US Open 2014: Quick Hits – Murray is Back

2011 Champ vs. 2012 Champ Book It!

  • Andy Murray looked to be playing a lot closer to his 2012-mid 2013 form than he has for most of 2014. Murray used his movement and return of serve to dig out from break deficits in the 2nd and 3rd set.  He applied pressure at the right times to break Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to close each of the 3 sets. Djokvoic vs. Murray is almost certainly going to be a night match on Wednesday.  From there, the winner will have 2 days off before the semifinal match.
  • Eugenie Bouchard had a bad time with the humidity today during her loss.  I am all for players getting medical checks if heat is high.  However, if a player needs a medical timeout that include being wrapped in ice while vital signs are being taken, wouldn’t it be prudent to end the match?  Bouchard won 2 of the next 5 games after her medical timeout.  Had she come back to take the second set one would first have to ask if a third set would put Bouchard’s health at risk and also ask if the medical timeout threw Makarova off of her game and timing.
  • Novak Djokovic looked like a clear favorite to take the title until the middle of the 3rd set.  From that point forward, he looked ill from the heat.  A night match versus Murray might be a war, but at least the weather will be cooler
  • Serena Williams reached her first Grand Slam quarterfinal of the year?  She is peaking at the right time, but if she fails to win this US Open her #1 ranking would be less than credible.

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