Sunday, 30 June 2013

Wimbledon 4th Round Mens Predictions, Day 7: Djokovic-Haas, Berdych-Tomic & Murray-Youzhny

1. Novak Djokovic v Tommy Haas
Novak Djokovic
The star of the mens 4th round line-up will see a repeat of a Roland Garros quarter-final between Novak Djokovic and Tommy Haas.  On that occasion, Haas had exerted a lot of energy, most of it in a third round epic against John Isner, but this time round, and on the grass, I think this will be a much closer affair.  Djokovic has sailed through his first three matches and on Saturday, he barely made an unforced error in a 6-3 6-2 6-2 rout of Jeremy Chardy.  Haas lost the opening set of his third round match to Feliciano Lopez, but rebounded extremely well to post a promising four set win against the Eastbourne champion.  Haas has beaten Djokovic this year in Miami and at Wimbledon too in 2009.  The German player has weapons to threaten Djokovic, but I have to sit up and take note of the Serb's progress through the draw and I think the quarter-finals beckon for sure...

Prediction - Djokovic to beat Haas in 4 sets

2. Tomas Berdych v Bernard Tomic
The last couple of months have been tough on Bernard Tomic and most, including me, will be tipping their cap at the young Aussie for his impressive performances at Wimbledon this year, which have seen him take out Sam Querrey and yesterday, Richard Gasquet.  I thought Tomic played a strong match, serving very well and finding the right balance between defence and attack; up next is Tomas Berdych, who was apparently struggling with a shoulder injury, but managed to knock off his pigeon, Kevin Anderson, having lost the opening set, 3-6 6-3 6-4 7-5.  This will be a first career meeting and should be a real treat for number one court.  I get the feeling that this could be the big upset on Magic Monday, particularly with Tomic's credentials on the grass.

Prediction - Tomic to beat Berdych in 5 sets

3. Andy Murray v Mikhail Youzhny
The first week was a big success for Andy Murray as booked his place in the 4th round with a comprehensive victory over Tommy Robredo, who gave it his all in a 6-2 6-3 7-5 defeat.  Murray now faces his toughest test of the tournament so far against Mikhail Youzhny.  At the beginning of the tournament, Youzhny  looked like one of the safest bets to make the 4th round and that has been proven as he has avoided the string of upsets that has ravaged the mens draw.  Youzhny was taken to five sets by Vasek Pospisil in round two, but was swift in disposing of Victor Troicki in straight sets, 6-3 6-4 7-5.  Murray and Youzhny have only played each other twice with Murray winning both encounters.  Youzhny made the final in Halle and is playing the best tennis of his year so far.  I think Murray will drop his first set, but eventually progress past a game effort from the Russian.

Prediction - Murray to beat Youzhny in 4 sets 
 
4. Juan Martin del Potro v Andreas Seppi
Del Potro
A repeat of a second round match at last year's Olympics will see Juan Martin del Potro take on Andreas Seppi.  Del Potro had a good win over Grega Zemlja in straight sets and even dished out a bagel in the third set.  It has been a poor year for Seppi so far, but he has managed to enjoy a solid grass court season, making the semi-finals in Eastbourne and now the last 16 at Wimbledon.  He rather surprisingly took out Kei Nishikori in five sets.  Seppi is solid, but Del Potro should have enough in his locker to win this one...

Prediction - Del Potro to beat Seppi in 3 sets

5. David Ferrer v Ivan Dodig
The dogged Spaniard, David Ferrer had the epic match on Super Saturday as he battled past Alexandr Dolgopolov in five sets, 6-7(8) 7-6(2) 2-6 6-1 6-2 in 3 hours and 12 minutes.  His 4th round opponent, Ivan Dodig has had two opponents retire on him in the first three rounds, but will not get that luxury on Monday.  Dodig has an attacking game and a good game for grass having made the semi-finals of Eastbourne.  Ferrer has lost sets in all three of his matches at Wimbledon this year, but I have a feeling that this will be his most comfortable win of the lot...

Prediction - Ferrer to beat Dodig in 3 tight sets

6. Jerzy Janowicz v Jurgen Melzer
In the section now devoid of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, Jerzy Janowicz is now the highest seed remaining in the third quarter.  He reached his first ever 4th rounder at Wimbledon with a mightily impressive straight sets win over the number 15 seed, Nicolas Almagro.  His next opponent will be Jurgen Melzer, who defeated Federer slayer, Sergey Stakhovsky.  In this section, Janowicz looks a legitimate threat to Murray and I think his first Wimbledon quarter-final, and potentially semi-final could be on the cards...

Prediction - Janowicz to beat Melzer in 3 tight sets

7. Fernando Verdasco v Kenny De Schepper
Fernando Verdasco
Out of nowhere, Fernando Verdasco appears to have summoned his very best form as he took out Ernests Gulbis in straight sets, and from articles I read about it, in quite some style.  Just one week ago, Kenny De Schepper was losing to the young Brit, Kyle Edmund in the first round of Eastbourne, but now he finds himself in the 4th round of a Grand Slam for the first time.  Verdasco surely will win this...

Prediction - Verdasco to beat De Schepper in 3 sets

8. Lukas Kubot v Adrian Mannarino
The fact that Lukas Kubot and Adrian Mannarino will be contesting a 4th round match at Wimbledon tells you how badly depleted the mens draw is this year.  Kubot defeated Benoit Paire in straight sets, which came as a huge surprise, particularly how comfortable it was, meanwhile Mannarino took out the crowd favourite, Dustin Brown.  I would give the edge to Kubot...

Prediction - Kubot to beat Mannarino in 4 sets

You can view my original mens predictions HERE.  My final is still alive, but the rest of the draw is a mess, as most people's will be!

12 comments:

  1. Nice comments, thank you for sharing:))

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  2. In fact Djokovic made 3 unforced errors, but this is so subjective. Actually he is on his best and now is the frontrunner meanwhile Murray is the favorite of many

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  3. I hope you've recovered from your Knackered?

    You too celebrated the victory of Miss Robson :-P

    Your prediction:

    Djokovic to beat Haas = ok

    Tomic to beat Berdych =

    A blog that you referenced "The Changeover" I quote:

    I don't know what's more impressive, the fact that Bernard Tomic beat 2007 semifinalist Richard Gasquet at Wimbledon, or the fact that he managed to do it while winning only 22% of points on the return.

    Bla bla bla bla but a little luck could have swung the match the opposite way

    Teacher Moo, it will take Tomic more than luck to beat Berdych ?

    Your prediction - Murray to beat Youzhny = ok

    Your prediction - Del Potro to beat Seppi = uhm i do not

    Del Potro took a nasty fall in match before ?

    he can play 100%?

    Your prediction - Ferrer to beat Dodig = uhm i do not

    A blog that you referenced "The Changeover" I quote:

    David Ferrer is hell-bent on getting as far as he can at this year's Wimbledon, no matter what the consequences are to his own body. About him getting a painkiller injection on one of his ankles.

    he can play 100%?

    Your prediction :

    Verdasco to beat De Schepper = ok

    Kubot to beat Mannarino = ok

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  4. Del Potro did have a nasty fall (not that I have seen it), but he finished his third round match against Zemlja with a 6-0 set?

    It is hard to write off Ferrer, he is a machine.

    I remain adamant Tomic has a shot against Berdych. I have gone for a few risks because this has been a very unpredictable tournament.

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    Replies
    1. I bow to your wisdom Master Moo :-P

      I will look at your predictions for women later in the evening ;-))

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  5. Happy Birthday to Moo!

    Yes, go Laura!

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  6. Moo...tomic has played birdy once before on hardcourt and beat him handedly...not their first career meeting...

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  7. On the ATP website, the head-to-head between Berdych and Tomic is 0-0...

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  8. That was exhibiton at Kooyong 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 for Tomic

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  9. Berdich Tomych or Tomic Berdych for the win? -this has got to go to a 5 setter for name's sake lol

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  10. Berdych and Djokovic finish at exactly the same time-its fate

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  11. I thought he would have played better...tomic is disappointing once again...

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