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1/17/10 6:39 AM | Ricky Dimon
Familiar foes Roger Federer and Nikolay Davydenko could be headed for a quarterfinal showdown at the Australian Open. Fernando Verdasco and a few other contenders, however, will be hoping to crash the party.
All the talk regarding Roger Federer's quarter of the draw is about a potential quarterfinal blockbuster between Federer and Nikolay Davydenko. And why shouldn't it be?
Nobody in the field of 128 players wants to face Davydenko, who is the hottest player on tour at the moment. The sixth-ranked Russian captured the World Tour Finals title to wrap up 2009 in style and then he kicked off this season by triumphing in Doha. Furthermore, Davydenko has won two straight head-to-head meetings with Federer after losing 12 in-a-row.
But don't pencil Federer and Davydenko into the quarterfinals just yet. While their section of the tournament is by no means the toughest, there are certainly some potential roadblocks. Among those who could prevent a Federer-Davydenko tilt are Marcos Baghdatis and Fernando Verdasco.
Baghdatis has won a whopping 16 of his past 17 matches. That sizzling stretch of tennis includes two titles at the end of last year (one Challenger, one ATP title in Stockholm) and a title on Saturday in Brisbane. The Cypriot could face Federer in round four, but he may have get past both David Ferrer and Lleyton Hewitt to reach the second week.
Verdasco, of course, was a 2009 semifinalist at this event, falling to Rafael Nadal in a classic five-set marathon. The ninth-ranked Spaniard is coming off an undefeated showing at the Kooyong Classic, so he should be able to set up what could be a brutal fourth-round slugfest against Davydenko.
First-round matches to watch in this quarter are Federer vs. Igor Andreev and Ernests Gulbis vs. Juan Monaco. Federer just barely outlasted Andreev 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 at the 2008 U.S. Open, but Andreev has been suffering with injury problems of late. Gulbis, meanwhile, has the talent to give Davydenko serious headaches in round three, but he will have to take out Monaco and most likely Michael Llodra in order to get there.
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the way verdasco's playing his match with davydenko could be one of the tightest of the whole tournament. and for the winner? next up fed!
alex , 1/17/10 11:50 PM
One mistake Davy made before the tournament was make fun of Fed crying after last year's final. Fed is going to want to give him a beating that will make him cry all the way back to Moscow. This gives Fed a mental leg up.
jngannex , 1/18/10 2:53 AM
The fact that it is a best of 5 will play largely into Federer's hands. It will require 3 great Sets by Davy to win but who knows - the guys a revelation and fulfilling the potential he has displayed inconsistently over the past 4-5 years.
I picked Davy for the London Masters and he is a decent bet to win this baby. Davydenko will enjoy the pace of the Courts in Australia and the fact that this surface is one he thrives upon.
slyspy666 , 1/18/10 5:34 AM
Federer isn't exactly a stellar long-match player, either
RickyDimon , 1/18/10 5:41 AM
I take it your joking ricky?
maxi , 1/18/10 7:16 AM
i agree ricky.
homos , 1/18/10 7:34 AM
...hm...lot of speaks about Fed's motivation to win. And Kolya???
You think he doesn't have motivation??? How many players can say "I won over Fed 3 times in row!"...
...and if Fed loose this time... wow that will be menthaly so tough...
We shall see...one thing is shure... it will be hell of a match.
zare , 1/18/10 12:51 PM
Fed and Davy may not even meet. If Verdasco can play like he did last year, he can beat Davy. So, the QF may be Fed vs Verdasco!
luckystar , 1/18/10 3:21 PM
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I'd not read too much into this, as Federer boasts a 4-0 head-to-head record in slams, 3 of which are on hard courts, including once here before in 2006, even though Davydenko did manage to sneak a set that day.
I'll be surprised if Davydenko gets a set, as Federer will for me be far too focused about letting the iceman get a grip on this match if it were to happen, knowing how dangerous it can be. Although truth be told, we all know, including the players, just how dangerous Fed is at the slams, his records are just tremendous, and he won't want that 22 semi final appearances streak to end.
eelesino , 1/17/10 10:13 AM