Picks and Preview for matches on Friday, May 14, 2010

Mens Quarterfinals:

(#1 seed) Roger Federer  vs.  (unseeded) Ernests Gulbis

This is about the time where Federer gets scared of the thought of having to face Rafael Nadal in the final.  He'll calculatingly (if thats a word) lose to Gulbis just to avoid a beatdown by the hands of Nadal.  The Rog doesn't want to have his confidence shattered or show his hand to Rafa until they have to play at the French Open.   So with Rog wanting to get out of town and Gulbis playing well the past month, this points to a Gulbis upset.

My Pick- Gulbis

RESULT:  Roger Federer 3-6, 6-1, 6-4

(#3 seed) Andy Murray  vs.  (#9 seed) David Ferrer

David Ferrer would be in deep shit on any other surface, but on clay he is one of the top 5 if not 3 players in the world.  Murray is playing better, but still isn't in top form.  The only way I see Ferrer losing this match is if fatigue starts to set in from playing deep into all these clay court tournaments.  I don't see it happening though, Ferrer is one of the fittest players on tour and should continue his great play on the clay. (f'n A, thats a sweet rhyme)

My Pick- Ferrer

RESULT:  David Ferrer 7-5, 6-3.

(unseeded) Jurgen Melzer  vs.  (unseeded) Nicolas Almagro

Eeeny meeny miney mo...this one is a toss up.  Melzer is always in top condition and is a solid veteran, Almagro has been playing really well, upsetting Robin Soderling and thrashing Juan Monaco in the previous round.  Almagro is playing the better tennis at the moment, so I see him squeaking out a close match.

My Pick- Almagro

RESULT:  Nicolas Almagro 6-3, 6-1

(#12 seed) Gael Monfils  vs.  (#2 seed) Rafael Nadal

Nadal will destroy the flakey Monfils.  I would not be shocked to see Monfils retire at some point in this match.  He'll fall behind and start getting frustrated by the way Nadal is just manhandling him and just call it a day.  Monfils is a athletic freak, but he is somewhat a headcase.  Nadal by submission in the 2nd set.

My Pick- Nadal

RESULT:  Rafael Nadal 6-1, 6-3.

Womens Quarterfinals:

(#16 seed) Nadia Petrova  vs.  (unseeded) Lucie Safarova

Petrova's power will overwhelm the young Czech.  Safarova is a decent clay court player, and will give Petrova some problems, but the powerful Russian will be a little too much.

My Pick- Petrova

RESULT:  Lucie Safarova 6-1, 1-6, 6-4.

(unseeded) Aravane Rezai  vs.  (#7 seed) Jelena Jankovic

Rezai upset Henin in the first round and has fed off the momentum into a quarterfinals birth.  Jankovic is probably one of the top 2 or 3 womens players this past month.  Jankovic is playing too well right now and Rezai will not be able to outstrike her in order to win many of the rallies.  Jankovic continues to roll.

My Pick: Jankovic

RESULT:  Aravane Rezai 7-5, 6-4.

(#8 seed) Samantha Stosur  vs.  (#4 seed) Venus Williams

Stosur has lost only a couple matches on clay this season, and if there is a surface that brings the Williams sisters off their perch its on the dirt.  Venus got smashed by Jankovic last week 6-1, 6-0 and I believe that Stosur is playing even better than Jankovic right now.  I like Stosur to pull the mild upset and take down Venus.

My Pick- Stosur

RESULT:  Venus Williams 6-3, 6-3.

(unseeded) Shahar Peer  vs.  (#13 seed) Na Li

This one is a coin-flip.  Both players beat some solid competition to make it this far, but I'm going to base my pick on how each of these ladies have been doing this past month.  I know Peer has been playing pretty good.  She has been making it to the 2nd-3rd rounds of quite a few tournaments lately...On the other hand this is the first tournament that I've really taken notics of Li.  She hasn't really been a factor or making much noise of late.  For that reason I'll go with the player who seems to be more in form.

My Pick- Peer

RESULT:  Shahar Peer 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.