RICKYS LOOK @ MONDAY @ THE U.S. OPEN: MURRAY, TSONGA TO CLASH AT U.S. OPEN, DJOKOVIC SENT TO LOUIS ARMSTRONG

Written by: Staff on 1st September 2014

RICKYS LOOK @ MONDAY @ THE U.S. OPEN: MURRAY, TSONGA TO CLASH AT U.S. OPEN, DJOKOVIC SENT TO LOUIS ARMSTRONG

epa04376244 Andy Murray of Great Britain hits a return to Andrey Kuznetsov of Russia during the sixth day of the 2014 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 30 August 2014. The US Open runs through 08 September, a 15-day schedule. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO |

Murray, Tsonga to clash at U.S. Open, Djokovic sent to LOUIS ARMSTRONG

By Ricky Dimon

Andy Murray and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will be facing each other for the second time this summer on American hard courts when they do battle in the fourth round of the U.S. Open on Monday. With CBS owning afternoon TV coverage rights for Labor Day weekend, all of the biggest names are taking the court early in the day–which is why Novak Djokovic is set for a rare appearance in Louis Armstrong stadium.

Let’s take a look at Monday’s four men’s matches:

(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (22) Philipp Kohlschreiber: Rarely is a No. 1 player in the world shipped off Arthur Ashe and into Louis Armstrong, but that is the case for Djokovic on Monday. Both Murray and Tsonga are due for an appearance on Ashe, and at least on paper that match looks like a competitive blockbuster. But don’t be surprised if Djokovic-Kohlschreiber is a close one in spite of a big difference in ranking and seed. Kohlschreiber could do no wrong against John Isner on Saturday; then again, Kohlschreiber can never do any wrong against Isner at the U.S. Open. Against other opponents, he isn’t the same. And Djokovic, of course, is one of if not the toughest opponent in the game right now.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia hits a return to Sam Querrey of the US during the sixth day of the 2014 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 30 August 2014. The US Open runs through 08 September, a 15-day schedule. EPA/JUSTIN LANE

(9) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs. (8) Andy Murray: Murray’s body language so far this fortnight has resembled that of the Bataan Death March participants. The Scot has managed to survived and advance, but only one of his first three matches was particularly routine. Tsonga, on the other hand, seems to be rejuvenated in the wake of his Toronto triumph, which featured four successive top-10 scalps–including one of Murray. The tactical matchup between these two favors Murray, but the edge in current form is decidedly in Tsonga’s corner. Something will have to give.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France hits a return to Juan Monaco of Argentina during the 2014 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing, Meadows, New York, USA, 25 August 2014. The US Open runs through Monday 08 September, a 15-day schedule. EPA/JASON SZENES

(3) Stan Wawrinka vs. (16) Tommy Robredo: Death, taxes, and Tommy Robredo in the fourth round of Grand Slams. Really, it’s true. The guy is just a machine during first weeks of majors. He went all the way to the U.S. Open quarters last summer after upsetting Federer on Labor Day. Robredo is back in action again on the second Monday, this time facing another Swiss–Wawrinka. The Spaniard is by no means the favorite, but anyone who watched Robredo play against Nick Kyrgios on Saturday night knows he will be in with a chance.

(10) Kei Nishikori vs. (5) Milos Raonic: Before night-session goers complain, keep in mind there were also some gripes over Wawrinka and Kyrgios getting top billing in Ashe. And we all saw how that turned out–at least for the first three uproarious sets. Nishikori vs. Raonic won’t have the same flash and flair, but it will pit an intriguing contrast in styles against one another. The Kei will be for Nishikori to return will and prevent his opponent from dictating too may rallies…. Oh, man, that was a bad play on words.

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: Andy Murray, Jo Wilfried Tsonga, milos raonic, Novak Djokovic, Ricky Dimon, Tennis, US Open tennis

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10sBalls_com says:

September 1, 2014 at 7:46 am

RICKYS LOOK @ MONDAY @ THE @usopen: @andy_murray, @tsonga7 TO #CLASH AT #USOPEN, @DjokerNole SENT TO LOUIS ARMSTRONG http://t.co/cR2YokPXSq