US Open 2014: MOTD Day 10 Wed 3/09/2014 Men's Quarter finals

Matches for the day:

1. Victoria Azarenka (BLR) [32]
vs.
Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) [33]


Women's tennis  but for Serena, is so unpredictable, its  almost a toss up.


2. Stan Wawrinka (SUI) [26]
vs.
Kei Nishikori (JPN) [33]




3. Serena Williams (USA) [23]
vs.
Flavia Pennetta (ITA) [33]


4. Novak Djokovic (SRB) [26]
vs.
Andy Murray (GBR) [33]





My picks:


1. Azarenka JOKER
2. Stan Wawrinka
3. Serena Williams
4. Djokovic 

Really hard matches to predict today!

Makarova
Stanimal
Serena
Djokovic (Joker)

Azarenka
Wawrinka (joker)
Williams
Djokovic

1. Victoria Azarenka (BLR) [32]
2 - Kei Nishikori (JPN) [33] Joker
3. Serena Williams (USA) [23]
4. Novak Djokovic (SRB) [26]

My "suggested GP" picks (he wanted to pick but is offline the rest of the day).
1. Victoria Azarenka (BLR) [32]
2 -Wawrnka
3. Serena Williams (USA) [23]
4. Andy Murray Joker

Here's my few bob about today's matches...

This is where draw kicks in and begins to favour Federer.
Whoever gets to the final of today's 4 players is going to be half-dead.
Stan should beat Nishi mainly as Nishi is already dead from wrestling injured against Raonic for 5 long sets deep into the night.
This is of course a great shame because if he was fresh and fit, I think he'd have no trouble going past Stan.
That's why slams are so difficult to win - apart from good draw and skill plus all you can do as a player to prepare yourself, great stamina and experience are required, a bit like running a marathon - you have to pace yourself and leave something in the tank for the finish line.
Still, it will be a very entertaining match while Nishi lasts...

Nole-Murray, here we have a final of the physical era and two players who have mastered current playing conditions.
Both play modern base-line game, but here lies the beauty of tennis as a sport which transcends all eras: it allows the character to show through.
Despite significantly improving his serve and especially FH, making himself not only an annoying and difficult retriever, but also quite an able ball-blaster, Murray's passive nature will never make him a favourite against aggressive-minded Nole.
At best, he will be a stubborn, very physical opponent for him...which has been enough every time Nole was not in the right place emotionally.

Right now, there is no reason to believe Nole is not 100% into this tournament, he has had 4 convincing 3 setters, all played under 2 hours, and that included some gruelling hot&humid day matches.

Tennis wise, there is nothing to look forward to: all the fun will occasionally come off Nole's racquet.

It will be a night's match, so we'll have grind galore...

Bottom line, Nole is a better server, has a better, more versatile FH, is more naturally aggressive and that should make the difference.

Muscle-power, however long it lasts is on Murray's side.

IDEMO NOLE MAJSTORE!!!!!!!!!

noleisthebest wrote:This is where draw kicks in and begins to favour Federer.
Whoever gets to the final of today's 4 players is going to be half-dead.

It's oinly fair that those who embraced the lung bursting game face each other. For once I actually think the draw is very fair.
Stan should beat Nishi mainly as Nishi is already dead from wrestling injured against Raonic for 5 long sets deep into the night.

Both play modern base-line game, but here lies the beauty of tennis as a sport which transcends all eras: it allows the character to show through.

Yes and they have both a "retriever" character!

I hope I will be able to see some of it....shoudl be interesting this time around but one thing is clear, fitness is not on Murray side. He will have the power but certainly not the stamina. I predict Djoko in 4.....if not 3.

Yes, they both have the same game but they play it differently, the difference is easiest to see the way they handle Nadal.

Also, re stamina/muscle&power, I made a comment on Nole's superior stamina the other day...he probably has the best stamina of all players as he is so fit and light plus he is an exceptional natural athlete.
Nadal is obviously the strongest, also a natural athlete.
Murray is 2nd strongest and 2nd fittest on tour but as he is an artificial athlete his stamina is the poorest, which is why I believe he is passive and has those dips, he simply cannot sustain his level physically in continuation like Nadal.
Nole will outlast anyone incl Nadal only because of his stamina, not strength or fitness.
Federer is just a superb natural athlete whose game and talent don't put additional pressure on his body.

noleisthebest wrote:...plus he is an exceptional natural athlete.

I m not sure about "natural", I remember him as an asthmatic, gluten allergic, needing glasses to see clearly! He is however a very hard worker!

Nole will outlast anyone incl Nadal only because of his stamina, not strength or fitness. But he failed 3 times at the FO v Nadal!

Tenez wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:...plus he is an exceptional natural athlete.

I m not sure about "natural", I remember him as an asthmatic, gluten allergic, needing glasses to see clearly! He is however a very hard worker!

noleisthebest wrote:
Nole will outlast anyone incl Nadal only because of his stamina, not strength or fitness.

 But he failed 3 times  at the FO v Nadal!

Yes, despite asthma/contact lenses and gluten allergy, he has always been and still looks and moves like a natural athlete, not a Michelin man.
The way he walks says everything: tall, smooth, straight.
Murray on the other hand walks like he desperately needs toilet...

And yes, he is a hard worker, just like everyone in top 10-20, with the exception of maybe Gulbis.
They can all only work with what they've been given, though.

As for failing to Nadal at FO 3 times, apart from always having physically sapping much tougher draws and fresher Nadal across the net, I can't really think of any other reason...you tell me!

My picks for the day:

1. Victoria Azarenka (BLR) [32] (Joker)

2. Stan Wawrinka (SUI) [26]

3. Serena Williams (USA) [23]

4. Novak Djokovic (SRB) [26]

1. Victoria Azarenka (BLR) [32]

2. Stan Wawrinka (SUI) [26] - joker, don't believe Nishikori can win for all the reasons mentioned. All the best to Nishikori though.

3. Serena Williams (USA) [23]

4. Novak Djokovic (SRB) [26] - surprised, Murray got that far tbh; he looked better vs. Tsonga who is a favourable match-up for him though. Djokovic is in a much better place atm and should come out as the winner in a hopefully exceptionally gruelsome 5-setter.

Stan and Novak.  But you just never know.  Murray may play decent and Djok may turn up playing awful like Tsonga did.  All depends.  Novak A game = Murray dead.

I'm gonna call the final now...

Stan v Fed

And it's the Stan-Nishi time!

I can't believe I only saw about a max of 5 minutes of both players during this entire USO, blame it on really poor scheduling.

I like both players, but have developed quite a soft spot for Nishi.
I really enjoy his quick ball-striking and light feet.

Go Nishi!

Quite a flat first set despite some nice points.

Stan's serving making the difference.
Also, the fact he has no qualms about unleashing both his BH but esp his FH down the line, keeping Nishi guessing and losing half a step all the time.
The early break of serve took the drama out if the 1 set. Hope for a fightback from Nishi.

Sorry Nishikori, but against a big hitter, being under 6 feet really won't help you.  I rek Nishikori would have been an amazing badminton or table tennis player.

Saying that, he is a pretty amazing player at 5 feet 10 at tennis.  But if he was 6 feet 1 I reckon he'd be a real force.


7-0 in aces to Wawrinka...  it does make a difference, sadly.

Height is important, but nothing beats timing when serving.

ooo-la-laaaaa!
Stan double-faults on the set point....1:1

The match has begun

With both Nishi and Stan taking the ball early, some beautiful rallies and shotmaking!

Hugely impressive by Nishikori.  He really is an exceptional player given his size.  Never thought he'd be able to boss Wawrinka about, but he is doing.  If he was taller, this guy would be a slam champ already.  He doesn't get many free points in first serve, and that is crucial.

I spoke too soon didnt i?  That was a bad bad game from Nishikori.  Again, though, no free points.

What a volley...Nishi on fire is special.....Kei?

Fantastic TB!
What a gutsy drop-shot from Nishi for 4:5!

Stanimal in his beast BTDTL mode for 6:6!

Gutsy from both though!

Wow!!!!!
What a BH from Nishi for 7:7!!!

Another set point for Nishi!

...and he takes it! 2:1.
Best match by far so far.

I hate it that one of these players (both I really like, especially Stan) is going out here! Why not cilic or berdych?!

Tell me about it!
That's the "beauty" of draws...
Another one was Mannarino-Fognini.

Funny to see both still mentally recovering from the TB by racing through their service games.
So easy to lose a game, and consequently a set in that frame of mind.
The number of matches Nadal nicked like that....

And now both beginning to tire...focus is gold in the next two ganes. 3:3.

to a 5th we go! ALLEZ STAN!

What a match from, Nishi!!!!
So happy for him

Andy

Exchange of breaks to start the match.

Nole breaks again.

Mhmm.  At 1:4 and BP down I was wondering if Nole was running away with it, and now all of a sudden we are back on serve.

Fairly boring - though steady - stuff so far.

summerblues wrote:Mhmm.  At 1:4 and BP down I was wondering if Nole was running away with it, and now all of a sudden we are back on serve.

Fairly boring - though steady - stuff so far.

Same thing in the 2nd set!

Did anyone noticed that each time Murray is gasping for air, he does his shoes laces? It's a way to hide he is gasping for air.

Tenez wrote:Did anyone noticed that each time Murray is gasping for air, he does his shoes laces? It's a way to hide he is gasping for air.

Hehe, I was thinking the same.

Djoko is the king of retrieving. Impressive hitting from Murray...but neither can keep their serve.

Murray really goes for his FH....pretty impressive

I m not sure who of the 2 is the more dangerous player for Federer?

Shot wise..Murray for sure....but stamina wise...Djoko! whoever Federer might face, it is going to be a tall order.

both players are playing very well....well I mean very muscly tennis.

Nole and Andy actually play fairly similar games today. Andy is now the aggressor, but earlier on Nole also hit some big shots.

If they were to meet in the final, then whoever Fed plays, he will need to find a way to shorten the points against them. There is no way he lives with them in these kinds of rallies.

I wonder where nitb is; I am sure she is not asleep, but at the same time might be too scared to watch...

I can watch one more set maybe; and will have to check out after that.  I was hoping the match could end in ~2.5 hrs

Some pretty impressive hitting from Andy in that game.

Murray a perfect case of a player improving his shots past 27! His FH is easily 10 times better than his 23-25 "peak".