Post-Draw USO Poll

[GameSetAndMath]

US Open Men's Draw:

http://www.tennisfrontier.com/news/atp-tennis/us-open-mens-draw/

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The draw is out. We have a Fedal quarterfinal again, if they both make it. Both Novak and Andy are on opposite side of Nadal (not to mention Berdych and Delpotro also). Draw looks extremely kind to Nadal (not that he needs it).

Draw is here.

http://www.usopen.org/en_US/scores/draws/ms/r1s3.html

Projected Quartefinals:

Novak --- Del Potro
Murray --- Berdych
Gasquet --- Ferrer
Federer --- Nadal

It is time to do indulge in some bracketology and then vote. You will have until sunday midnight to vote on this poll.
This time, I am making the poll public, so that folks who correctly predict can later brag. If you choose any of the last three options, please also post a message indicating your specific pick.

 

[zalvar]

Damn those quarters are cray. I voted for Rafa because I have a feeling Andy will beat Novak in the semis.

Novak and delpo will be another classic if delpo's back isn't crap.

Andy's draw is easy until the quarters against his Cincy conqueror, Berdych.

Rafa gets Popsicle, Davydenko, Isner .. then Fed ... then whoever comes out of the Ferrer side (Janowicz, Gasquet or Ferrer). Challenging draw for him.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Damn those quarters are cray. I voted for Rafa because I have a feeling Andy will beat Novak in the semis.

Novak and delpo will be another classic if delpo's back isn't crap.

Andy's draw is easy until the quarters against his Cincy conqueror, Berdych.

Rafa gets Popsicle, Davydenko, Isner .. then Fed ... then whoever comes out of the Ferrer side (Janowicz, Gasquet or Ferrer). Challenging draw for him.

I believe you would be the only one who considers Rafa's draw challenging.

 

[Riotbeard]

Novak's draw could be helped considerably by Berdych.

 

[lacatch]

If we learned anything from Wimbledon, it was "don't worry so much about the draws". Remember one half was stacked with tough opponents and they dropped like flies.

 

[Kieran]

Rafa gets Popsicle, Davydenko, Isner .. then Fed ... then whoever comes out of the Ferrer side (Janowicz, Gasquet or Ferrer). Challenging draw for him.

I believe you would be the only one who considers Rafa's draw challenging.

I think if those matches pan out, it could well be challenging. He has no pedigree against Davydenko on hards (though I expect Nadal to win if they meet), Isner is a challenge for anybody, and why not think Federer would be playing well by the QF?

It would be challenging at the very least...

 

[zalvar]

Rafa gets Popsicle, Davydenko, Isner .. then Fed ... then whoever comes out of the Ferrer side (Janowicz, Gasquet or Ferrer). Challenging draw for him.

I believe you would be the only one who considers Rafa's draw challenging.

I think if those matches pan out, it could well be challenging. He has no pedigree against Davydenko on hards (though I expect Nadal to win if they meet), Isner is a challenge for anybody, and why not think Federer would be playing well by the QF?

It would be challenging at the very least...

Haha well that's why I didn't go with "difficult." I don't think he'd lose per se but he'll certainly expend a lot of energy. Especially against Davydenko (who usually plays great against Rafa) and Isner who's just a whole different monster in his own. Fed could be "challenging" as well depending which Fed shows up.

 

[Kieran]

If Federer reached the QF, he'll be difficult, not challenging, but I'd fancy Nadal, if they meet there. Both will have to get through the first week first. Let's not underestimate the Wimbledon hangover.

By the way, I just sniffed the air and I scent a Nadal-Berdych final. Either that, or the neighbour's drains are blocked!

:snigger

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Rafa gets Popsicle, Davydenko, Isner .. then Fed ... then whoever comes out of the Ferrer side (Janowicz, Gasquet or Ferrer). Challenging draw for him.

I believe you would be the only one who considers Rafa's draw challenging.

I think if those matches pan out, it could well be challenging. He has no pedigree against Davydenko on hards (though I expect Nadal to win if they meet), Isner is a challenge for anybody, and why not think Federer would be playing well by the QF?

It would be challenging at the very least...

Your bolded statement is true. However, that Davydenko, you are thinking of, is dead. We now have a new reformed
Davydenko whom Rafa can beat easily. Actually, I think Verdasco will give a better fight
to Nadal than Davydenko; of course Verdasco will eventually lose. Remember Verdasco vs.
Nadal five setter in AO some years ago. Also, remember his recent match agasin Perry Jr.
at this wimbledon.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Rafa gets Popsicle, Davydenko, Isner .. then Fed ... then whoever comes out of the Ferrer side (Janowicz, Gasquet or Ferrer). Challenging draw for him.

I believe you would be the only one who considers Rafa's draw challenging.

I think if those matches pan out, it could well be challenging. He has no pedigree against Davydenko on hards (though I expect Nadal to win if they meet), Isner is a challenge for anybody, and why not think Federer would be playing well by the QF?

It would be challenging at the very least...

Haha well that's why I didn't go with "difficult." I don't think he'd lose per se but he'll certainly expend a lot of energy. Especially against Davydenko (who usually plays great against Rafa) and Isner who's just a whole different monster in his own. Fed could be "challenging" as well depending which Fed shows up.

I think Rafa can only possibly be stopped by either Isner or the Finalist, whomever that may be;
all the rest of the matches will be pleasant challenges at the most.
I would give some chance for Fed, if it were a three set match. I don't think Fed has
enough stamina to grind out a win over Nadal in a five set match. The Bull certainly would
wear him down. The only way Fed can win is if he somehow sneaks three quick sets
before Rafa even wakes up. Unfortunately, Rafa, a man of focus, would not sleep that
long, even if he lets a set slip.

 

[nehmeth]

US Open Men's Draw:
The draw is out. We have a Fedal quarterfinal again, if they both make it. Both Novak and Andy are on opposite side of Nadal (not to mention Berdych and Delpotro also). Draw looks extremely kind to Nadal (not that he needs it).

Draw is here.

http://www.usopen.org/en_US/scores/draws/ms/r1s3.html

:nono

Fortune smiles on Rafa.

(from the AP)

Murray and Novak, were thinking about purchasing a Rafa doll to make into a pin cushion. Mirka heard about the idea and told them not to bother, as she's been doing it for years and it only worked once. Roger we learned was disconsolate and hiding out in the twins bedroom, sobbing uncontrollably.

 

[Kieran]

:nono

Fortune smiles on Rafa.

If she does, it'd be a first: he didn't play last year...

 

[Moxie]

The top half looks to be the tougher half, for sure. I don't know how Rafa could have asked for a kinder Slam draw. He did put himself in that position by winning Cincy, at least theoretically...otherwise he'd be sitting in Murray's spot.

 

[Kieran]

Tignor has tipped Novak.

Not sure on his success rate this year...

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Tignor has tipped Novak.

Not sure on his success rate this year...

You mean Tignor's or Novak's?

 

[Kieran]

Tignor has tipped Novak.

Not sure on his success rate this year...

You mean Tignor's or Novak's?

Both! But I'd have more confidence in Novak's

 

[shawnbm]

Tough one now that Andy is in Nole's half of the draw. I think Novak reclaims his position at the top in New York. I don't know that I have that much confidence in that prediction, but something tells me he is going to "click" in the Big Apple and win it.

 

[Kieran]

Tough one now that Andy is in Nole's half of the draw. I think Novak reclaims his position at the top in New York. I don't know that I have that much confidence in that prediction, but something tells me he is going to "click" in the Big Apple and win it.

You could be right there, Shawn, he has the game to do it, and certainly the motivation. He has a bona fide tough draw from the QF on, but it isn't beyond him...

 

[Moxie]

^ I have no doubt that Djokovic and Murray will come in more focussed than they were in the tune-up season. They're well-aware of when they need to peak.

I'll say this about Nadal, though: in 2010, he saw his chance at the USO looking good, and he leapt on it. (Federer had just lost in QFs at FO and Wimby, for the first times in years. Novak and Andy were not looking esp. good, at least until the tune-ups, and Del Potro, the defending champ, was not going to play.) Right now, riding a confidence high, and with a pretty good draw, he will be aware that, if he's ever going to win the USO again, it maybe had better be now. The opportunity will not be lost on him, and he, and Federer, are as opportunistic as they come.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

^ I have no doubt that Djokovic and Murray will come in more focussed than they were in the tune-up season. They're well-aware of when they need to peak.

I'll say this about Nadal, though: in 2010, he saw his chance at the USO looking good, and he leapt on it. (Federer had just lost in QFs at FO and Wimby, for the first times in years. Novak and Andy were not looking esp. good, at least until the tune-ups, and Del Potro, the defending champ, was not going to play.) Right now, riding a confidence high, and with a pretty good draw, he will be aware that, if he's ever going to win the USO again, it maybe had better be now. The opportunity will not be lost on him, and he, and Federer, are as opportunistic as they come.

When Fed won the FO in 2009 (aided by Solderling saga) and completed the career GS, after losing to Nadal 4 times in a row at the French Open (once in SF and thrice in finals), I, as well as most people, had the feeling that Nadal would suffer a similar ordeal of reaching the final multipltimes at USO and failing to finish the deal by completing his career GS due to USO becoming his holy grail. Also, keep in mind that by that time he has not even reached the final of USO in addition to him generally tapering off in the second half of the year. However, Nadal grabbed the USO, as Moxie pointed above in an opportunistic (i use this term in a positive way here) manner, while no one noticed. So, the media did not have long years to highlight Nadal's holy grail and create a drama out of it. Also, the pundits, big and small such as ourselves, did not get to look into our crystal balls and come up with wise predictions of, if and when Nadal will complete the career GS and have lengthy debates over it.

So, Nadal actually stole it when no one was looking. On the contrary Fed completed it under intense media spotlight caused by his prior multiple failures at FO and also by the additional pressure created by Nadal's loss (with a now or never feel to it). What a contrast in completion of two most recent CAREER GS by Men.