The sixth day promises to be like “Sixth Day” of
U.S.Open 2011. The script is full of drama and uncertainties. Unpredictable
contests are in offing where interest lies not only in the winning but also in
the manner of winning.
It remains a mystery why Tomas Berdych falls to Janko
Tipsarevic who is short in stature, both physique wise and seeding wise. Berdych
defeated Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2010 with
his powerful game and lost to Tipsarevic a few months later in the Davis Cup. At
Rogers Cup in Montreal
last month, Tipsarevic defeated Berdych in straight sets when Berdych was sixth
seeded and Tipsarevic was unseeded. Infact Berdych has never defeated Tipsarevic
in any of the ATP events or Grand Slams or Davis Cup ties though they have met
three times. It is time for Berdych to reverse the history today lest
Tipsarevic should be called his true nemesis. Tipsarevic’s game is not as
complicated as favourite Dostoyevskian characters but he has a penchant for
creating complications. He took the then defending champion Roger Federer to
10-8 in the fifth in the Australian Open 2008. Infact, he plays best when he is
underdog. Every dog has his day, but whose it will be on the sixth day is not
known.
Ivo Karlovic doused the hopes of the thirteenth seed Richard
Gasquet and now faces a ten year younger Alexandr Dolgopolov who is seeded at
twenty two. They have never played each other before. Dolgopolov is as much
unpredictable as Karlovic is predictable. Karlovic will serve and come to the
net, point after point, serve after serve. Dolgopolov will hit down the line
when he is supposed to hit cross court or will slice when he is expected to hit
top spin. If Dolgopolov is able to return Karlovic serve and move him around,
he will win. Otherwise, Karlovic is likely to assume seedings killer status.
Fernando Verdasco will be a thorn in Jo-Wilfried
Tsonga’s flesh. He too plays best when he is an underdog. He has come down from
the lofty heights of a top ten player to becoming a journey man within a period
of just six months. But he has the capacity to rise to the occasion if the cliché
that class is permanent and form is temporary is to be believed. Tsonga is in
good form and hard courts are his favourites too. But he is a rhythm player and
his mood will remain good as long as his game remains good. Prolonged focus is
not his forte and doggedness is a less tested familiarity. On his day, he can
beat the very best and on other days, he will fold up sooner than later. Crowd
is likely to favour him over Verdasco and this might be immaterial to Verdasco
but not to Tsonga. In any case, Tsonga has to keep the French flag flying after
the untimely demise of the other three French seeds.
Kevin Anderson is enjoying career high ranking this
year and has captured his first ATP World tour title in his home country earlier
this year. But he meets a hot Mardy Fish in the latter’s home country today. Mardy
Fish too is playing his best and is the highest seeded American in the
tournament. Anderson
is the taller of the two at 6’8” but Fish is the quicker and more experienced.
It will require a monumental effort from Anderson
to beat the home crowd favourite in their first meeting.
Battle will be equally
intense in Juan Monaco - Tommy Haas match. Haas has the uncanny habit of
springing surprises even at 33 years of age and recovery from multiple
injuries. His game is versatile, often reminding of Federer’s game. Juan Monaco
is a clay court specialist who puts one more ball in play than his opponent. He
has defeated Haas at Cincinnati
a fortnight ago in three closely contested sets. It appears to be advantage Monaco.
Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic will both face tough
opponents. Marin Cilic might have had a poor form in recent past, but he is
young and hungry. He will be no toss over for Federer. Nikolay Davydenko might
be looking old and jaded after return from injury, but he is like old wine. He
will present a tougher challenge to Novak Djokovic.
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