Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic withstood an all out effort by one of the tour’s most dangerous upset kings and moves on to the round of sixteen. Third seeded Roger Federer withstood a game effort from talented Croatian Marin Cilic and stayed on course for a semifinal pairing against the phenomenal Serb.

Despite a rusty start, Djokovic settled into the match and soon found that Davydenko did not have the firepower to hurt the odds-on favorite to win the title. His 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 triumph exemplifies the fact that Djokovic has distanced himself so far from the pack that every point lost seems like a mini victory for his opponents. Djokovic attributes much of his success to his conditioning and especially to his new gluten-free diet. Whatever it is, it sounds pretty boring but the results seem very majestic.

6’4” Marin Cilic got off to a sharp start and appeared to have his head and game together. Federer bounced back to take the first set but Cilic eked out a win in the second set. Using his heavy serve and sharp forehand, Cilic pinned Federer to the baseline and worked over Roger’s one-handed backhand.

Federer then changed course and went into overdrive in sets three and four. The 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 match was Federer’s sternest challenge thus far.

In a tournament that has featured 16 matches affected by walkovers and retirements, the men’s and women’s draw look very much like a survival reality show. He or she who remains upright has a very good chance to win.

Despite all the confusion, form has held fairly well on the men’s side. The biggest casualty on first Saturday at the Open was Czech Tomaz Berdych, who was believed to be a contender. Down a set and trialing 5-0, Berdych decided to look ahead to another day and retired allowing another Serb, Jarko Tipsarevic to advance.

The buzz around the grounds is do not forget Jo Willy. Tsonga pinned a straight set loss on left-handed Spaniard Fernando Verdasco. The 11th seed never led Verdasco up for air in the 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 win. Tsonga is in form and his serve is clicking and his athleticism is unquestioned. The Frenchman is playing his best tennis at the best time of the year.

Tsonga and 8th seeded Mardy Fish of the USA will have a go at it on Monday night in prime time. Fish was pushed by 6’7” Kevin Andersen of South Africa but was steady in the clutch to win 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (4). Now the USA’s top ranked player, Fish has played his role well and will have plenty of fans against Tsonga. He will need them all!

Serena Williams Crushed Victoria Azarenka

There is no question that Victoria Azarenka is playing the best tennis of her career. The luck of the draw landed Serena Williams in her bracket. Williams came out blazing. She stormed Azarenka and fans could not help but wonder who was gong to challenge the 13-time Grand Slam Champion.

After a pitiful performance in the first set, Azarenka went to a riskier offense. Realizing that she could not beat Williams from the baseline, she tried to make her opponent move north-south instead of east-west.

Victoria never backed down and in fact gained strength in the second set. She was using every tactic in the playbook. With a drop shot here and a net charge there, Victoria gave herself chances to square the match. However, the woman with perhaps the best serve ever in women’s play used that big weapon to withstand an admirable charge.

Azarenka can hold her head high after her gutsy second set. With Petra Kvitova bowing out early, it seems that Wozniacki will be competitive but will be unable to break serve and her serve will be broken easily by Serena. That really leaves it up to either Germany’s Petkovic or Lisicki or possible the young Russian powerhouse Payluchenkova to deny Williams the crown.

Pavyluchenkova put away 11th seed Jelena Jankovic 6-4, 6-4. She will next face Francesca Schiavone in a match that pits the game’s best retriever against a future queen-to-be.

Williams will face Ana Ivanovic who has returned to good form and dispatched American Sloane Stephens 6-3, 6-4. Ivanovic does not match up well against Williams.

By virtue of her 6-4, 6-2 win over Agkul Amanmuradova, Svetlana Kuznetsova will earn the Round of 16 slot against Wozniacki. That figure s to be a pick ‘em wager. For Wozniacki, this will show her fans how she plans to attack Williams because there is no way the Great Dane can win with a defensive strategy.

In the women’s draw, the match of the day tomorrow will pit the second seed Vera Zvonareva against hard hitting Sabine Lisicki. Like Kuznetsova, Zvonareva has played through some challenges but has emerged in a good place.

The winner of the Lisicki – Zvonareva match may have to play through Samantha Stosur but looks to have a clear path to the finals.

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