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The second week of the US Open is here and there are still some interesting and intriguing matches to look forward to as the number of contenders continue to disappear after every match.
In Part I of this preview, the half anchored by Roger Federer, David Ferrer and Rafael Nadal was looked into. This part will look at the top half, which is led by Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Tomas Berdych.
Here is the full preview for the top half of the men’s round of 16 matches:
Novak Djokovic (1) vs. Marcel Granollers
Head-to-head: Djokovic 1-0
Last meeting: Djokovic 6-1, 6-3, 6-1, first round, 2011 Australian Open
There is simply no stopping Novak Djokovic.
The Serbian’s run to a second US Open title to go with the one he won in 2011 will face up to another easy assignment when he takes on Spain’s Marcel Granollers for a place in the quarter-finals.
Simply, Djokovic has been too hard to beat, as he belies a season, which has seen his standards drop in recent times. He’s breezed past Ricardas Berankis, Benjamin Becker and now Joao Sousa without even being threatened (through he was broken in the latter match as he was serving for the match), and should not be challenged by his next opponent in the form of Granollers.
By contrast to Djokovic’s easy victory, Granollers had to do it the hard way, defeating the last American standing to record his best ever performance at a Grand Slam tournament and dismissing the last American man left in the draw, Tim Symczek.
But the Serb will be keen and eager to extend his streak of 17 consecutive Grand Slam quarter-finals into an 18th, and should get the job done here.
Key: Simply, no one can stop the Serb now, and if he keeps playing the way that he is at the moment, then Nadal better watch out.
Prediction: Djokovic in straight sets.
Mikhail Youzhny (21) vs. Lleyton Hewitt
Head-to-head: Hewitt 5-1
Last meeting: Hewitt 6-4, 6-4, first round, 2012 Cincinnati Masters
Lleyton Hewitt’s impressive run at this year’s US Open has led him to the fourth round. The Australian takes on Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny for a place in the quarter-finals.
Both players have had significant success at the US Open; Hewitt is the 2001 champion and 2004 finalist whilst Youzhny is a two-time semi-finalist.
Reaching the fourth round marks Hewitt’s best performance here since 2006, and now he will have the chance to go through to his first Grand Slam quarter-final since Wimbledon in 2009.
His record against Youzhny is a dominant one; the Aussie has won five of their six meetings, the lone exception being Tokyo in 2009.
Given his impressive form so far this US summer, you can confidently bet on Hewitt going one better and earning him a likely shot at world number one Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals.
Key: Hewitt might be roaring at the moment, but it’s Youzhny who has experienced more recent success. But this match could go either way.
Prediction: Hewitt in four sets.
Andy Murray (3) vs. Denis Istomin
Head-to-head: Murray 1-0
Last time: Murray 6-4, 7-6 (7-3), quarter-finals, 2013 Brisbane International
It hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing for Andy Murray but there’s no doubt that he is playing the best tennis of his career as he plays a Grand Slam tournament as the defending champion for the first time.
After storming past Michael Llodra in the opening round, Murray endured struggles against two Mayers in his next two rounds: against Leonardo in the second round, where he dropped the third set before winning in four sets, and against Florian in the third round, where the first set went to a tiebreak before eventually prevailing in straight sets.
Against Denis Istomin, who pulled off a five-set victory against Andreas Seppi in the third round, Murray should have little trouble as he continues on his merry way in defending his US Open title.
Victory here would see Murray reach his 11th consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final dating back to the 2011 Australian Open.
Key: Can Istomin carry on his form from the third round, or will Murray brutally expose the consequences of defeating an opponent coming off a five-set victory?
Prediction: Murray in straight sets.
Stanislas Wawrinka (9) vs. Tomas Berdych (5)
Head-to-head: Wawrinka 6-5
Last meeting: Wawrinka 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, semi-finals, 2013 Madrid Masters
If there is one man who is playing the best tennis of his career thus far, it’s Switzerland’s third-most famous identity in Stanislas Wawrinka.
The Swiss’ Grand Slam results are improving this year, as seen when he pushed Djokovic to a 12-10 final set at the Australian Open, and also reached the quarter-finals at the French Open, falling to Nadal in straight sets.
He is now into the fourth round of the US Open, where last year he was forced to retire against Djokovic due to illness. This time, he’ll be intent on going one better, and what an easy assignment he has when he tackles the inconsistent Czech, Tomas Berdych.
Berdych, a semi-finalist last year, has sandwiched two quarter-final losses to Djokovic at the Australian Open and Wimbledon with a first-round loss to Gael Monfils at the French Open.
Like a few before him, he has yet to drop a set as he bids to reach the US Open quarter-finals for the second year in a row. But Wawrinka is as tricky as an opponent can be, as proven when the Swiss won their last meeting in Madrid earlier this year.
Berdych, however, won their most recent meeting at a Grand Slam, an upset at the Australian Open four years ago.
Key: Wawrinka is playing great tennis and although Berdych is the higher-ranked of the opponents, he should breeze through to a second US Open quarter-final here.
Prediction: Wawrinka in straight sets.
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