Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) v. Novak Djokovic (SRB)[3]
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) v. Rafael Nadal (ESP)[2]
David Ferrer (ESP)[15] v. David Nalbandian (ARG)[24]
Agustin Calleri (ARG) v. Juan Monaco (ARG)[23]
Robby Ginepri (USA) v. Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI)
Tommy Robredo (ESP)[8] v. Ernests Gulbis (LAT)
Carlos Moya (ESP)[17] v. Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)
Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG)[20] v. Ivan Ljubicic (CRO)[12]

All very interesting matches... this is generally my favourite stage of the tournament as the matches are the most difficult to predict.

Del Potro vs Djokovic looks to be the pick of the ties - Del Potro has looked ominous leading upto this stage, and Djoko may well be jaded after his marathon with Stepanek. However, Del Potro's game is similar to Djoko's, only not quite as developed, so the Serb should come through.

Nalbandian vs Ferrer should be entertaining too - the Spaniard convincingly leads the H2H but Nalby won the last meeting and recorded an impressive win over Malisse in the last round. Anyone's match really - but if the Argentine plays to somewhere near his potential, he should triumph.

I would have fancied Chela to take Ljubicic out, but the Croat leads the H2H 6-0 and so has to be the favourite. And after seeing Calleri's form against Hewitt, coupled with his 3-0 H2H over Monaco, he has to be the favourite here.

Ferrer a set and a break up against the Fatman

Chela a break up against Ljubicic.....

Is Nalbandian trying to avoid ever playing Nadal or something? :shrug:

After losing his serve at the start of the second, he's rattled off 3 games in a row to now lead by a break. There was a clay tournament earlier this year where Nalby just had to beat Ferrer to secure a match with Nadal, and he lost it - hope history doesn't repeat itself here.

To be fair this is no longer such an anticipated match up. when they were No2 and No3 in the world it was, but given Nalbandian's form and fitness.... :yikes:

I want Nalby to win a set, and lose 3 to match my prediction B)

You make an interesting point there petalp.....but I think Nadal will come tops if they meet..

:) Tsonga Vs Nadal just got under way 1-0 first game of the first set to Tsonga

Totally agree with all of that, but still makes the predictions difficult. I often fancy Ljubicic to go out and I think eh still could, although I predicted otherwise. That will mena he goes out no doubt. :rolleyes:

I'm struggling to work out who will win of Ginepri v Wawrinka, but I think Wawrinka can do it in 5. Although Ginepri has suddenly coem alive again in hsi home slam, who knows? :shrug:

How much of a match will it be between Rafa and Tsonga? I think Tsonga is capable of putting up a good match myself, esp if Nadal is struggling with a knee injury. Tsonga is quite flash and fearless. Then again he might just get hammered in 3 knowing my predictions.

Go Tsonga as you took Tim out, you gotta beat Nadal so as it looks better for Tim. :D

I need all winners today to have straight sets victory... :wacko:

dont suppose I am going to get that - terrible time to have to call on the old 'not here' system...

:lol: not that we're bitter or anything!

have you seen Suzis tribute to Tim SB - its very :(

No I hadn't, I will check it out but I'm sure if I do it will just make we burst out crying liek last week when I was acting irrationalyl on the Heman thread at 4am! :lol: I was crying buckets, I dare tno start again!

Tell you what i don't know how I shall get through the O2 and the Davis cup - I'll probably get thrown out cos I'll be shouting b&llocks one minute and crying the next! :lol: Somehow I don't think George is relishing going ...... roflmao

:lol: I watched Henmans match against Tursy with my mate whos coming with me to the O2 - she was horrified and has made me promise not to act like that at all when we go :unsure:

Do we see Pebs' :devil: side when she watches Tim then???

Wait a minute, actually that's the side we see normally :lol:

:unsure:

thats not true! when watching a match I tend to use slightly more colourful language and do lots of jumping up and either making sweeping arm gestures of disbelief, or clapping like a woman possessed...

none of which I am allowed to do apparently

:lol: You'd think your friend could cut you some slack, it's impossible to watch Henman with a straight face, only his parents can manage it... ;)

I bet she turns out to be worse than me SG!

:) SB,, better start saying your :pray: Nadal takes the first set 7-6...but they are playing very good tennis though...just hard luck on Tsonga.... :)

At moment its 1-1 all in the 2nd set...

Nadal goes to 5-2 second set ...Tsonga serving

Tsonga tries to come into the net but gets hammered by Nadal passing shots -ends up conceding his serve quite tamely

6-2 set Nadal

Fat Dave's having an absolute nightmare out on Louis Amrstrong... 4-3, 40-15 in the fourth and he got broken and lost the tiebreak from a minibreak up. You do wonder whether this match with Nadal will ever take place, although he's fighting well in the decider, 5-4 up on serve. I was watching this earlier and it was entertaining for a while, but watching Ferrer for too long will make your eyes bleed.

Yet again the useless Ljubicic fails to progress beyond the third round of a Slam. He had a 6-0 H2H with Chela, but none of them were in Slams, where Ljubo thrives on being a clown. He went 2-1 up in sets and seemed in control but Chela cruised to victory, taking the fourth 6-3 and going up 5-0 in the decider before treating the crowd to some first class choking, eventually taking it 6-3 again.

Ferrer-Nalbandian is in the fifth set
:2quiet: on here

Fat Dave just had a match point with Ferrer serving..he holds for 5-5

At 5-4 up, Nalbandian fought his way to match point on the Ferrer serve with some aggressive returning. He dominated the entire point, before dumping a makeable backhand into the net which would probably have won him the point, and match. Ferrer held and the Argentine looked pretty despondent as he trudged off. Unsurprisingly, Ferrer immediately broke him and will serve for the match at 6-5.

The trauma continues for Dunkin' Dave.

...And Ferrer breaks ! 6-5

ah, i see the Nalby fans are out in force :P

nadal playing well I see - anyone watching? are his knees still strapped? does he still appear injured?

...

With Nalbandian out (and Ljubicic as well), there isn't anyone I can really imagine troubling Nadal now before the semis ...

His knees are strapped but he's moving alright...

Calleri, who by all accounts was magical against Hewitt, spraying winners left right and centre, has decided today to play like a complete muppet. He's two sets down to Monaco. I'm sure these players are just out to scupper my prediction chances today. :moody:

At least Nadal's come to my rescue - once he read the Tsonga serve, he ripped the Frenchman to shreds. An impressive looking result, but Tsonga isn't quite the player who we'd expect to challenge Nadal on hard courts - he was all too often an easy target at the net for Rafa, who pulled off some fantastic passing shots. His next match will be against Ferrer, which will be an almighty battle of attrition, but unless this injury flares up, he should progress to the QF.

...And an unshaven Nadal serves for the match ...he looks to be moving OK and hitting his groundstrokes well..too much for Tsonga anyway .

Fine backhand lob hits the line to give Nadal 30-15

GSM Nadal

Ginepri just won the first set against Wawrinka.....whoever wins this match will go on to play Chela

I can hardly contain my excitement :rolleyes:


Hopefully Stan can pull through, he broke at the start of the second.

oh, be quiet....... :P

Fighting talk from Jo ;)

What an exciting day its been ... :wacko: :wacko:

don't make me get my chainsaw out SG :chainsaw:

empty threats....... :whistle: