Grand Slam Professional Tennis Predictions and Picks by Nick Bollettieri. US Open, French Open, Wimbledon, Australian Open

Nick’s Picks along with Tennis Week and CBS Sports will bring you live coverage of the US Open from New York City. Check back everyday for insight leading up to the Open and then throughout.

Andy Murray (GBR) vs. Michael Llodra (FRA)

Murray picked up a good win in the first round, losing only seven total games in three sets. He comes into the tournament playing excellent tennis, and is at a career high of #6 in the world. I love watching this guy play because of his street-fighter approach to the game.

Llodra needed four sets to beat Teimuraz Gabashvili in the first round. He has already won two tournaments in 2008 and improved his ranking almost 20 spots since the beginning of the year. He is also an excellent doubles player, and was ranked in the top 10 in doubles earlier in his career.

Match-Up:

Murray is 1-0 against Llodra, with that win coming last year. Llodra has excellent groundstrokes, a big serve, and loves to serve and volley. He is a lefty with a one-handed backhand, so that can always be tricky to deal with. Murray looked both physically and emotionally fit in his first round win. He was moving exceptionally well, and with his ability to negate the big serve he is a real contender here. I look for him to use his great return of serve to break Llodra down, and if he is able to hold his own serve then I like his chances here.

Nick’s Pick – Murray in 4 sets

Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) vs. Thomaz Bellucci (BRA)

Del Potro got a scare from Guillermo Canas in the first round, but he managed to pull it out in four sets. The question going forward is how will he hold up physically? He has spent a great deal of time on the court of late, and it will be interesting to see if this catches up with him.

If you haven’t had a chance to see Bellucci play, this would be a great match to check him out. He is a 20-year old who is ranked #86 in the world, and has a great deal of potential. He has won four Challengers this year, and is playing in his first career US Open.

Match-Up:

This will be the first career match between Del Potro and Bellucci. This is not only a battle between two of the best young players on the ATP Tour, it is also a battle of South America! Bellucci is a big hitter, has a sonic serve, and is a lefty. He has the talent to challenge anyone, and gave Nadal a test in the first round of the French Open earlier this year. Del Potro is also a big guy with an even bigger game. I feel his ability to understand and recognize that he is a special player gives him the edge in this match.

Nick’s Pick – Del Potro in 4 sets

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Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) vs. Bobby Reynolds (USA)

Gonzalez is coming off of a run to the finals of the Olympics, where he won the Silver Medal. Despite that suspect call in the semis, Gonzalez is still a much respected player on the tour. He doesn’t have a reputation of being a poor sport at all.

Reynolds is a 26-year old American, who comes in ranked #89 in the world. He went to the quarterfinals of both Indianapolis and Delray Beach, and has won a couple of Challengers thus far in 2008. This is the first time in four appearances that Reynolds has made it out of the first round of the US Open.

Match-Up:

This is the first career meeting between Reynolds and Gonzalez. Reynolds moves well and is a fighter. He just cannot hurt a player like Gonzalez. In order for Reynolds to win, he would have to step it up a notch and do the unexpected. He would have to go for lower percentage shots, come into the net more, and take some risks. Gonzalez just has too many weapons, especially with the monster forehand. His play has gotten much more consistent since he started working with Larry Stefanki and with that serve and forehand he is always a threat to anyone he plays.

Nick’s Pick – Gonzalez in 3 sets

Roger Federer (SUI) vs. Thiago Alves (BRA)

Federer is trying to win his fifth straight US Open, and for the first time in what seems like forever, he is not the top seed. He has now won 29 straight matches at the US Open, and hasn’t lost here since David Nalbandian beat him in the fourth round in 2003.

Alves is a 26-year old Brazilian, who comes in ranked #137 in the world. He qualified to get into the tournament, and then beat Paul Capdeville in five sets in the first round. So, needless to say, he has already played a bunch of tennis!

Match-Up:

Federer and Alves have never met before, but I don’t think that will affect Federer’s preparation whatsoever. Alves is not a big guy (5’10″), and he cannot afford to make a single error in this match. It is a must that he has a great serving day, and he really is going to have to go for it all. He has nothing to lose, and has no pressure on him. Federer looked brilliant in his first round win. He was hitting over the top of the ball on more backhands, and using the slice as compliment. I feel this is a big plus. His serve was excellent and overall I thought his performance was top-notch.

Nick’s Pick – Federer in 3 sets

~ by Nick's Picks on August 27, 2008.

Posted in 2008 US Open, US Open Picks
Tags: 2008 US Open, Andy Murray, Bobby Reynolds, Fernando Gonzalez, Juan Martin Del Potro, Michael Llodra, Roger Federer, Thiago Alves, Thomaz Bellucci, US Open Picks