The Crystal Ball: Day 10 Picks

By Chris Oddo

Roger Federer will play Tomas Berdych in the 2012 U.S. Open Quarterfinals

(September 5, 2012) -- Some call it reading the tea leaves, others call it a crapshoot. We at Tennis Now call it good, clean fun, and for that reason we couldn't resist pulling out our trusty crystal ball to pick tomorrow’s quarterfinal action.

Roger Federer vs. Tomas Berdych

Based on their last six meetings one could logically assume that Berdych’s chances are actually quite good in this match. He’s won three of six against the Federer express, and forced a third set in two of his three losses. Still, this is Roger Federer we are talking about. The man knows how to navigate the tricky confines of Arthur Ashe Stadium, come rain, snow, sleet or hail. And when it comes to Grand Slam quarterfinals, well he’s pretty good in that regard too.

On the other side of the court, Berdych is playing in his first US Open quarterfinal, and with the conditions promising to be less than desirable, Berdych could find himself in need of a few practice sets to get acclimated.

Key Matchup: Federer's return game vs. the Berdych second serve.

Crystal Ball says: Federer 7-6(6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-1

Andy Murray vs. Marin Cilic

Andy Murray has so much wind in his sails right now. That could be a blessing and it could be a curse. Murray’s always been capable of throwing down a clunker of a match just when the rest of the world is expecting that he’ll never lose again. Could tomorrow’s quarterfinal against Marin Cilic be another twist in the bumpy Murray narrative? Let’s not forget that Cilic did shock Murray in 2009 at the US Open, when he saved all seven break points he faced en route to an easy straight-set victory in the round of 16. But since then, Murray has hit back, taking the last three encounters with Cilic, including a snoozer in the fourth round at Wimbledon less than two months ago.

Murray being Murray and tennis being tennis, I guess anything can happen in this one, but from where I’m sitting Murray has too much world-class game and experience to fall prey to the Cilic power trap.

Key matchup: Murray's dazzling variety vs. Cilic’s consistency (or lack thereof).

Crystal Ball says: Murray 7-5, 6-4, 6-3

Sara Errani vs. Roberta Vinci

Italian women’s tennis has proven to be much more than Francesca Schiavone and Flavia Pennetta in 2012, as Sara Errani has stepped to the fore, taking her punishing baseline game all the way to the French Open finals. One stat pretty much says everything anybody needs to know about Errani’s drastic uptick in relevancy on the WTA Tour this year: She was 0-28 against the top ten going into Roland Garros. Since then she’s 3-2.

Vinci has been a pleasant surprise as well, reaching her first Grand Slam quarterfinal at the age of 29, in her 32nd Slam. But now Errani and Vinci, who share the doubles court as a formidable duo with a shot to win the title in New York, must duke it out on the singles court with a prestigious US Open semifinal on the line. Errani has won the last three matches against Vinci, and even though Vinci has displayed amazing all-court form of late, her younger, fitter doubles partner is likely to make her endure enough long, lung-searing rallies to make her wish she was back on the doubles court.

Key Matchup: Errani’s brutal topspin forehand against Vinci’s beautiful yet antiquated one-handed backhand.

Crystal Ball says: Take the Italian! Errani 7-5, 6-2

Serena Williams vs. Ana Ivanovic

Imagine you're Ana Ivanovic and you’ve just reached your first US Open quarterfinal. Then you check the draw and find out who you’ll be playing next. Yikes. Williams holds a 3-0 edge against Ivanovic, and the Serb has lost all six sets against the 14-time Grand Slam champion. Ivanovic can take comfort in the fact that she owns a 4-1 career record in Grand Slam quarterfinals, and the fact that her form has been surprisingly good in New York. But given the state of Serena Williams’ game right now, it’s hard to imagine the 24-year-old making a dent.

Williams has only lost one match to a player outside the top ten in her 71 previous US Open matches, and that was an unranked Kim Clijsters in 2009.

Key Matchup: Ivanovic’s world-class forehand vs. Serena’s ability to make Ivanovic hit her not-so-world-class backhand

Crystal Ball says: Williams 6-1. 6-3

(Photo Credit: AFP/Patrick Kovarik)