US Open: Quarter-final Preview: Federer, Wawrinka, Azarenka, Kvitova favourites
The excitement has reached a fever pitch for tennis lovers with the commencement of the quarter-finals at the 2015 US Open. Some mouthwatering action waits on Day 10 of the Slam. Here is a preview of the second day of the quarter-finals.
Women’s Draw
(2) Simona Halep v (20) Victoria Azarenka
Head-to-head: Azarenka leads 2-0
This is one of the most anticipated matches on Day 10 of the US Open. Simona Halep has been a force to reckon with on hardcourts in 2015 and the two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka’s best surface is also hard court. After missing most of 2014 due to a foot injury, it has been a challenge for the Belarusian to trace her way back.
With off and on glimpses of her old brilliance, it is finally the Flushing Meadows where the two-time US Open runner-up has begun to re-assert her supremacy. Endowed with a self-assurance that was missing earlier, the former World No. 1 has been unafraid to go for her shots. Also, her occasional forays into the net to finish off the points have been impressive to watch. 96 winners have so far come from Azarenka's racquet and her third round classic against Angelique Kerber is a major testament to how good she is feeling right now in New York.
Halep, on the other hand, will be keen to build on the good run she had before the Slam by reaching the finals of both Toronto and Cincinnati. The Romanian has met Azarenka only twice in her career and each time she was pummelled. But that was in 2012, much before the 23-year-old’s meteoric rise.
Simona is a more accomplished player now and her gallant fightback against Sabine Lisicki in Round 4 gives an example of her sheer desire to win. What will probably not work in her favour is her thigh injury that might restrict her movements. The brutal conditions have been unkind to the second seed and if she gets too negative on herself again, the balance will readily tilt towards Azarenka.
Prediction: Azarenka in three sets
(5) Petra Kvitova v (26) Flavia Pennetta
Head-to-head: Kvitova and Pennetta are tied at 3-3
Diagnosed with mononucleosis, two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova’s expectations had been low as she returned to the Tour after the grasscourt major. The illness has curtailed the amount of time the Czech spends on the practice courts and that has brought a positive and calming effect on her. She has channelized her energy to her other interests which has eased off the pressure.
Petra did not start the US Open Series well having lost early at Toronto and Cincinnati, but she rediscovered her touch on the familiar courts of New Haven where she went on to win her third title. And she has brought that spirit and attitude to New York and is now into her first quarter-final at the US Open. Petra has dropped just 20 games in four matches – the fewest any of this year’s women’s quarter-finalists has conceded going into the last-eight. And that is brutal!
Kvitova has won her last three showdowns against her next opponent – the 26th seeded Flavia Pennetta. However, the worrying factor for the fifth seed is that Flavia manages to unleash her very best on these courts with this being her sixth quarter-final at the Big Apple. She totally thrives on the pace. However, if Kvitova can keep her errors at bay and continue looking this sharp, Pennetta will have a hard time.
Prediction: Kvitova in three sets
Men’s Draw
(5) Stan Wawrinka v (15) Kevin Anderson
Head-to-head: Anderson leads 4-3
Kevin Anderson’s phenomenal performance during his ouster of third seed Andy Murray was a career-changing moment for the South African. He has long earned himself the reputation of a big server. But on Monday, he was a revelation. Anderson thumped 81 winners past Murray and his forehand condemned the Scot to playing second fiddle throughout the match. At the net, the 6’8’’ Kevin had 71% success and he even won more than 45% of the medium rallies, showing his improved athleticism. In short, Anderson played a stupendous match, the sort of tennis that had been expected from him long back.
Having finally made it to a Slam quarter-final in his eighth fourth round appearance and that too by beating Murray, this was indeed an emotionally draining moment for him. On paper, his record against Stan Wawrinka makes it look easy for Anderson as the South African has won his last four matches against the Swiss.
But for Anderson, the challenge now is to block the Murray upset out of his mind and start afresh against a multiple Slam winner on such a big stage. That is where the French Open champion should have an edge and try to stop the winning streak of his rival.
Wawrinka has not lost before the quarters in any Slam this year and needs to put pressure early on in this match. He has pounded 208 winners so far in his four rounds, showing signs of his aggression. Tie-breaks have been a regular feature in his meetings with Anderson and it is imperative that Wawrinka brings his attacking game to get an early break.
Prediction: Stan Wawrinka in five sets
(2) Roger Federer v (12) Richard Gasquet
Head-to-head: Federer leads 14-2
34-year-old Roger Federer is unbeaten since Wimbledon, having produced a dazzling performance en route to his seventh Cincinnati title. At New York, the five-time US Open winner dropped just 20 games in his first three matches. His approach on returns has been ingenious where he has taken the balls early on a half-volley.
Against the serving machine John Isner in the fourth round, the Swiss continued the intensity on his returns, winning 36% of the receiving points. Roger even did the unthinkable by spectacularly shutting out Isner 0-7 in the first set tie-break. Besides, his serve has been impeccable with the maestro losing serve just twice in the entire tournament and all his matches have ended in straight sets so far. What is more important is Roger has admitted that unlike last year, he is not feeling any tiredness at all.
Clearly, this wouldn’t be music to the ears of the 12th seed Richard Gasquet who will be facing the Swiss. Gasquet has lost his last six encounters against Roger in straight sets and the last time he beat the former World No. 1 was back in 2011 on clay.
Gasquet may have been enjoying a late career resurgence, having reached the Wimbledon semi-finals this year. But that wouldn’t be enough against a confident Federer.
Prediction: Federer in straight sets