2013 US Open Draw Preview. Federer in Nadal’s quarter, Djokovic and Murray in the same half

The Maestro is really unlucky. He is trying to get back, but he always picks up the worst possible player: Rafael Nadal.

Roger fell again in Rafa’s quarter (gosh that is 1 chance out of 4), but at least in this case if he upsets the Mallorcan (and nowadays will call it “an upset”) he will play the guy that is coming out the weakest quarter: the one where David Ferrer is the 4th seed.

Let’s analyse the draw in more details

Djokovic

Nole had a bad draw. He is going to have an easy life in the first two rounds to play in the opener world no.126 Richard Berankis and in the second round probably Lukas Rosol (H2H 1-0 for Nole).

The problem for the world no.1 is from the third round on to play Grigor Dimitrov (H2H 3-1 for Nole), then Fognini (not a problem here as Nole has a 6-1 H2H record). 

In the quarters Nole should face Juan Martin Del Potro (the Serb doesn’t like to play with him to have a H2H record of 9-3, but he always struggles with the Argentine).

In the semifinal Djokovic is expected to play the defending champion Andy Murray in a rematch of last year’s final. H2H is 11-8 for Nole.

Murray

Andy had a “decent draw”. Not really good, but OK especially if you compare his past draws when he has often been deeply unlucky.

The defending champion will have a very spectacular first round against Llodra (H2H is 3-0 for Murray). Then the Scott should play Hanescu (H2H 2-0 for Andy). Andy will still have quite a manageable 3rd round (Juan Monaco, H2H 2-2) and 4th round (Almagro, H2H 3-1  Murray).

The big problems for the Scott will come in the quarters when he should play Berdych(H2H 6-4 for the Czech) and certainly in the semifinal when he should play Djokovic (H2H 11-8 for Nole).

 

Nadal

Rafa was a bit unlucky. He will play Ryan Harrison in the first round (H2H 1-0 for Rafa). Then the Spaniard should play another interesting youngster, Vasek Pospisil (1st time playing each other’s).

In the 3rd round Rafa should play fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco (H2H 13-1 for Rafa that has lost only on the “infamous” blue clay in Madrid).

So far so good, then we have the trouble. In fact, Rafa should play John Isner in a rematch of the recent final in Cincinnati. The world no.2 has a 4-0 record against the American but it has always been a huge struggle against Big johny.

In the quarters Rafa may play Federer. Roger is not in his prime and he is really struggling especially against Rafa, but there are 3 places where you do not want to play against him: in Wimbledon, in London (indoor) and at the US Open.

The good news for Rafa is that he got the “David Ferrer quarter” on his half. Trying to be bold in our predictions, we do not expect David to reach the semifinals but either Janowicz (most likely, H2H 1-0 Rafa), Raonic (4-0 Rafa) or Gulbis (6-0 Rafa, but always struggling).