Tuesday 4 September 2012

US Open: Quarter-Final Predictions for Day 10

Ivanovic
Ana Ivanovic v Serena Williams
Serena Williams encountered a few sticky moments in her second round with Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, but since then has cruised her way through the draw with three straight bagels; she destroyed Andrea Hlavackova, 6-0 6-0 in her 4th round match.  Serena was in the quiet and intense mood, which is when she appears to be her most destructive.  Ivanovic has reached her first Grand Slam quarter-final since winning the French Open although she has yet to face a seed.  To her credit, she did take out the dangerous Sloane Stephens in the third round and held her nerve to beat Tsvetana Pironkova in the 4th round.  Ivanovic has never beaten Serena, but she can go out there with no pressure and just swing... I still think she is going to struggle to challenge Serena though!
Prediction - Serena to beat Ivanovic in 2 sets

Vinci
Sara Errani v Roberta Vinci
The surprise quarter-final will see an all-Italian match up between best friends and double partners, Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci.  Both players enjoyed big wins in the 4th round; Errani outslugged Angelique Kerber, 7-6 6-3, meanwhile Vinci demonstrated the art of volleying with an aggresive performance to tame the world number two Agnieszka Radwanska, 6-1 6-4.  Vinci is on a terrific run at the moment having claimed the title in Dallas and has now reached her first ever Grand Slam quarter final at the age of 29.  Errani and Vinci will know everything about each others games and it promises to be an emotional match-up; I think it will be tight, but I fancy Vinci to edge it...
Prediction - Vinci to beat Errani in 3 sets

Berdych
Roger Federer v Tomas Berdych
Roger Federer received a walkover into the quarter-finals after Mardy Fish had to pull out with health problems.  It was extremely sad to Fish pull out following all his tribulations with heart problems earlier in the year so all the best to Mardy for a quick recovery to whatever has hampered him at this Open.  Tomas Berdych will be Federer's opponent in the quarter-finals; after a tough spell over the grass court season, the Czech player seems to be playing himself into form once more and he was solid in a straight sets win over Nicolas Almagro.  Berdych as enjoyed some big wins over Federer, most notably at Wimbledon in 2010.  I fancy this to be a really, really tough match with Federer skating by after a big effort from Berdych...
Prediction - Federer to beat Berdych in 5 sets

Cilic
Andy Murray v Marin Cilic
Andy Murray produced a sensational performance to quieten the serving prowess of Milos Raonic with a 6-4 6-4 6-2 victory.  He struggled in his third round match with Feliciano Lopez, but was much more comfortable under the lights of Arthur Ashe.  Marin Cilic has taken advantage of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga's departure from the tournament and beat his conqueror, Martin Klizan in a straight set fourth round win.  Cilic has beaten Murray at the US Open before but I am still backing Murray to win his first Grand Slam here and it should be business as usual for the Brit...
Prediction - Murray to beat Cilic in 3 sets

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