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  • San Jose Quarterfinal Previews

    2/22/08 3:50 PM | Jonathan Morgan
    - Last week in Delray there were 6 Americans in the Quarterfinals. This week? Only 5!!! What is going on?!?!?

    Yen-Hsun Lu vs. Radek Stepanek

    Both players have quietly made their way through the draw to the quarterfinals. But Lu's run ends here. Stepanek is simply way too good on an indoor surface such as San Jose. His big serve as well as the variety and placement he can put on it are huge weapons. His superb volleys will come into play also. Lu's only shot at this is to try to hold on to his own serve for dear life and hope he can just get into Stepanek's service games. They have played once before, WAAAAY back in 2004 at the Queens Club event on grass where Stepanek had his way. Stepanek should show no mercy and Lu will go down quietly.

    John Isner vs. Guillermo Garcia-Lopez

    Here is a bit of an interesting match-up. Isner with his massive serve will have the advantage in that department, but GGL has played very well on hard courts as of late. He has scored some good wins already this year and won't be afraid to do it again. If he can get the Isner bombs back in play, he can move the big man around the baseline and wins points. He of course will need to take care of his own serve, something he might have a hard time doing. He has lost serve 3 times in each of his 2 opening matches, which both went 3 sets. I will favor Isner here.

    Andy Roddick vs. Mardy Fish

    Ahh, Roddick and Fish. 2 buddies that go back to their high school days at Boca Prep. Roddick should have no trouble in this one at all. They've played 6 matches in their career, 5-1 to Roddick. The only Fish win came in 2003 at the Delray event when Roddick had to retire. Since then, Roddick has lost 1 set in 5 wins over Fish, including a 6-2 6-2 6-2 drubbing at last year's Australian Open quarterfinal. Roddick also won this event back in 2004 winning over Fish in the final. Roddick will have no problem frying some Fish.

    James Blake vs. Robby Ginepri

    Seems like just last week these two were playing. Oh, thats right, because it WAS last week! Blake beat Ginepri in that semifinal match, but nor before Ginepri had leads in both sets at 4-2 before collapsing. Blake's form has been impressive, imposing his will against opposing players and dominating baseline rallies with a power flat forehand that is simply devastating on this surface. Wafflehouse Ginperi, on the other hand, has looked inconsistent. He was sloppy in his first round match against fellow American Jesse Witten, but looked very sharp in taking out the 8th seed Kristof Vliegen in the 2nd round. He broke the big Belgian's serve 4 times and saved 3 break points of his own in a solid win. This one can go either way, but Blake should be favored.

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