“Lest we forget”.
12 months and 3 Slam Titles later…
1st Quarter
Contenders: Federer, Berdych, Verdasco, Baggy, Cilic
Party Poopers: Federer out to Berdych (R4)
Needs to happen: Cilic v Baggy (R3)
Sympathy Vote: None.
IW/Miami has proved something of a double whammy for Fed over the last four years.
My guess is he’ll fare somewhat better this time round, though with Berdych and Baggy’s fettle looking finer than ever, a single lapse might be one too many.
I’ve had visions of greatness for Marin since late last year, visions that were digitally restored by the events in Oz: losing 7-6, 6-0 to Garcia Lopez at IW however, wasn’t amongst them.
Visions of greatness or Delusions of Grandeur? You decide.
Sock-pulley-up-time, or it won’t be long before “the next Delpo” is roundly castigated as “the next Baggy”.
2nd Quarter
Contenders: Muzz, Wawrinka, Youzhny, Gonzo, Soderling
Party Poopers: Muzz out to Lopez (R3)
Needs to happen: Soderling v Gonzo (R4)
Sympathy Vote: Youzhny. Dubai reminded me why I enjoy watching him so much. Then he got injured.
Muzz/Soderling QF rematch is very much on. Without the requisite amount of firepower around to ensure it’s not.
Sod v Gonzo should also (quite literally) be a bash.
3rd Quarter
Contenders: Tsonga, Kohlschreiber, Isner, Ferrero, Ferrer, Karlovic, Troicki, Nadal
Party Poopers: Tsonga out to Kohlschreiber (R3)
Needs to happen: Tsonga v Kohlschreiber (R3).
Sympathy Vote: Nalbie.
Plenty happening here. The top half seems more fraught with peril, meaning it’s difficult to rate Jo-Wills chances that highly. Isner likely represents the better bet.
Somewhat less perilous draw for Rafa whose only probable obstacle comes in the form of Ivo. That is unless Nalbie manages to turn back the clock. Which I rather hope he might.
4th Quarter
Contenders: Roddick, Robredo, Ljuby, La Monf, Querrey, Djoko
Party Poopers: A-Rod out to Igor ‘the Forehand’ (R2)
Needs to happen: Ditto
Sympathy Vote: Mario Ancic and James Blake
What say you of Ljuby’s chances this time round?
Rough draw for A-Rod with Andreev, Bennetau and Ljuby likely consecutive opponents.
Nothing I see in Djoko's section leads me to believe he won't find a way to grind his way through it.
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