US Open Day 11 Predictions: Men's Quarterfinals

A fairly quiet day of tennis today, with only two singles matches to be played.  There are some pretty intriguing doubles matches going on as well (Williams Sisters in doubles semifinals, Travis Parrott and Carly Gullickson in the mixed final), but I'll just stick to the singles for my predictions.  That's tough enough as is.

Men's Bottom Half Quarterfinals:

Fernando Gonzalez CHI (11) vs. Rafael Nadal ESP (3) -- Nadal and Gonzalez meet in a rematch of the gold medal match of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, a match Nadal won in straight sets.  Indeed straight sets has been the order of business for Nadal in his last five consecutive matches vs. Gonzalez, including two wins this year.  Gonzalez won three of the pair's first four encounters, but has been without answers against Nadal in the last few years.  At this stage of the tournament Nadal should have taken off all rust, and will win this match in the efficient way he has won so many late round matches in slams before. Prediction: Nadal in 3.

Juan Martin del Potro ARG (6) vs. Marin Cilic CRO (16) -- del Potro caught a huge break with Cilic's upset of Andy Murray in the fourth round, as the powerful Cilic should be a much more straightforward opponent than the trickier Murray.  It is a little strange that this is del Potro's first match on Arthur Ashe in this tournament, but that adjustment shouldn't take long for him.  del Potro has blasted everyone he's faced thus far off the court, and Cilic doesn't look to have any weapons to prevent him from becoming the next blastee.  But del Potro's focus is rarely wire-to-wire, so I'm thinking Cilic will grab a set somewhere along the way. Prediction: del Potro in 4.