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2012-01-23 19:02:58
Tennistalk's expert picks are back for the Australian Open quarterfinals, which features three matchups we all though we would see when the draw came out...plus a surprise appearance by Japanese star Kei Nishikori. Make you own predictions in the comment's section and try to beat the Tennistalk panel!
(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (5) David Ferrer
Ricky "Monfils over Nadal in Doha" Dimon: This is the only one of the four quarterfinal matchups that I don't have strong convictions about. Obviously I would be stunned if Djokovic lost the match, but this could be anywhere from a blowout to a five-set thriller. Ferrer crushed Djokovic in London, but the Serb was a shadow of his real self at the end of a long and amazing year. Technically this is not a good matchup for Ferrer because Djokovic can do everything the Spaniard can do and he can do it all better. Somehow, though, Ferrer has won five of their 11 meetings. Djokovic 6-4, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3.
Cheryl "Rusty took a set off Djoker" Murray: David Ferrer defeated Djokovic a couple of months ago at the World Tour Finals, but that was an exhausted Nole. The one he'll be facing on Wednesday is fresh as a daisy. The Spaniard has the speed and return game to keep up with Djokovic. I expect this to be a good one with both men blasting away from the baseline. The outcome of this match is going to come down to Ferrer's serve, because frankly, it's not good enough. Djokovic 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-4.
Cheryl: Andy Murray really dodged a bullet with this one. Instead of world No. 6 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, he gets Nishikori. Nishikori played brilliantly against Tsonga, but it took him five sets and 3 and 1/2 hours. Murray is going to be all too happy to exploit what are sure to be heavy legs and relative inexperience at the business end of a Grand Slam. The Scot has been breezing through his section of the draw and I don't expect that to end just yet. Murray 6-2, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.
Cheryl: This has all the makings of an instant classic. Del Potro is getting dangerously close to the form that saw him to the US Open title in 2009 and Federer was flat-out brilliant against Tomic. If Del Potro maintains the form that saw him run roughshod over Philipp Kohlschreiber, the match will be determined by how well Federer is able to handle the power of Del Potro's groundstrokes and how well the Swiss serves. I almost don't want to call this one because I think it's going to be that close, but Ricky will tell me I have to, so here goes. Federer 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(5), 3-6, 8-6.
Cheryl: Berdych had a cracker of a match in the fourth round against Nicolas Almagro. In fact, the Czech spent nearly four hours on court and scraped out a trio of tiebreak sets to get the four-set win. Nadal, conversely, has rolled through his draw. Not only has the Spaniard not dropped a set, he hasn't even faced a set point. Berdych is going to be a tougher prospect than anyone he's faced so far, but Nadal is playing and serving well enough that he should get past Berdych. Nadal 6-3, 2-6, 7-5, 6-4.
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Nadal in 3 - 6-4, 7-5, 6-3
Federer in 4: 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 6-2
Djokovic in 3: 6-4,6-2,6-2
Murray in 3: 6-4, 6-4, 6-3
atul1985 , 1/23/12 7:47 PM
not saying djokovic cant dominate ferrer like that but you are exgerating his level a little bit. I mean to say that it was a little funny when u said novak should be given the Oz open trophy when he was 2 sets up against hewitt ! haha, he may well go on to lift it because he has been SUPREMELY DOMINANT in the last 3 slams but let me tell you there are 3 men who are wel capable of stopping him !
vamosrafa , 1/23/12 8:37 PM
the above post was atul1985 :)
vamosrafa , 1/23/12 8:39 PM
of the 4, whom do you think is the most likely to lose in the QFs?
RickyDimon , 1/23/12 9:19 PM
^^^ Federer, but only because DelPo is probably the hardest of the opponents.
cherylmurray , 1/23/12 9:48 PM
People forget that this is Ferrer's worst surface. At most, he'll take a set. However, I do not expect a blowout. Perhaps a tiebreak or two.
nemanja230690 , 1/23/12 10:37 PM
this isn't even close to Ferrer's worst surface
RickyDimon , 1/23/12 10:57 PM
I'm going for the big upset:
Ferrer def Djokovic 7-6, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6, 7-6
Federer def DelPotro: 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-3
Murray def Nishikori: 6-4, 6-4, 7-6
Rafa Def Berdy: 6-4, 6-2, 6-2
grafight , 1/24/12 12:09 AM
grafight - invalid score of Ferrer vs. Djokovic
RickyDimon , 1/24/12 12:20 AM
Djokovic def Ferrer in 3: 6-4, 6-3, 6-0
Del Potro def Federer in 5: 4-6, 6-3, 2-6. 6-1, 9-7
Murray def Nishikori in 3: 6-4, 6-3, 6-3
Nadal d Berdych in 5: 3-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1
imjimmy , 1/24/12 2:33 AM
@Ricky,
Do you think Fed is playing better than what you thought before?
Your pre tournament pick was Fed in 5.
sabs , 1/24/12 4:17 AM
I'm going with Nole in 3, Del Potro in 5, Murray in 3, and Nadal in 4.
samprallica , 1/24/12 6:47 AM
Some of the forecasts are simply wishful thinking.
nadline , 1/24/12 6:57 AM
sabs - yeah Federer playing well and just not convinced that Delpo's fitness is all the way back. He has not had any hard matches and not sure he is ready for a five-setter with Fed. Plus hot conditions do not help.
RickyDimon , 1/24/12 7:01 AM
Poor final game by Del Potro, but impressive stuff from Federer. Annacone has certainly worked around his shank habit.
samprallica , 1/24/12 7:19 AM
sorry, Ferrer vs Djojovic: Ferrer in 5: 6-7, 6-4, 6-3, 6-7, 4-6
grafight , 1/24/12 2:23 PM
Ferrer palyed spoilsport last year to Rafa, will he again?
If he does it will be as big a upset as last year just that Rafa got injured in that match
sanju , 1/24/12 5:06 PM
Djokovic: 6-4 3-6 6-4 6-2
Murray: 6-1 6-3 6-2
ts38 , 1/24/12 6:15 PM
Wel I got the Nadal result right, but didn't expect JMDP to get the tactics so obviously wrong.
Still going with Nole and Andy in 3 for tomorrow; Andy for obvious reasons, and Nole in 3 because I do expect him to have tightened his game and serve for tomorrow. Ferrer also hits a spinnier ball than Hewitt, generally comfortable for Nole on this surface.
samprallica , 1/24/12 7:24 PM
1 game off, wrong set order. Go me :D
ts38 , 1/25/12 9:08 AM
sanju, Ferrer did not play spoilt sport to Rafa last year, from the minute Rafa walked on court everyone knew he had no chance of winning because he was already injured.
nadline , 1/25/12 11:24 AM
Where are the semis picks?
rafaisthebest , 1/25/12 3:20 PM
atul1985 or ts38 do you want to pick the SFs with us? email me ricky.dimon@tennistalk.com if so!
RickyDimon , 1/25/12 3:57 PM
have sent it to u Ricky
atul1985 , 1/25/12 6:53 PM
Djokovic in 4: 6:7, 6:4, 7:5, 6:2
Nadal in 3: 7:5, 6:4, 6:3
nemanja230690 , 1/25/12 7:43 PM
SF expert picks - http://www.tennistalk.com/en/blog/Ricky_Dimon/20120125/Australian_Open _%2712_semifinal_expert_picks
RickyDimon , 1/25/12 8:01 PM
Interesting. I picked Djokovic in 4 (6:7, 6:4, 7:5, 6:2), but it turns out Nadal won by the almost exact score. Was one game off and reverse order of the 2nd and 4th sets. :D Well then, let's hope Nole crushes Murray in 3. ;)
nemanja230690 , 1/26/12 10:30 PM
Sun 20/05 03:13
Rome final expert picks: Djokovic vs. Nadal
Mon 14/05 03:45
Approach Shots: Djokovic, Nadal look to rebound on red clay
Sun 06/05 03:03
Approach Shots: Tangled up in blue at Madrid Masters
Mon 30/04 05:57
Approach Shots: Djokovic out, Del Potro starts French Open prep
Mon 23/04 05:29
Approach Shots: Nadal, Murray return to action in Barcelona
Sat 21/04 19:01
Monte Carlo final expert picks: Djokovic vs. Nadal
Mon 16/04 02:46
Approach Shots: Djokovic, Nadal begin clay season in Monte Carlo
Tue 10/04 15:48
Approach Shots: Houston, Casablanca begin clay-court swing
Thu 05/04 18:40
Approach Shots: Davis Cup precedes clay-court swing
Tue 27/03 16:14
John Isner Top 10 tribute
Wed 21/03 05:08
Approach shots: On-fire Federer can pass Nadal in Miami
Thu 08/03 07:03
Approach shots: First Masters event of the year in Indian Wells
Tue 28/02 18:41
Approach Shots: Federer, Djokovic back in action
Mon 20/02 05:10
Approach Shots: Ferrer, Tsonga, Del Potro headline busy week
Sun 12/02 15:44
Approach Shots: Federer looks to rebound in Rotterdam
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nice previews guys .. editors on tennis.com have federer in 4 while BERDYCH in 5 ! lol...IF berdych is to win he'l have to do that in 4 IMO . However, chances of him winning are veryyy slim.
MY picks : rafa in 3 . 6-4 6-3 6-4
roger in 4. 6-3 5-7 6-4 7-6
vamosrafa , 1/23/12 7:23 PM