A befitting day for Roland Garros yesterday, which saw world no.1 and last year's Roland Garros semi-finalist, Novak Djokovic, 4 times just one point away from going home, but every time he came back stronger to save that match point and ultimately break down his opponent in the decider. What added spice was Federer's thrilling come back win from two sets to love down to take the quarter-final match from Juan Martin Delpotro. There will be a block buster semi-final and a re-match of last year's Semi-final which saw Djokovic's 41 match winning streak come to an end at the hands of Federer. We will talk about it later. Let us have a look at what we have in store for today! Quite a day we have ahead of us, Nadal takes on Almagro and Murray takes on Ferrer. There are for sure going to be long long rallies and some spectacular shot making and I hope we are all in a for a treat today All 3 men who have yet to loose a set are here in this half of the draw and surprisingly all three are Spaniards. One of them is bound to loose 3 sets today, and that one will be either Nadal or Almagro, since they face each other for a spot in the semi-final. Let us break down the semi-finals:
Court Philippe Chatrier
Nadal (2) vs Almagro (12)
Let us start by having a look at the match record and head to head record of Nadal and Almagro.
Almagro has won only 2 sets in his past 7 encounters with Nadal. This is Almagro's 3rd QF here at Roland Garros, and his last 2 losses here at this stage have come at the hands of none other than his rival today. Although their clash in 2010 QF was a close call, Nadal winning the first two sets in tie breaks and taking the third set 6-4. They have not met since that clash at Roland Garros. Will it be 3rd time lucky for Almagro here at Roland Garros?
On his way to quarter-finals Nadal has lost 3 or more games in only 2 sets out of the 13 sets he has so far played here, in the 2nd and 3rd set of his 3rd round win over Argentine Eduardo Schwank, whereas Almagro has only 2 sets out of the 12 played so far in which he lost less than 3 games and and surprisingly that too came in the 2nd and 3rd set of his 3rd round win over an Argentine (that too surprisingly) Leonardo Mayer. Almagro has a top 10 win in his bag so far in the tournament, which came when he defeated Serbian Tipsarevic in the 4th round.
Enjoy a few points from Nadal's 3rd round win over Schawank.*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlO5-vGTdss&feature=related
Here, enjoy the best of Almagro vs Tipsarevic from the 4th round.*
Nadal is playing very well at the moment, but so is Almagro, if Almagro has to have any chance against Nadal, he will have to play a flawless match, a match of his life. Nadal is favoured to take the contest in straight sets, but I fancy Almagro taking a set or may be 2 from Nadal. The wise pick will be Nadal in straight sets, but I will take Almagro in 4 sets (I know most of you must be thinking that I have gone crazy, but hey what wrong can it do to, after all it is a prediction ;))
Court Suzanne Lenglen
Murray (4) vs Ferrer (6)
Let us start by having a look at the match record and head to head record of Murray and Ferrer.
Murray came into Roland Garros on the heels of a back pain that forced him not to participate in Madrid. He lost early in Rome too. Not many had picked Murray to make even the Quarters here, given the fact that clay is the Scot's worst surface, but here he is in the quarter-finals. Although he had a somewhat bumpy road, loosing the first set in his second round to Nieminen 6-1, but composed himself to walk away in four, and then again in his 4th round against home favourite Gasquet, he lost the first set by the same score-line but again he walked away in 4 sets. Interestingly the score-line of both matches is the same (1-6 6-4 6-1 6-2). Ferrer, on the other hand is one of the most tenacious guys on the tour, and he has been on a tear so far in Roland Garros, and too like Nadal, has conceded 4 games in only one set out of the 12 sets played so far, 2nd set of first round match against Lacko. He was quick and master-ful in dispatching 27th seed and former RG semi-finalist, Youzhny, in the 3rd round and 20th seeded Granollers in the 4th round. Clay is Ferrer's best surface and Murray's worst, add Murray's back problem to it as well. Murray has lost in all 3 of the pair's clay court encounters, though their last clay court clash came more than 2 years ago in the QF of Madrid, which Ferrer won in straight sets (7-5 6-3).
Enjoy Murray's win over Giraldo in the 3rd round.*
Enjoy the crazy point between Nadal and Ferrer in Rome 2010 encounter.*
Murray will have to play aggressively and will have to keep his unforced errors under control if he is to have any chance against Ferrer. He will have to be quick from the start, otherwise Ferrer will cruise by Murray if he establishes an upper-hand early on.
Given the current form and performance so far here at Roland Garrros, I will go with Ferrer in 4.
Let us hope for great matches. Enjoy!!!!!!!
*The video is not my property and is not owned by me, it can be found at you-tube via link:
here, here, here and here
Court Philippe Chatrier
Nadal (2) vs Almagro (12)
Let us start by having a look at the match record and head to head record of Nadal and Almagro.
| Description | Nadal | Almagro |
| Match Record this year | 37-11 | 38-11 |
| H2H | 7 | 0 |
| H2H on clay | 5 | 0 |
Almagro has won only 2 sets in his past 7 encounters with Nadal. This is Almagro's 3rd QF here at Roland Garros, and his last 2 losses here at this stage have come at the hands of none other than his rival today. Although their clash in 2010 QF was a close call, Nadal winning the first two sets in tie breaks and taking the third set 6-4. They have not met since that clash at Roland Garros. Will it be 3rd time lucky for Almagro here at Roland Garros?
On his way to quarter-finals Nadal has lost 3 or more games in only 2 sets out of the 13 sets he has so far played here, in the 2nd and 3rd set of his 3rd round win over Argentine Eduardo Schwank, whereas Almagro has only 2 sets out of the 12 played so far in which he lost less than 3 games and and surprisingly that too came in the 2nd and 3rd set of his 3rd round win over an Argentine (that too surprisingly) Leonardo Mayer. Almagro has a top 10 win in his bag so far in the tournament, which came when he defeated Serbian Tipsarevic in the 4th round.
Enjoy a few points from Nadal's 3rd round win over Schawank.*
Here, enjoy the best of Almagro vs Tipsarevic from the 4th round.*
Court Suzanne Lenglen
Murray (4) vs Ferrer (6)
Let us start by having a look at the match record and head to head record of Murray and Ferrer.
| Description | Murray | Ferrer |
| Match Record this year | 26-7 | 37-7 |
| H2H | 5 | 4 |
| H2H on clay | 0 | 3 |
Murray came into Roland Garros on the heels of a back pain that forced him not to participate in Madrid. He lost early in Rome too. Not many had picked Murray to make even the Quarters here, given the fact that clay is the Scot's worst surface, but here he is in the quarter-finals. Although he had a somewhat bumpy road, loosing the first set in his second round to Nieminen 6-1, but composed himself to walk away in four, and then again in his 4th round against home favourite Gasquet, he lost the first set by the same score-line but again he walked away in 4 sets. Interestingly the score-line of both matches is the same (1-6 6-4 6-1 6-2). Ferrer, on the other hand is one of the most tenacious guys on the tour, and he has been on a tear so far in Roland Garros, and too like Nadal, has conceded 4 games in only one set out of the 12 sets played so far, 2nd set of first round match against Lacko. He was quick and master-ful in dispatching 27th seed and former RG semi-finalist, Youzhny, in the 3rd round and 20th seeded Granollers in the 4th round. Clay is Ferrer's best surface and Murray's worst, add Murray's back problem to it as well. Murray has lost in all 3 of the pair's clay court encounters, though their last clay court clash came more than 2 years ago in the QF of Madrid, which Ferrer won in straight sets (7-5 6-3).
Enjoy Murray's win over Giraldo in the 3rd round.*
Enjoy the crazy point between Nadal and Ferrer in Rome 2010 encounter.*
Murray will have to play aggressively and will have to keep his unforced errors under control if he is to have any chance against Ferrer. He will have to be quick from the start, otherwise Ferrer will cruise by Murray if he establishes an upper-hand early on.
Given the current form and performance so far here at Roland Garrros, I will go with Ferrer in 4.
Let us hope for great matches. Enjoy!!!!!!!
*The video is not my property and is not owned by me, it can be found at you-tube via link:
here, here, here and here
I love the way you present the technicalities !!! makes it look so simple :))))
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the appreciation :)
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