US Open Day 10: Top Half Quarterfinals Predictions

Only four singles matches to be played on Wednesday, which is few enough to be able to count on one hand and still have a thumb left over to hitchhike with. 

Here's how I see the four Day 10 singles matches shaking out:

Men's Top Half Quarterfinals

Roger Federer SUI (1) vs. Robin Soderling SWE (12) -- When he already has a record of 11-0 against an opponent, Roger Federer wins a lot of matches on sheer intimidation and aura.  Robin Soderling has only won one set in his previous eleven matches with Federer, including meetings in the two previous grand slams, more notably the French Open final.  There's little reason to think the result will be different this time around, but with Federer having been rarely tested in this tournament I'm thinking he might drop a set somewhere along the way. Prediction: Federer in 4.

Novak Djokovic SRB (4) vs. Fernando Verdasco ESP (10) -- This battle between oddly patterned Adidas shirts will almost certainly feature some great shot-making as well as some mental lapses.  Verdasco has been the stronger player in grand slams this year, and should be able to give Djokovic some trouble with his enormous forehand.  But mentally he's been shaky lately, so I think this is going to go down as "a match Verdasco should have won."  Prediction: Djokovic in 4.

Women's Top Half Quarterfinals: 

Melanie Oudin USA vs. Caroline Wozniacki DEN (9) -- Oudin, the story of the tournament, finally gets her first chance under the lights in prime time.  She also gets a very different opponent in Caroline Wozniacki, who is more of a pusher that Oudin will have to outlast, rather than waiting for an error.  While those factors favor Wozniacki, just about every conceivable intangible is in Oudin's favor.  She plays utterly fearlessly on big stages (Wozniacki does not), she will have massive crowd support (Wozniacki will not), and she isn't facing the pressure of being the highest seed in her half with a seemingly easy road to the final (Wozniacki is).  Should be another barn-burning win for the girl out of Marietta, GA. Prediction: Oudin in 3.

Yanina Wickmayer BEL vs. Kateryna Bondarenko UKR  -- These two met in the finals of Birmingham in 2008, a match won by Bondarenko.  The stakes in that Wimbledon warm up tournament pale in comparison to these, however, with a spot in the semifinals of a grand slam up for grabs between two players who had never been past the third round of a slam previously.  Based on their relative forms in the fourth round, as well as Bondarenko's experience winning the Australian Open doubles title last year, I'm giving the Ukrainian the edge.  Prediction: Bondarenko in 3.