Tennis is in a really good place right now. The game is played by some of the top athletes in the world and their are a couple of traits that the best on both size all possess: size, strength, speed, power and a unbelievable will to win. It make not difference how you go through the draw, because you are eventually going to have to face the top guys including Djokovic, Nadal, Murray, Federer, Del Potro, Ferrer and even some of the best young ones like Tomic, Raonic, Nishikori, and Harrison. They are all very difficult out’s.

Let’s look back on some of the best matches…

Federer vs. Nadal – So many fans and players were sort of taken aback and so was I about how Federer sort of lost his way in towards the end of that match. His backhand, which was just about flawless throughout the previous rounds, totally broke down and he was shanking balls in all directions. Nadal played much closer to the baseline and controlled play. The final blow to this match was Federer’s serve, which went from being consistent to inconsitent!

Djokovic vs. Murray – Frank Sinatra had an old hit entitled, “What a Difference a Day Made,” well we should change that too “What a Difference Ivan Lendl Made!” No one ever doubted Murray’s ability, but what Lendl has made a world of difference with his game. Murray is in better control of his mind and body, he is standing closer to the baseline and his forehand is much more aggressive. Very nice to see. Yes, Djokovic won the match, but this is exactly what Murray must do to win a Grand Slam. He is so close, but getting over that Djokovic hump is going to be difficult!

Djokovic vs. Nadal – I must bring out a few very important points of interest and try to make all you realize what these two went through. Chris CarMichael, considered one of the top writers, said “The endurance of tennis is critical to be able to perform the intense movements required to last in a four and a half hour match and them come back 48 hours later and  do it again. Recovery is a must do of your training!”  This match ended up with two winners, even though the trophy was in Djokovic’s hands. Can you fans believe how far these two guys ran in this match? This match demonstrated a display of every type of shot and movement plus determination beyond description. Simply amazing and congrats to both men!

Sharapova vs. Azarenka – This match was a bit of a letdown for Maria, but was very positive for Azarenka. She dominated the match in all ways, and I was happy for her! She has improved her physical fitness and is much stronger in her lower body, giving her controlled power.

I want to say a special thanks to:

• The unbelievable fans – they broke the attendance record and were very hospitable
• Tennis Australia – great job!
• ESPN and The Tennis Channel – all the commentators were outstanding!!
• The man above for some great weather
• Unsung heroes like the ball boys and girls, linesmen and women, chair unpires and everyone else

It was a great tournament and I cannot wait until Indian Wells, the Sony Ericsson and the French Open!

The question heading into this match is how much Djokovic’s last match against Murray has taken out of him. Their will certainly be no surprises between these two as they played numerous times last season with Djokovic winning a majority of the time. Djokovic didn’t win as many free points on his serve as he usually does against Murray because Murray stayed close to the baseline and took the ball early catching Djokovic out of position. I’ll be interested to see if Nadal changes up his strategy from last season, because Djokovic seemed to understand what it took to beat him and he never seemed under much stress at any time. It’s going to take one heck of a mental approach for Djokovic to be able to withstand the punishing groundstrokes from Nadal, but he has shown in the past he can handle it.

Look, this match is going to be incredibly fun to watch and I cannot wait for it start. I have to give the edge here to Djokovic because of his success from 2011. I know he is coming off a long match against Murray, but I just think he has the mental edge here and I cannot pick against him. Djokovic in 4 sets. 

Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. Andy Murray (GBR) – I have watched both players throughout this tournament and sum up my opinions of both in a few short sentences. Djokovic will stand close to the baseline and move Murray in all directions. He will get several quick points from his serve and will put a ton of pressure on Murray’s serve. He feels confident and this will play an important role on the outcome of this match. Murray will stand a few feet behind the baseline, will get to every ball, his serve has improved and Lendl has helped him maintain his focus.

Djokovic will not relent and will continually pressure Murray from every direction and their are going to be plenty of long rallies in this match. Their is no doubt in my mind that both men are capable of winning this tournament, but in the end I cannot pick against Djokovic. Djokovic in 4 sets.

Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. Roger Federer (SUI) – This match-up can be compared to the New England Patriots vs. the Baltimore Ravens. Federer, to me, is like Tom Brady. Both men are smooth and cool under pressure and they play with a great finesse. Nadal is like Ray Lewis. They both play a physical style of defense and will come at you with all their might and if you get up they will knock you down again! The Super Bowl draws a huge audience and so will this match! This is how I see it…

Roger Federer – He uses a heavy racket to play with and this means he cannot try to work the racket using physical strength, but he has to relax and use his talented hands and racket head speed with the racket head and arm extended away from his body on the forward swing and then driving the racket head an arm totally out to the target, Many say he has the very best finishing shots in the game, but to do that he has to be completely balanced and have control of his entire body before the ball arrives. Brady and Federer are both with the ability to read the defense and make a quick adjustment. Once again, both of them have soft hands which enables them to handle the ball easily. In addition, Roger has gained a great deal of confidence with his backhand and is much more aggressive on his passing shots.  No one changes the pace better than Roger with his biting low slice and don’t forget his drop shots from both sides. He also has the ability to use the very same serve toss to hit a kicker or a wide-slice serve.

Rafael Nadal – Nadal is one of a kind and there is no doubt in my mind that he is basically a freak of nature! It’s amazing to me when just about everyone is ready to say he can’t come back and then guess what, he comes back again! The entire world should try to follow his work ethic because this guy never gets tired and is always trying to get better and better. Nadal will do what he has always done against Federer which is to hit his lefty cross-court forehand with heavy spin to Federer’s one-handed backhand. Federer will move Nadal all over the court and try to avoid cross-court rallies. Both men are in top form, but what will be a major factor as the match rolls on is whether or not Federer is able to play his variety of shots which includes coming into the net.

The odds certainly favor Nadal, especially if the match becomes a dog fight with long sets and rallies. Most experts and I agree that the longer the match goes on, the more it favors Nadal. We must also bring our the clear facts that the heavy cross-court forehands of Nadal could take a toll on Federer’s backhand. Having said all of that, I just like the way Federer is playing and I am going to give a slight edge to him. Although, if this match goes five sets, I give it to Nadal. Federer in 4, Nadal in 5!

Women

Maria Sharapova (RUS) vs. Petra Kvitova (CZE) – Kvitova has had success against Sharapova in the past, but Maria is playing great tennis right now! Kvitova’s forehand is hard to read because she is a left and she can hit winners from anywhere on the court. Her bakchand is also an offensive shot and she doesn’t hit with much spin. Her first serve is very good, and she has a lot of action on her second serve, but it can be attacked. She is very comfy at the net and also moves well for her height. Pay close attention to the way she returns serve because she does it very well and with great consistency.

There is no reason to break down Sharapova’s game in to much detail, but this is what will take place. She will stand close to the baseline and pound the tar out of every ball with little spin. She will go after tentative second serves and punish you at all times. She has spent many hours on her physical fitness program and equal time working on her return! Her serve is still a major weapon and will have a big impact on a win or a loss. Finally, no one is stronger mentally that Sharapova!

I give a slight edge to Sharapova because she refuses to lose and will find a way to win! Sharapova in 3 sets.

Roger Federer (SUI) vs. Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) – Their will be no surprises between these two as they know each other’s game very well. Del Potro has a sonic serve, a big icker second serve, a very aggressive, flat forehand, an excellent two-handed backhand, and moves really well for a big guy. On the other side, you know what Federer does. He moves around the court like Ali glided over the boxing ring, his grounstrokes are fantastic and he can place his serve anywhere. We are all thrilled to have Del Potro back and playing good tennis again, but Federer will not be impressed because he will play his game and that will make him a winner. Should be a great match, but going with Fed. Federer in 4 sets.

Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. Tomas Berdych (CZE) – Berdych’s match against Almagro ended with the fans booing him for refusing to shake Almagro’s hand. We will have to see if that has any effect on this match. I would imagine that the fans would be squarely in Nadal’s corner for this match, and they do have an effect. Nadal would do what he does best and hit heavy spinning balls, trying to push Berdych back off the court. Berdych has the big serve and powerful groundies, but I’m not sure if that will be enough. Gotta go Nadal here and looking forward to a possible Nadal/Federer semi! Nadal in 4 sets.

Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. David Ferrer (ESP) – Djokovic continues to roll and many wonder how he can play at that high of a level for so long. That, I cannot answer, but his physical conditioning and nutrition certainly have a lot to do with it. Novak definitely has the advantage against Ferrer (he does against everyone!) and will play a much more aggressive game than his counterpart. Ferrer is in great shape and covers the court extremely well. I give a ton of respect to Ferrer and the way he plays the game, but it’s impossible to pick against Djokovic. Djokovic in 4 sets.

Women

Victoria Azarenaka (BLR) vs. Aggie Radwanska (POL) – Azarenka is looking for that first Grand Slam title, and boy this is a great opportunity. She has monster groundstrokes, has become a better defensive player, plays the big points very well and can turn defense into offense better than most anyone. Her serve has been great and she hasn’t been broken yet throughout the tournament. Radwanska has a tough task here. She doesn’t have the big weapons, but she doesn’t make any mistakes either. She moves extremely well and anticipates where the ball is going to be perfectly. Azarenka should be able to control points, and if she continues to serve at the current pace, she should win. Azarenka in 2 sets.

Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) vs. Kim Clijsters (BEL) – Wow, this is going to be a barn-burner! Both women come in playing fantastic tennis and even though Clijsters may be a little nicked up from her last match against Na Li, she will be competing to the last point. Wozniacki looked great against Jankovic, but Clijsters will come at her from the first ball. Clijsters’ movement is superb, her serve is solid and her aggressiveness is what really sets her apart. Wozniacki will need a good serving day, because any weakness here and Clijsters will jump all over her. This is going to be a tough match, but I have to give the edge to Clijsters. Clijsters in 3 sets.

Maria Sharapova (RUS) vs. Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) – Sharapova has been all business in her matches and only knows one way to play. She stands inside the baseline taking the ball early, has a superb return of serve, and her groundstrokes are some of the best. Makarova is a lefty who built her game based on her movement and making you hit one extra shot. She is sneaky good and should be full of confidence after dispatching Serena Williams in straight sets. Makarova must go for her shots and use her slice serve to keep Sharapova off-balance. The key to this match is whether or not she gets a good percentage of first serves in play because Sharapova will pounce on her second serve. Because of the stage and their experience, I definitely give the edge to Sharapova. Sharapova in 2 sets.

Men

Mardy Fish (USA) vs. Gilles Muller (LUX) – This should be a good test for Mardy. He had an unbelievable year in 2011 and it will be interesting to see if he can maintain that momentum in 2012. He has a great two-handed backhand, he is one of the best returners in the game, his forehand is improved and he is really comfy at the net. The difference here should be Fish’s mentality and his ability to return the serve. Muller has a big-time serve and he has monster groundstrokes, but Fish should be able to win this match if he is playing his game. Fish in 4 sets. 

Fernando Verdasco (ESP) vs. Bernard Tomic (AUS) – This is the match that all the Australian fans are going to be honing in on. Tomic is one of the best up-and-comers in the world and after a third round appearance last year, there is going to be plenty of pressure on him to repeat that performance. Verdasco clearly isn’t the player he was a few years ago, but he can still whip it around with a killer forehand. Tomic has the ability to lull his opponents to sleep and when you combine that with his big serve, excellent forehand and his outstanding two-handed backhand he is very dangerous. This should be a fun match to watch, but I am going with the upset. Tomic in 4 or 5 sets. 

Andy Murray (GBR) vs. Ryan Harrison (USA) – Wow! Another great first-rounder. Harrison needs to get into this match early and he needs to control his emotions throughout. If he allows Murray to get off to a fast start, then he will be in trouble from the outset. You know what Murray is capable of, and while Harrison is a bit of a wild card he has the potential to pull of a big upset. We will all be rooting for Harrison here at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy and wish his good luck! Based on history and experience, I have to give the edge to Murray here, but this should be a close one. Murray in 4 sets. 

Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. Paolo Lorenzi (ITA) – Can Djokovic repeat his 2011 numbers in 2012? Well, anything is possible, but I am not sure if anyone can have a season like that again. He shouldn’t have any troubles with the Italian, Lorenzi, in fact he should send him back to the pizza parlor real quickly! The real thing to watch for in this match is how well Djokovic plays. Djokovic in 3 sets. 

Women

Na Li (CHN) vs. Tsenia Pervak - After reaching the finals here last year, Na Li went on to win the French Open, but after that she struggled throughout the rest of 2011. Can she recapture her magic from early 2011 or will she continue to play like she did at the end? Pervak can definitely push Li around the court, but Li thrives off her opponent’s pace and she should be able to win this routinely. Li in 2 sets. 

Kim Clisjters (BEL) vs. Qualifier – At this point, Clijsters opponent is unknown, and it really shouldn’t matter. She is the defending champion down under and will be favored again for a deep run. Questions about her health will remain until she can prove she is good to go, but she shouldn’t have any issues reaching the second round. Clijsters in 2 sets. 

Maria Sharapova (RUS) vs. Gisela Dulko (ARG) - Sharapova spent plenty of time at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy during the off-season, and it was all business for her. She worked a lot on her physical strength and her base, and you know when healthy she is more than capable of winning this tournament. Dulko is a cagey veteran who should be able to test Sharapova, but as long as Sharapova remains healthy and focused she should advance. Sharapova in 2 sets. 

Heather Watson (GBR) vs. Victoria Azarenka (BLR) - Here is another match that features a young IMG Bollettieri student, Heather Watson, against a top seed, Victoria Azarenka. Watson has had some close matches against the top players, but she hasn’t been able to pull one out yet. I told her to let her game do all the talking and when she gets into those tight situations to relax and don’t over-think it. Azarenka is certainly favored to win this match as she is one of the best in the game, but don’t be surprised if Watson pushes her to three sets. I have to go with Azarenka, but I will be rooting for Heather! Azarenka in 3 sets. 

Federer’s win over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was some of the best tennis I have ever seen in my entire life. I want to congratulate Roger and his coach Paul Annacone, on a masterful strategy they put into place and there was no stopping Federer in the match. Everything he did was perfect, and he really didn’t give Tsonga a chance to breath. Beautiful tennis Roger!!!

Djokovic battled for the first three and a half sets before Tipsarevic was forced to retire with an injury. Djokovic won the first set in a tiebreaker, dropped the second set in a tiebreaker and then won the third set 6-0 and was up 3-0 in the fourth set when Tipsarevic had to stop. He has been to at least the semifinals of nine of the last 15 Grand Slams which is simply amazing!

Match-Up:

There will be no surprises in this match as this is the 24^th time these two have met. Federer is 14-9 in the previous matches and the last time they played, in the semis of the French Open, Federer won in four sets. Before that, Djokovic had beaten Federer three times in 2011 (semis at Australian Open, finals of Dubai and semis at Indian Wells).

I want to break this match down by each stroke…

Forehands: Both men have excellent forehands. I have to give a small edge to Federer here, but it’s close.

Backhands: This is where Djokovic has the advantage. Federer’s backhand has not been able to stand up to the heavy pounding from Djokovic and Nadal recently, but he was rolling it the other night against Tsonga and if he can do that against Djokovic he will be fine.

Serve: Both men have superb serves. I would give a narrow edge to Federer, but this is pretty even.

Return of Serve: Federer returns the serve really well, but Djokovic has the best in the game!

Movement: Both are phenomenal movers, no one has the edge here.

Slice: Federer is able to slice the ball a little better than Djokovic, but I don’t think this will be the determining factor in the match.

Volleys: I’d say they are pretty close to equal here, maybe a slight edge to Federer.

Mental: No doubt that they are even here!

This is a dream match, and right now the buzz in the crowd is that Federer is back. A win here would certainly help make that case, but Djokovic won’t forget that loss at the French Open and he wants this bad. This could really go either way and since I’ve broken the match down, I want to know who you think is going to win!

Nick’s Pick – Give me your prediction!

Andy Murray (GBR) vs. Rafael Nadal (ESP)

Murray became just the seventh man in the Open era to reach the semifinals of all four Grand Slams in the same year. With the win, Murray has extended his winning streak to 10 matches as he came into the tournament having won Cincinnati. After a scare early on, Murray has looked much more comfortable and is playing great tennis.

Nadal didn’t have much of a problem with Roddick in the quarterfinals as he jumped on his early and never relented. He’s now reached the semis of six out of the last eight Grand Slams and he is the defending champion here! He wants this title so bad, and it is going to take a massive effort to slow him down.

Match-Up:

Nadal is 12-4 against Murray and has beaten him three times already this year, including in the semis of the French Open and Wimbledon.

I want to break this match down by each stroke…

Forehands: These two have very different forehands. Nadal hits with more spin than anyone, but he can also flatten it out and change the pace. Murray’s forehand is steady and reliable, but he doesn’t get the power that Nadal does.

Two-Handed backhand: Both men have tremendous backhands. Because Nadal is primarily a right-hander, his backhand is extremely powerful and when he hits it down the line, watch out! Murray’s backhand is great as well and it is one of the two-best in the entire game. He can hit any shot in the book from the backhand side, and he doesn’t make many errors.

Serve: Neither of these guys depend on the serve for a majority of their points. Murray has been able to improve his serve over the last few years, but so has Nadal. I don’t think this is going to be the determining factor of this match.

Volleys:  Both are excellent volleyers, but I think Murray has a little more feel around the net.

Movement: What can I say? Both are great movers! Both stand behind the baseline and like to run, run, run! Perhaps one of them will slip in a little and take the ball early to catch their opponent off-guard.

Return of Serve: Murray is one of the best returners in the game, so a slight edge to him.

Slice: A little bit more of an edge to Murray, but both men are excellent.

Mental: Murray has definitely improved, however, this is where Nadal thrives. Nadal is able to go harder than his opponent every time out and this is really where he is able to make a difference.

You can see how badly Nadal wants this title, especially after the summer he has had. He’s confident, aggressive and as determined as I have ever seen. Can Murray stop him? I’ve broken down the match, and I want your feedback on who is going to win!

Nick’s Pick – Give me your prediction!

Federer dispensed of Juan Monaco in a quick 82 minutes 6-1, 6-2, 6-0. He never faced a break point the entire match and he won close to 60% of the points on Monaco’s serve. Needless to say, that was an easy win for him, and I don’t expect to see those same results against Tsonga.

I was very impressed by Tsonga as he was able to battle the NY crowds that favored Fish (as well as the swirling wind) and come back from a set down to beat the American in five sets. This is his first appearance in the quarters of the US Open and he is looking to get to the semis of a Grand Slam for the fourth time in his career.

Match-Up:

Federer is 4-3 against Tsonga, and the two have played four times this year. Federer won in Doha and Rome earlier this year and Tsonga has won the last two at Wimbledon and Canada. I thought when Fish was up a set, Tsonga might fold and go down, but that wasn’t the case. He actually got stronger the longer the match went on and that was great to see. He doesn’t lack any confidence and he feeds off the crowd’s energy and having beaten Federer the last two times, he should be ready to go. He will try and hit to Federer’s backhand as much as possible and keep Federer pinned back behind the baseline. If he is able to do that, he could win this match.

On the other side, Federer and his coach, Paul Annacone, should go back and look at the tape of the previous two matches to try and glean any information they can. I think Federer, unlike Fish, will try and chip or slice his backhand return more which should take Tsonga out of his rhythm. Federer needs to come in as much as he can and make Tsonga pass him, because he doesn’t want to get into baseline rallies with the big Frenchman. I know Tsonga has won the last two matches, but I have to give a slight advantage to Federer. Watch out though because Tsonga is more than capable of pulling off this upset!

Nick’s Pick – Federer in 4 or 5 sets

Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. Janko Tipsarevic (SRB)

Djokovic and Alexandr Dolgopolov played one of the most entertaining matches of the tournament in the fourth round, which included a 16-14 opening set tiebreak. Once Djokovic survived that, he was able to take hold of the match and he never looked back.

Tipsarevic knocked out Juan Carlos Ferrero in four sets to reach the quarters of the US Open for the first time in his career. This is also his first time he has been to the quarters of any Grand Slam and a win here would be the biggest of his career.

Match-Up:

Djokovic is 2-0 against his fellow countryman and I am sure these two know each other very well as they are both from Serbia and played Davis Cup together. Any time you get two players from the same country together, you know it’s going to be exciting! I love that Tipsarevic plays with the glasses on, he is like a Hollywood rock star out there! Not only that, but he can flat out play. He has a great forehand, moves exceptionally well, and his two-handed backhand is fantastic. Against Ferrero in the last round, he was hitting tremendous serves out wide, but this can be dangerous because when you do this it really opens up the court.

To beat Djokovic, he is going to have to play the match of his life. Djokovic does everything extremely well and really has no weaknesses. He seems to have a mental edge over the rest of his Serbian counterparts and that makes a big difference once the ball is in play. This is going to be a fun match to watch, but I see Djokovic moving through in straight sets.

Nick’s Pick – Djokovic in 3 sets

Andy Murray (GBR) vs. John Isner (USA)

After a very long wait, Murray ended Donald Young’s great run, beating the young American in straight sets. Murray was extremely efficient, and while he didn’t serve well, he broke DY eight times and pressured his opponent throughout the match (Young had 53 unforced errors). This is how Murray likes to play and now he is one step closer to reaching the at least the semis of every Grand Slam this year.

Isner advanced to the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career with a superb win over Gilles Simon in the fourth round. Isner won all three of his sets in the tiebreaker and he is playing fantastic tennis. He has worked so hard to get to this point and I couldn’t be happier for John!

Match-Up:

Murray is 1-0 against Isner with that win coming in the fourth round of the 2010 Australian Open. This match features one of the best servers in the game versus one of the best return of servers in the game. Isner is going to have to have one heck of a serving day to beat Murray, because the Scotsman is usually able to negate the big serve of many players. Isner should also try using a big kick serve to open the court and give him some free points. I don’t feel Murray can stay back behind the baseline and win this match. He needs to stand closer to the baseline, otherwise Isner is going to use drop shots and his big groundstrokes to control the court. The longers this match goes, the more it favors Murray. If Isner is to win, I think he’s got to do it in three sets or a quick four sets. I have to give the edge to Murray based on the way the two have played this year, but if Isner is able to grab control early this could be an upset.

Nick’s Pick – Murray in 4 or 5 sets

Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. Andy Roddick (USA)

When Nadal’s match first started (the day before it ended!) he went down early to Muller, but on Thursday, when played resumed, he battled right back and was able to win in straight sets. He showed no signs of the cramps or blister problems that popped up in the third round and he looks as determined as ever to repeat his title here.

I wasn’t sure if Roddick was ever going to get a chance to finish his match after waiting for the rain for two days and then his match had to be moved off of Louis Armstrong court because of water bubbling up through the court! After all that, he was able to get the match in and he beat a darn good player in David Ferrer in four sets. Don’t look now, but Roddick is definitely a threat to dethrone Nadal!

Match-Up:

Nadal is 6-3 against Roddick and they split their two matches last year (Nadal won in the World Finals and Roddick won in Miami). I am so happy that Roddick is playing excellent tennis again at the US Open, I couldn’t be happier for him. He now has one of, if not, the toughest test on his hand: beating Rafael Nadal. He will need to have a big serving day, and he needs to continue to break serve at the pace he has done thus far throughout the tournament. He cannot get into long cross-court rallies with the Spaniard, otherwise Nadal will use his heavy spinning balls to push Roddick back. Nadal will do what he does every time he takes the court, which is to compete harder than anyone else. He knows what he needs to do to win this match, and based on the way both men have played in 2011 I have to give the advantage to Nadal.

Nick’s Pick – Nadal in 4 sets

Federer got a bit of a scare from Marin Cilic in the third round, dropping the second set, but he didn’t let that effect his game at all and he advanced in four sets. He is playing outstanding, aggressive tennis and when Roger is on the attack you better watch out!

I watched the whole match between Monaco and my boy, Tommy Haas. I was excited to see Haas win the first set, but as the match went on he just ran out of steam. Monaco was too consistent with his groundstrokes and Haas simply didn’t have enough the tank. This is only the second time, and the first since 2007, tht Monaco has been to the fourth round of the US Open.

Match-Up:

Federer is 2-0 against Monaco and that includes a win over him earlier this year in Miami. Monaco was able to take advantage of Haas by wearing him down using his excellent two-handed backhand (that he hits very flat), a big first serve and superb forehand. The difference here is that where Haas ran out of gas, Federer won’t! Federer should be able to use his serve to win many free points and once the ball is in play, the variety of Federer should keep Monaco off-balance. I look for Federer to win in straight sets.

Nick’s Pick – Federer in 3 sets

Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR)

Djokovic looked very comfortable in his straight-set victory over Nikolay Davydenko in the third round. If that match were a few years ago, Davydenko would’ve given him more trouble, but the Russian has lost a step and it showed.

Dolgopolov dropped the first set to Karlovic in the third round, but battled back and won in four. The 22-year old Ukrainian comes in ranked #23 in the world and is playing in the fourth round of a Grand Slam for only the second time in his career.

Match-Up:

This is the first career meeting between these two and it is going to be entertaining! Dolgopolov is a showman on the court. He is as unpredictable as a bumblebee flying around flowers! You never know where he is going to go and he plays an unorthodox style. He is super-talented, acrobatic, moves extremely well, has a weird serve with a low toss and his groundstrokes are excellent. On the other side, you know what you are going to get from Djokovic. He has the best return of serve in the game, his movement if off-the-wall, his groundstrokes are remarkable and his serve is fantastic. The difference in this match will be Djokovic’s ability to come in and take the ball early. Dolgopolov won’t have the opportunity to the time to move around the court like he usually does because Djokovic will be controlling the points. This match could certainly go four sets, but in the end Djokovic will prevail,

Nick’s Pick – Djokovic in 4 sets

Andy Murray (GBR) vs. Donald Young (USA)

Murray looked much better against Lopez than he did against Haase and that was great to see. With the top three guys still playing, Murray is able to fly under the radar a bit and that has helped him. He has been to at least the semis of every Grand Slam this year, and I know he doesn’t want that streak to end!

I couldn’t be happier for Donald Young. I have been a supporter of his ever since he turned pro at 14, and even though it has taken a while, it is fantastic to see him playing well and winning meaningful matches. This is his first appearance in the fourth round of a Grand Slam and a win here would clearly be the biggest of his career.

Match-Up:

Young is 1-0 against Murray and that win came earlier this year at Indian Wells. You know that Murray will remember that match and is going to want to prove to Young that, that was a fluke. On the other hand, Young should be full of confidence and having beaten Murray once, he knows he can do it again. Young has played excellent tennis in the last two rounds, his movement has been fantastic, his touch and feel around the net is superb, and he is even playing a bit more aggressive. He isn’t getting many free points off of his serve, and to beat Murray he is going to need more there. He has already played the spoiler twice, beating Wawrinka and Chela and he can do it again! If you look at the rankings and the results in 2011, you have to give the edge to Murray, but Young has already pulled off two upsets so don’t count him out!

Nick’s Pick – I have to give the edge to Murray, but watch out!

Gilles Muller (LUX) vs. Rafael Nadal (ESP)

Nadal faced an uphill battle in the first set against Nalbandian as he was broken early on. As usual, that didn’t faze him and he was able to advance in three sets. He does have a blister and he was cramping after the match, so we will have to see if he is affected by either of those in this match.

Muller is a former quarterfinalist here and his game sets up nicely for the hard courts. He knocked out Ernets Gulbis in the second round, which was a very good win considering how well Gublis had been playing entering the tournament. Could he pull off another big win and upset the defending champion?

Match-Up:

Nadal is 2-1 against Muller and beat him earlier this year in the third round at Wimbledon in straight sets. Muller isn’t someone Nadal can take lightly. He has beaten him before, and if he gets on a roll with her serve he could do it again. The other question heading into this match is Nadal’s health. He had to call a trainer out to look at a blister in his win over Nalbandian and then after the match he was cramping up so bad in the press conference he fell to the ground. Hopefully, neither of those will affect him, but it is something to keep your eye on.

What’s exciting about this match is you have two lefties. Anytime that happens, you better watch out! The advantage Muller has with his serve will be negated a bit because he is facing another lefty. Usually, he is able to serve it out wide on the ad court to a right-hander’s backhand, but that wont be the case here. When you combine that with everything else Nadal does, you have to give the Spaniard the edge. This could certainly go four sets, but in the end I see Nadal advancing.

Nick’s Pick – Nadal in 4 sets

This is the first real test for Federer, as Cilic comes into this match playng great tennis and he should be full of confidence. I said before the tournament that I liked Federer’s chances of winning this event, and he has done nothing so far to change my opinion.

Cilic has beaten two of the best up-and-comers in the world in Ryan Harrison and Bernard Tomic and both times I have picked him to lose! Well, I guess I am going to try my luck again with him!

Match-Up:

Federer is 2-0 against Cilic, which includes a win over him earlier this year in Monte Carlo. Cilic has played some unbelievable tennis in the first two rounds and he will have to play even better to knock off Federer. His groundstrokes are excellent, he has a sonic serve and for a big boy he moves really well. He thrives off of pace, and that is where I think Federer can make an impact. Federer has the ability to change the pace and play with more variety than Harrison or Tomic did. He also has the big serve to get out of tough positions and he isn’t making very many mistakes right now. I think Cilic can win a set and keep it interesting, but I have to pick Federer to advance.

Nick’s Pick – Federer in 4 sets

Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. Nikolay Davydenko (RUS)

Djokovic almost pulled off the rare feat of triple-bageling and opponent in the second round as he beat Carlos Berlocq 6-0, 6-0, 6-2. What can I say about Djokovic that hasn’t been said before this year? The man is playing some of the best tennis in the history of the game and there appears to be no end in sight!

Davydenko has been as high as #3 in the world, but injuries and age have started to catch up to him. He still has some good tennis left in him though as he beat Nadal earlier this year and almost won Munich.

Match-Up:

Djokovic is 4-2 against Davyenko and the two just met in Canada were Djokovic won 7-5, 6-1. A few years ago this match would been a quarterfinal of semifinal, but that isn’t the case anymore. I watched Davydenko’s whole match against Potito Starace in the second round and he still moves well, has the solid groundstrokes and can get free points off his serve. Starace stood well behind the baseline though which gave Davydenko more time to recover before each shot. That is definitely not going to happen in this match. Djokovic loves to catch the ball early, on the rise, and keep his opponents off-balance. As I have said recently, right now, Djokovic is playing at a level that we have never seen in the sport. He has no weakness in any part of his game and he can place the ball anywhere he wants. I look for Djokovic to continue his amazing 2011 with a straight-set victory here.

Nick’s Pick – Djokovic in 3 sets

Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. David Nalbandian (ARG)

After a rather long (for his standards) first round match, Nadal was only out on the court for a little over an hour in his second round win over Nicolas Mahut. After winning the first two sets, the Frenchman Mahut was forced to retire with an abdominal injury. A solid win for Nadal and that should give him some more confidence.

Nalbandian knocked off Ivan Ljubicic in four sets to reach the third round of the US Open for the second straight year. Nalbandian has been hampered by injuries over the last few years, but when he was healthy he was definitely a threat to go deep into every tournament.

Match-Up:

This is the fifth career meting between these two and they have split their previous four. Their last battle came in the Round of 32 in Miami in 2010 and Nadal won that in three sets. Nalbandian certainly isn’t the player he was a few years ago. He’s ranked #76 in the world and injuries have slowed him down. He has all the talent in the world, but his physical conditioning has never been where it could have. There is no way that I think he has enough in the tank to stand in and take the constant pounding of Nadal’s groundstrokes. Nadal is going to make Nalbandian hit difficult winners and that is not a recipe for success for the Argentine. Could Nalbadian win a set? Sure! But I just don’t see any way he wins this match.

Nick’s Pick – Nadal in 3 sets

Feliciano Lopez (ESP) vs. Andy Murray (GBR)

It was a tale of two different Andy Murray’s in his five-set thrilling victory over Robin Haase. The first two sets he looked listless and out of energy and then he turned it on in the third set winning the next two easily. The fifth set was strange though as Murray was running away with it, Haase starting hitting winners again and all of a sudden he had ourselves one heck of a match. In the end though, Murray was just too much. A difficult win, but one that I think will help him moving forward.

Lopez hasn’t really faced a big challenge yet in his two matches, but that is about to change. He’s been to the fourth round at the US Open twice before (2007 ad 2010), but never further.

Match-Up:

Murray is 5-0 against Lopez and beat him earlier this year in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon in straight sets. Lopez has the big lefty serve as well as the powerful forehand. His movement is solid, but the difference here will be Murray’s return of serve. He has one of, if not, the best return of serve in the game and he is able to put pressure on his opponents at all times. Once the ball is in play, Murray should have the advantage. Now, if he comes out and plays like he did in the first two sets against Haase, Lopez will jump all over him. I don’t think Murray will let that happen again though and I look for him to advance in three tough sets or maybe four sets.

Nick’s Pick – Murray in 4 sets

When I was working on the picks, I didn’t know who Djokovic was playing and honestly it doesn’t matter. This match is all about him and his shoulder health. He was forced to retire at the finals of Cincinnati with this injury and it could have a major effect on this match. His record is still 57-2 on the year and he’s won nine titles which is simply amazing.

I was recently asked how I would compare Djokovic to the greats in the game, and I believe he is right up there. I don’t think that there is anyone in the history of the game that has been as solid in all areas as he is right now. He is so well-rounded and his game is so complete that it is extremely difficult to even take a set off of him. The ball is basically on a string and he is the puppet master. He is remarkable to watch. I look for him to advance, but I’ll be keeping my eyes on how his shoulder feels moving forward.

Nick’s Pick – Djokovic in 3 sets

Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) vs. Gael Monfils (FRA)

Dimitrov is one of the best up-and-coming players in the world along with Tomic, Harrison and Raonic. He’s currently ranked a career high of #52 in the world and he definitely has the skills to one day be a top 10 or 15 player and he should be able to push Monfils in this match.

Speaking of Monfils, he has had a great summer. He went to the finals at Washington and was a quarterfinalist in both Canada and Cincinnati where he lost to Djokovic each time. He has a very good chance to repeat his performance from last year, when he reached the quarters and he could even go further.

Match-Up:

This is the first career meeting between the 20-year old Dimitrov and the 24-year old Monfils. Dimitrov has a very good all-around game and for a young man, he is extremely talented. Dimitrov doesn’t want to get into long rallies with Monfils. He needs to keep the points short and keep Monfils off-balance, because the Frenchman can run all day. He can hit just about any shot in the book, and he has talent oozing out of him. If Monfils keeps everything together he should advance, but this will be a very interesting match.

Nick’s Pick – Monfils in 4, but watch out!

John Isner (USA) vs. Marcos Baghdatis (CYP)

Since crashing out of Wimbledon in the second round, Isner has played pretty well on US soil. He won Newport, reached the finals of Atlanta and the semis of Washington. He then had a second round loss in Canada and a first round defeat in Cincinnati but he is in the semis of Winston-Salem. He loves playing in front of the home fans, and his results prove it.

Is there anyone less predictable on the men’s side than Marcos Baghdatis? He was once #8 in the world and now he down to #60. His summer has been so-so as he was a quarterfinalist in Washington and Winston-Salem, but lost in the second round in LA and the first round in Canada and Cincinnati. He’s never been past the second round of the US Open, but no one would be shocked if he did it in 2011.

Match-Up:

This will be the fourth meeting between these two and the third in just the last few weeks. Isner beat Baghdatis in Canada and Winston-Salem and now will play him again! That is simply incredible that they are playing so often this summer. With those wins under his belt, and with the crowd behind him I have to give the edge to Isner. The biggest concern I have is if this match goes deep into the fourth or fifth set, Baghdatis becomes a tougher out. He is great at hanging in there and with a big serve and forehand he is dangerous. I look for Isner to advance in 3 or 4 sets.

Nick’s Pick – Isner in 4 sets

Andy Roddick (USA) vs. Michael Russell (USA)

The last time Roddick was ranked this low at the US Open was back in 2000 when he was playing in his first US Open and was ranked #338. Now, he isn’t that low now as he is #21, but it is still really odd to see that high of a number next to his name. He’s 21-10 on the year and won the title in Memphis back in February, but since then he has reached the semifinals of a tournament only once. It would be great to see Roddick make another deep run as he is always a fan favorite.

Russell is a journeyman, and he is never a quick out in any tournament. He’s ranked #95 in the world and he is playing in the main draw of his seventh US Open. He’s never been past the first round of this tournament, and it looks like that streak may continue.

Match-Up:

Roddick is 1-0 against Russell but that match was back in 2002 on clay and much has changed since then. For years, Roddick had the biggest serve in the game and it was one of the most feared shots in tennis. That is certainly not the case anymore as all the top guys seem to serve big and have the big forehand to go with it. This used to be Roddick’s bread-and-butter and won him many titles, including the US Open. You cannot win with one weapon and to beat the best you have to have a complete game with no weaknesses.

Against Russell, Roddick cannot fall 6-8 feet behind the baseline. He needs to step in and take the ball early and win quick points. Russell is a scrapper and will fight Roddick for every point. Roddick should advance in straight sets, but it will be interesting to see how he handles Russell.

Nick’s Pick – Roddick in 3 sets

Ryan Harrison (USA) vs. Marin Cilic (CRO)

Harrison, who trains at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy, is definitely one of the best young players in the world. He’s ranked #67 and has had a very good summer which includes semifinal appearances in both Atlanta and LA (lost to Fish both times). He made a name for himself at last year’s US Open, when he beat Ivan Ljubicic and came very close to beating Sergiy Stakhovsky in the second round. Does he have another big upset in him this year?

Cilic has had an up-and-down year, posting a 30-17 record and seeing his ranked drop to #27 in the world. Many thought he was going to be a perennial top-ten player, but that hasn’t been the case thus far in his short career. He was a quarterfinalist here back in 2009, but lost in the second round last year to Kei Nishikori.

Match-Up:

This is the first career meeting between these two guys and it promises to be an interesting one. Cilic has the big serve and groundstrokes, but he doesn’t seem to have the confidence he did a year ago. On the other hand, Harrison isn’t lacking any confidence in his game and for good reason. He has all the tools, he just needs to stay focused and he will be fine. He has a huge first serve, his second serve is one of the best in the game already, and he is comfortable anywhere on the court. Against Cilic, I would advise Ryan to come forward and put pressure on the Croat as much as he can. I am looking for a bit of an upset here as I gotta go with my guy, Ryan!

Nick’s Pick – Harrison in 4 sets