US Open 2012: Day 11 Preview
September 6, 2012 · Print This Article
by: Tom Cochrane
Top seed Roger Federer is out of the US Open, upset in a thrilling 4 setter by sixth seed Tomas Berdych. Meanwhile, Andy Roddick’s marvellous career finally came to an end on Day 11, the American competing strongly against Juan Martin Del Potro but ultimately succumbing to the big Argentine’s power game.
Day 10 Recap
Up 2 sets to love and a break in the third set, courtesy of some sublime serving and brilliant groundstrokes, Berdych showed a couple of nerves in the third set, as Federer rode a very willing crowd to fight back and claim the third set. Games went on serve in the third set until the eighth game, when Berdych broke through and then duly served it out to love to claim one of the best wins of his career.
Resuming play in the first set tiebreaker after rain suspended the match on Day 9, Roddick raced out of the blocks, claiming the tiebreaker for the loss of just one point. The second set also went to a tiebreaker, but Del Potro was sharper this time around, claiming the set and building momentum. From there, the Argentine wasn’t really troubled, going on to claim victory in 4 sets, as a teary Roddick bid farewell to an appreciative New York crowd.
In other men’s matches on Day 10, Janko Tipsarevic was too strong for Philipp Kohlschreiber, while second seed Novak Djokovic was well on top of Stan Wawrinka when the Swiss had to retire in the third set with an unspecified injury. Andy Murray looked in trouble when he lost the first set against Marin Cilic and entered a second set tiebreaker, but the Scot edged past Cilic in the tiebreaker and crushed the Croat in the third and fourth sets, losing just 2 of the last 14 games.
In the women’s tournament, Victoria Azarenka will face off against Maria Sharapova in the semi-finals after the Russian came back from a set down to defeat Marion Bartoli. The other semi-final pits the in-form Serena Williams against Italy’s Sara Errani, after Williams easily accounted for Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic and Errani overcame her compatriot and doubles partner Roberta Vinci.
Matches of the Day – Day 11
1. Janko Tipsarevic vs. David Ferrer
Through to his fourth Grand Slam quarter-final of another ultra-consistent year on the ATP Tour, fourth seed David Ferrer is a beast on the court and is very difficult to defeat. Other than the very best players, who have the shots to finish off points against Ferrer, almost everyone else struggles to fend off the plucky Spaniard, who has great speed around the court and incredible accuracy with his groundstrokes.
Ferrer’s opponent today, Janko Tipsarevic, has been in great form for the last 12 months or so, finally delivering on his huge potential. Tipsarevic made the quarter-finals of last year’s US Open, where he lost to compatriot and eventual champion Novak Djokovic. The eighth seed will be looking to improve on last year’s effort, but I sense Ferrer will be too consistent on the key points. Ferrer in 5.
2. Juan Martin Del Potro vs. Novak Djokovic
After seeing off American poster boy Andy Roddick in his previous match, Juan Martin Del Potro faces another high-profile clash, this time against second seed and defending champion Novak Djokovic. Del Potro upset Djokovic to claim the bronze medal at the Olympics in London earlier this year, but the Serb claimed revenge on hard-courts shortly thereafter.
Del Potro has been in good form in the last month or two, while Djokovic (by his lofty standards) has been solid without being spectacular. Look for Del Potro to go on the aggressive from the outset and try to dictate the points with his big forehand. Djokovic is a master at turning defence into offence, however, with his brilliant court movement and anticipation abilities. This should be another great match and a close-fought affair, but I’ll take Djokovic down the stretch. Djokovic in 4.
That’s it for today. Enjoy the tennis and I’ll be back with another serve tomorrow.
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