Stanislas Wawrinka vs. Tomas Berdych

Their 4 set collision in Melbourne was a key aspect of Wawrinka’s breakthrough even if Stan’s championship win over Nadal and quarterfinal win over Nole got more attention.  Berdych has been more consistent than Wawrinka in 2014, but Wawrinka’s Australian Open and Monte Carlo titles along with his quarterfinal finishes at Wimbledon and the US Open have Wawrinka posting the better year.

Both guys have a lot of power.  Berdych has been in far better form since the close of the US Open.  I think Berdych wins if Stan’s recent form is to be taken seriously.  However, Stan played poorly after Monte Carlo on clay and in a grass court tune-up only to push Roger hard in the Wimbledon quarters.  Similarly, Stan did next to nothing on hard courts until the US Open in which a 5 set thriller with Nishikori kept him from repeating his 2013 semifinal showing.  I think Stan’s ceiling is higher than Tomas’, but his floor is lower.  Based on recent form, I am going to pick Berdych to win 7-5, 6-4.