US Open 2013 preview: Men's round of 16 clash
Lleyton Hewitt
A full banquet of high quality tennis action awaits tennis fans on Day 9 of the final Grand Slam of the year. Monday saw the biggest upset of the Open so far. Roger Federer’s poor form continued as he went down to Tommy Robredo.
The seventh seeded Federer had the worst year of his career, featuring in none of the finals of the Grand Slam this year.
Then later on in the day, David Ferrer won against Janko Tipsarevic in a four-setter to book his berth in quarterfinal. The World No.2 and the title favourite, Rafael Nadal sailed through to the quarters with a four-set win over Philipp Kohlschreiber.
Day 9 will feature some mouth watering clashes with Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Victoria Azarenka – all in action.
Tomas Berdych vs Stanislas Wawrinka
In what is expected to be the most closely fought match of the day, fifth-seeded Berdych takes on the ninth-seeded Wawrinka. This clash is expected to go down to the wire. Their head to head record is in favour of Wawrinka by a slight margin of 6-5 in their 11 ties so far.
Their head to head record in the current year stands 1-1 each, with Wawrinka winning on clay and Berdych on the hard courts.
With both of them looking strong and raring to go all the way, this encounter has a five-setter written all over it.
Lleyton Hewitt vs. Mikhail Youzhny:
“At least I know who I’m playing. Half the draw I don’t know anymore,” came the reply from the 32-year-old Hewitt, who was in a trance when he made it to round of 16. Hewitt, who made it to the fourth round of the Grand Slam after seven years is a confident man.
He has a head-to head record of 5-1 against his 21st-ranked opponent. Another win will earn him a potential quarter-final clash against Novak Djokovic.
Hewitt is on a roll this year at the Flushing Meadows. The former US Open champion has a chance to accomplish what Roger Federer couldn’t do, reaching the Quarterfinal of the US Open as a 32-year-old veteran. He has already upset one of the the pre-tournament favourites Juan Martin Del Porto in five sets, and he will fancy his chances against the Russian.
Youzhny is a tremendous fighter and has a lot of variety in his game. The 21st-seed is riding high after an impressive defeat of Tommy Haas. The Russian would like to ride the crest of momentum to beat the Australian and achieve a surreal upset over the underdog if that makes any sense.