Predicted Winners in BOLD

Quarterfinals

David Ferrer (4) vs. Nicolas Almagro (10) – David Ferrer could reach his 3rd slam semifinal in the past 52 weeks.  He led the tour with 7 titles in 2012.  He also picked up his first 1000 series title after adding French and US Open semifinal runs to his career achievements.  Ferrer is 12-0 vs. Almagro.  12-0!  Almagro has the shots to win this match, but consistency, fitness and confidence should take Ferrer to the Final Four.  If Almagro does win, he can dust of Vitas’ old line and say, “No one beats Almagro 13 times in a row!”

Novak Djokovic (1)  vs. Tomas Berdych (5) – Berdych’s biggest career wins came at the 2010 Wimbledon championships where he beat Roger Federer in the quarterfinal round and Novak Djokovic in the semifinal round.  Berdych can win a big match versus Djokovic.  Berdych also helpd the Czech Republic win the 2012 Davis Cup.  Djokovic just played a draining 5 hour match.  It all sounds like a good blueprint for an upset.  I am not buying though.  Berdych does have the ability to hit through the court on any surface, but this surface is ideally suited to Djokovic’s game.  Novak recovered from a brutal semifinal versus Andy Murray to win the most brutal match I have ever seen versus Nadal in last year’s Australian Open final.  Stanislas Wawrinka does not play the grinding style of Murray.  Novak should be fresh enough to win and advance.