forehand is probably the most powerful shot on the ATP tour, and the Argentine will be looking to unleash it whenever Federer offers anything short.
Likewise, Federer will also look to his forehand to cause Del Potro problems.
While Del Potro’s forehand is all about power, Federer’s forehand is all about precision, so expect the Swiss maestro to move Del Potro around the court with some accurate hitting near the baseline.
Given that Del Potro is a tall man, Federer will most likely use the dropshot as well to expose the Argentine’s lack of movement when approaching the net.
Across the board, it seems that Federer still possesses the complete game to defeat Del Potro, who is still rediscovering the form that him earmarked as a future world No.1
While Del Potro should provide the Swiss maestro with some nervous moments, a victory against Federer may still be beyond him at this stage of the season.
Federer to win.