David Nalbandian (8) v Tommy Haas (12)David Nalbandian’s participation in the Australian Open was in doubt due to injury; his continued participation has been in further doubt on two occasions in his first three matches. Nalbandian has developed a reputation for being able to recover from two sets down, and not only did he do that in his matches with Janko Tipsarevic and Sebastien Grosjean, he also saved match points in both encounters. The Argentine has a very consistent record in Australia, in the past four years he has made three quarter finals and last year was a semi-finalist. His opponent in the last sixteen will be German twelfth seed, Tommy Haas. Also a former semi-finalist in Melbourne, Haas has not yet dropped a set on his way to the fourth round. Due to the poor weather, Haas’s third round match with compatriot Florian Mayer was pushed back by a day. However, by winning in straight sets, Haas should still be fresh to play tomorrow. While Nalbandian took a much needed day off. Haas leads the head to head 2-0, winning their last meeting in the Paris Masters in 2005 in straight sets.
Tomas Berdych (13) v Nikolay Davydenko (3)
Nikolay Davydenko was another injury doubt pre-tournament, but has safely made his way to the fourth round. The Russian with a career high ranking after an excellent 2006 campaign; will be hoping to at least equal his performances in 2005 and 2006 where he made the last eight in Melbourne. Wishing to minimise any further injury damage, Davydenko will have been glad to reach this stage without dropping a set. Standing in Davydenko’s way to the quarter-finals is talented Czech, Tomas Berdych. The tennis world has been waiting for Berdych to produce in a Grand Slam event, and that time may be now. Should Berdych win, he will move on to the last eight of a Grand Slam for the first time in his young career. In order to achieve that goal, Berdych will have to beat Davydenko for the first time at the fifth attempt.
James Blake (5) v Fernando Gonzalez (10)
James Blake is hoping to back up a career year in 2006, by making his first Grand Slam quarter-final outside of the US Open. The American stormed through his opening two rounds before winning a very scrappy affair with Robby Ginepri. Blake took the first two sets of the match, which could have gone the other way, before eventually wrapping up the win in straight sets. His fourth round opponent, Chilean Fernando Gonzalez, comes in off the back of ending Australian involvement in the tournament after a four set win over Lleyton Hewitt. Gonzalez played flawless tennis for the first two sets, ripping off winners and keeping unforced errors at a minimum. Blake and Gonzalez have met six times, winning three matches each. Their last battle took place in America during a Davis Cup tie on grass, Gonzalez winning 10-8 in the 5th.
Andy Murray (15) v Rafael Nadal (2)
Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal meet for the first time in their careers, with both looking to reach the last eight in Melbourne for the first time also. Murray, under the guidance of Brad Gilbert, has risen at a fast rate through the rankings since his last visit to Melbourne. As with a number of other players in the last sixteen, Murray has reached this stage without dropping a set, winning his first round match with Alberto Martin for the loss of just one game. Rafael Nadal entered the Australian Open off the back of a below par six months in comparison to the standards he has set since bursting on the scene. Having emphasised a need to improve his serve, Nadal has seemingly done just that, serving harder than he had done so in 2006 with a good first serve percentage. The Spaniard followed up a largely average performance in the second round with his most impressive display thus far in the third round against Stanislas Wawrinka. Nadal winning comfortably in straight sets and ended the match with a devastating forehand winner that was possibly the shot of the tournament so far.
Sports Magician will be previewing the quarter-finals of the men’s event.
No comments:
Post a Comment