Croat shocks Murray in US
September 9th 2009 08:23
ANDY Murray became the second major men’s US Open casualty as the quarter-final line-ups were completed today.
Croatian Marin Cilic put paid to his grand slam demons with a stunning 7-5 6-2 6-2 dismissal of last year’s Flushing Meadows finalist to reach the final eight at a grand slam for the first time.
Murray recently ascended to the world’s No.2 ranking, but was guilty for the second straight grand slam event of playing too defensively.
The 22-year-old often falls too much in love with his wide array of tricks.
Murray rarely pays the price for it, but Cilic grasped the opportunity this time around to defeat the Scot for the first time in their fourth meeting.
World No.17 Cilic now faces Argentine star Juan Martin del Potro in the quarter-finals.
Del Potro won their only previous clash in four sets in the fourth round at this year’s Australian Open.
Nothing has swayed me against my tournament prediction that del Potro will reach the US Open decider.
Expect del Potro, who eliminated 2003 French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero in the fourth round, to win in four sets.
Chilean Fernando Gonzalez, he of the cannon-ball forehand, was the other big winner.
French world No.7 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga had been chugging along beautifully and won the first set against Gonzalez, but the latter won the next three to move into his second grand slam quarter-final of the year.
Gonzalez, the world No.11, had few expectations heading into New York, but his ironman reputation may hold him in good stead against underdone Spaniard Rafael Nadal.
Nadal also recovered from a set down to beat Frenchman Gael Monfils, but he is yet to return to top form and the US Open is the only slam he has failed to win.
Gonzalez won three of his first four contests with the former world No.1, but has lost the past five.
I think Nadal has one more victory at this year’s event left in him.
Swiss world No.1 Roger Federer, the five-time reigning Flushing Meadows champion, should be too good for Swede Robin Soderling tonight, as should Serbian Novak Djokovic for Spaniard Fernando Verdasco.
Meanwhile, Serena Williams and Kim Clijsters set up a dream semi-final match-up with straight-sets victories over seeded opponents overnight.
Williams conquered in-form Italian Flavia Pennetta 6-4 6-3 and wildcard Clijsters accounted for China’s Li Na 6-2 6-4.
Clijsters has been outstanding in her return to grand slam tennis, but Williams has been as ruthless as ever this fortnight and boasts a 7-1 head-to-head advantage over the Belgian.
Unseeded first-time quarter-finalists Yanina Wickmayer, of Belgium, and Ukrainian Kateryna Bondarenko, younger sister of fellow tour player Alona, are the first of the women to play tonight.
Bondarenko has won two of their three career meetings, but Wickmayer is an impressive young talent and should square the ledger to advance to the final four.
Danish world No.8 Caroline Wozniacki’s grand slam breakthrough has been a long time in the making and she will be well aware of her opportunity here and should account for fellow teenager Melanie Oudin.
Croatian Marin Cilic put paid to his grand slam demons with a stunning 7-5 6-2 6-2 dismissal of last year’s Flushing Meadows finalist to reach the final eight at a grand slam for the first time.
Murray recently ascended to the world’s No.2 ranking, but was guilty for the second straight grand slam event of playing too defensively.
The 22-year-old often falls too much in love with his wide array of tricks.
Murray rarely pays the price for it, but Cilic grasped the opportunity this time around to defeat the Scot for the first time in their fourth meeting.
World No.17 Cilic now faces Argentine star Juan Martin del Potro in the quarter-finals.
Del Potro won their only previous clash in four sets in the fourth round at this year’s Australian Open.
Nothing has swayed me against my tournament prediction that del Potro will reach the US Open decider.
Croatian Marin Cilic progressed to his first quarter-final with an upset victory over Scottish world No.2 Andy Murray.
Expect del Potro, who eliminated 2003 French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero in the fourth round, to win in four sets.
Chilean Fernando Gonzalez, he of the cannon-ball forehand, was the other big winner.
French world No.7 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga had been chugging along beautifully and won the first set against Gonzalez, but the latter won the next three to move into his second grand slam quarter-final of the year.
Gonzalez, the world No.11, had few expectations heading into New York, but his ironman reputation may hold him in good stead against underdone Spaniard Rafael Nadal.
Nadal also recovered from a set down to beat Frenchman Gael Monfils, but he is yet to return to top form and the US Open is the only slam he has failed to win.
Gonzalez won three of his first four contests with the former world No.1, but has lost the past five.
I think Nadal has one more victory at this year’s event left in him.
Swiss world No.1 Roger Federer, the five-time reigning Flushing Meadows champion, should be too good for Swede Robin Soderling tonight, as should Serbian Novak Djokovic for Spaniard Fernando Verdasco.
Belgian Kim Clijsters' barnstorming run through the US Open draw continued with a straight-sets demolition of China's Li Na.
Meanwhile, Serena Williams and Kim Clijsters set up a dream semi-final match-up with straight-sets victories over seeded opponents overnight.
Williams conquered in-form Italian Flavia Pennetta 6-4 6-3 and wildcard Clijsters accounted for China’s Li Na 6-2 6-4.
Clijsters has been outstanding in her return to grand slam tennis, but Williams has been as ruthless as ever this fortnight and boasts a 7-1 head-to-head advantage over the Belgian.
Unseeded first-time quarter-finalists Yanina Wickmayer, of Belgium, and Ukrainian Kateryna Bondarenko, younger sister of fellow tour player Alona, are the first of the women to play tonight.
Bondarenko has won two of their three career meetings, but Wickmayer is an impressive young talent and should square the ledger to advance to the final four.
Danish world No.8 Caroline Wozniacki’s grand slam breakthrough has been a long time in the making and she will be well aware of her opportunity here and should account for fellow teenager Melanie Oudin.
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