US Open 2010 Men's Singles Predictions (Third Quarter)

The first section to get the preview treatment on the men's side is the Djokovic Quarter of the 2010 US Open Men's Singles draw.

Third Quarter:

Nikolay Davydenko RUS (6) v Michael Russell USA
Simon Greul GER v Richard Gasquet FRA
Kevin Anderson RSA v Somdev Devvarman IND
Tim Smyczek USA [WC] v Thomaz Bellucci BRA (26)

This definitely looks like one of the more straightforward sections.  Nikolay Davydenko could be extended in possible matches against Richard Gasquet and big serving Kevin Anderson (who should have beaten Davydenko in their first round match at Wimbledon this year), but I like his chances to make it through. Though the result is predictable, there could definitely be some fun along the way.  Anderson vs. Devvarman is as huge a stylistic disparity as you could see (pure offense vs. pure defense), and both were NCAA standouts.  Smyczek could be this year's Melanie Oudin of sorts on the men's side, as there's no real reason he can't make it to the third round.  The match with Bellucci should be a good one.  Predicted Round of 16er: Nikolay Davydenko

Gael Monfils FRA (17) v Robert Kendrick USA [Q]
Igor Andreev RUS v Horacio Zeballos ARG
Janko Tipsarevic SRB v Olivier Rochus BEL
Stephane Robert FRA v Andy Roddick USA (9)

Not a horrible draw for Roddick, but it's not a good one either.  Stephane Robert is an easy entry into this tournament, but both Tipsarevic and Monfils have beaten Roddick at Grand Slam within the last couple years.  With his recent good form in Cincinnati and the motivation he should feel from not having many points to defend in New York this year, look for Roddick to come into this event firing and stay that way.  On the top of the section, Monfils should make it through easily, but if Andreev remembers how to play there's no reason he can't make it to the third round. Predicted Round of 16er: Andy Roddick

Marcos Baghdatis CYP (16) v Arnaud Clement FRA
Eduardo Schwank ARG v Robby Ginepri USA
Pablo Cuevas URU v Julio Silva BRA [Q]
Jan Hajek CZE v Mardy Fish USA (19)

This is the section with the biggest disparity between the seeds and the floaters.  Fish and Baghdatis finished third and fourth in the US Open Series, respectively, and neither should drop a set on the way to a third round clash.  I really don't know who wins that match, but it should be a great one.  Fish will have the crowd on his side, but Baghdatis puts on a better show than most everyone in tennis, and feeds off any crowd energy available.   Baghdatis has the better track record deep into slams, so I'll take him.  I just hope they make it a night match.  Predicted Round of 16er: Marcos Baghdatis

Juan Monaco ARG (30) v Peter Polansky CAN [Q]
Kristof Vliegen BEL v James Blake USA
Philipp Petzschner GER v Dusan Lojda CZE [Q]
Viktor Troicki SRB v Novak Djokovic SRB (3)

This is an interesting, not especially balanced section.  The two toughest players in it are Serbs Viktor Troicki and Novak Djokovic, who meet in the first round in a match that I can't imagine Troicki will dare to win.  Djokovic next will face Petzschner, who in Dusan Lojda faces the only player I have not heard of in this draw.  The top of the section is considerably trickier to predict.  James Blake has been awful lately, but he gets an incredible draw early on that sees him face two players on their way back from lengthy injury layoffs (Vliegen and Monaco), or a wild card (Polansky) without a grand slam main draw win to his name.  I think Blake somehow manages to be the safe pick to make it to the third round, where he should be blown out by Djokovic in what could well be Blake's final match at a grand slam.  One more thing to look out for: Philipp Petzschner has lost in five sets at each of the last four grand slams--can he make it five in a row? Predicted Round of 16er: Novak Djokovic