The bottom half of the mens draw progresses without upsets. Nole is still the overwhelming favourite to get to the final.
Djokovic – Benneteau 6-3 6-2 6-2
Comfortable stuff for Nole. 87 minutes, a big smile and bye bye! Djokovic is playing really well during this US Open edition. OK he didn’t have the toughest draw but he is super solid and he didn’t spend much energy in the first week (not at all!). Yesterday it was just routine. 31 aces, 41 winners (only 12 unforced errors)
“I have been playing really well at the US Open the past five years,” commented Djokovic “My goal was, in these seven, eight days I had off after the Cincinnati final, to really try to recover, charge my batteries, work on some things in my game, and come out strong from the start. That’s what I’ve done. I feel great on the court. I’m really trying to keep that up.”
Wawrinka – Dolgolopov 6-4 6-4 6-2
It took 1h and 50minutes and a very solid performance from Wawrinka to defeat Dolgolopov in straight sets. Stanislas blasted 15 aces (0 double faults), 31 winners (only 18 unforced errors) and he did not condece a break point. This performance will definately help Wawrinka’s confidence for his next match with Djokovic.
Head to head is 10-2 for Djokovic
Del Potro – L. Mayer 6-3 7-5 7-6 (9)
Delpo defeats his friend and fellow countryman in straight sets. After winning this match Delpo’s mind went straight to his next match against Roddick. “Big atmosphere,” Del Potro “The crowd loves Andy here and they have respect to me, so will be a fantastic show to the players and to the fans also. I know this is special, this day, for him, but I’m doing my job. I will trying to be focused on my match and doing my things, my shots. The match is going to be very tough. But if I play in high level, will be tough for both players.”
Roddick – Fognini 7-5 7-6 (1) 4-6 6-4
Great match. Andy is “using” the crowd as much as he can to have that extra help. Yesterday it was a great fun. Fognini is a very good a talented player (maybe if he stops acting like a movie star, he will be even better) and Andy was on fire. This explosive combination created a big entertainement. Eventually it was Roddick to win in 2 hours and 20 minutes.
Talking about his next match with Del Potro “He’s a tough matchup for anybody because he hits such a big ball,” Roddick said. “I’m going to have to serve well, kind of try to rush him a little bit. When he gets into a groove and has time, he’ll put a hurt on the ball. I probably serve a little bit better. He probably returns better. He hits the ball probably cleaner off the baseline. I chip the ball around a bit better probably. It’s a fun matchup.”
Head to head is 3-1 for Delpo, but Roddick won the last one in 2011 semifinal in Memphis (6-3 6-4)
Fasten your seatbealt that is going to be fun!
