US Open Day 10 Preview

Quality over quantity is the idea in the second week of slams, which is why we have only four matches on tap for Wednesday's Day 10 action at the 2010 US Open.  I think the two women's matches could be quite lopsided, but the men could put on a pretty good show.

Kaia Kanepi (EST)[31] v. Vera Zvonareva (RUS)[7] -- Vera Zvonareva is really piling together a nice last two slams, making consecutive quarterfinals for the first time in her career.  But Kanepi has made consecutive quarterfinals as well.  In Kanepi's last match against Wickmayer, she showed the key skill often needed to beat Zvonareva--the ability to wait for a meltdown.  I don't think this one will come to that, though.  Zvonareva has been making routine work of the hand she's been dealt thus far, and is simply a steadier and faster player than Kanepi.  Unless Zvonareva comes out of the gate missing wildly, I don't see this one being interesting.

Gael Monfils (FRA)[17] v. Novak Djokovic (SRB)[3] -- Gael Monfils has taken advantage of a pretty nice draw (he's the only player remaining in either draw not to have faced a seed).  But his luck largely runs out against Novak Djokovic, who despite some early hiccups has really rolled nicely as this tournament has progressed.  The one possible thing that could swing in Monfils direction is heat, since we all are now well aware of the woes that high temperatures cause Djokovic.  But it should remain in the low 80s or so all day, so I think Novak has this one.  His ability to switch form neutral to offense is much better than Monfils', who I see getting sucked into defense on the cavernous Ashe court.

Caroline Wozniacki (DEN)[1] v. Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) -- Two players who do not quite epitomize Mary Carillo's notion of "Big Babe Tennis" meet for a spot in the semifinal.  Like her higher ranked opponent, Cibulkova knows how to play solid, "you miss" defense.  She has more of a tendency to go for power shots, though, but isn't nearly as timely or accurate with them as Wozniacki is.  The difference could be Wozniacki knowing better when to pick her spots, and if that disparity is significant, this one could be over in a real hurry.  Games-wise, anyhow.  Though it might be lopsided on the scoreboard, there could be a lot of long, long rallies in this one.

Robin Soderling (SWE)[5] v. Roger Federer (SUI)[2] -- This match doesn't need any introduction, but I'll introduce it anyway...because that's what I'm doing here.  Robin Soderling halted Roger Federer's incredible streak of twenty-three consecutive grand slam semifinals at this year's French Open when he beat Federer in the quarterfinals.  It was an important milestone in Federer's career, and it was also pretty telling that no one seemed particularly surprised by the result.  Soderling pushed Federer to the brink of a fifth set  Soderling has lost to either Federer or Nadal at five of the last six slams, so he's been incredibly consistent and workman-like at making it into those marquee matches.  The two have not played since Federer's loss in Paris, but all the same I think some advantage has to go to Federer.  He's never lost a night match at the US Open, and he's on a nine-match win streak.  That said, I won't be surprised either way.