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CW OPEN SEMI-FINALS PREVIEW
Nixonstown, CWLand
by ATP Staff | 02.09.0I
Tennis fans are in for a treat in Nixonstown on Thursday and Friday as two Grand Slam champions, both former World No. 1s, and the top three seeds feature in semi-final action.
[1] Jason Hall (USA) vs. [3] Radek Špidlá (CZE), Thursday, Centre Court
Jason Hall, the Australian Open champion and top seed, takes a 2-1 record against third seed Radek Špidlá into Thursday's first semifinal. In their first meeting, Hall came from a set down to claim the Australian Open crown, whilst Špidlá got his revenge in the final of Queen's Club in June. However the most decisive win came in Montréal where Hall proved too good in straight sets for the Czech giant.
Hall has been in superb form as of late; since losing in the semifinals of Wimbledon he holds a record of 16-1 and has dropped just two sets. In Nixonstown, he has not dropped a set, but has been taken to 7-5 on three occasions in his impressive run. Dropping service just four times from fifteen points, Hall has beaten Justin Williamson, Roberto Santos, Heath Davis, Dwayne Murdoch and Jefferson Drake.
Despite his exit to Hall in the semifinals of the Canada Masters, Špidlá completed his warm up by winning his first Masters Series title in Clowich. Searching for his first Grand Slam title, Špidlá has dropped just one set in his run which has included victories over Wayne Boyd, Li Ming-Wang, Björn Donaldson, Randy Smeltz and finally Rick Henson. Despite his impressive serve seeing him dominate with a tournament leading 63 aces, his season record in tiebreakers is less impressive at 11-8.
VERDICT: Both men looked unstoppable in their quarterfinal matches against formidible opposition, and this has all the makings of a classic semifinal. Many suggest the winner of this match takes the tournament, and that it is a shame that Špidlá was drawn in the top half. That being said, Hall is a tough man to bet against and is such a good returner that Špidlá's serve might be weakened. Radek still holds scars from his Grand Slam failures this year, but I think he can still take it the journey. Hall in 5 sets.
[2] Daniel Páez Blanco (ESP) vs. Oneil Stewart (JAM), Friday, Centre Court
French Open champion Daniel Páez Blanco comes into Friday's final with a 1-0 career record over Jamaica's Oneil Stewart after their only meeting at Roland Garros. There Blanco crushed Stewart in the quarterfinals 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 en route to his victory in the final over Sven Oxenstierna.
Blanco came into the tournament under an injury cloud, but has managed to do enough to win all five of his matches without being taken to a fifth set. Blanco has never made a semifinal at a hard court event (though, he did make one on the grass of Halle), however was unstoppable on clay this season with eight titles and a record of 43-0. He has dropped four sets this fortnight in his run that saw him defeat José Navarro, Jason Bradley, Morgan Carter, Henry Charles and József Boros.
Stewart is another surprising semifinals on hard courts having most of his success on clay. Despite this, he had made an appearance in the semifinals in Johannesburg. Stewart is the first unseeded player to make the semifinals of a Grand Slam, having taken victories over Radivoj Daneu, Niko Ulemek, Jojo Mustard, David Champion and Rasmus Olesen.
VERDICT: Both men have proved many of their critics wrong with their gutsy wins over the last week on a surface they have had little success on. Whilst Stewart has become a cult figure for his style, Blanco has accumulated wins without fuss and has put to bed early concerns about his fitness. Whilst Stewart has beaten some big names, he will have to overcome the mental scars from the thrashing he received in Paris. It would be fitting to end the Grand Slam year with the first official meeting between a world No. 1 and a world No. 2. Blanco in 4 sets.
Nixonstown, CWLand
by ATP Staff | 02.09.0I
Tennis fans are in for a treat in Nixonstown on Thursday and Friday as two Grand Slam champions, both former World No. 1s, and the top three seeds feature in semi-final action.
[1] Jason Hall (USA) vs. [3] Radek Špidlá (CZE), Thursday, Centre Court
Jason Hall, the Australian Open champion and top seed, takes a 2-1 record against third seed Radek Špidlá into Thursday's first semifinal. In their first meeting, Hall came from a set down to claim the Australian Open crown, whilst Špidlá got his revenge in the final of Queen's Club in June. However the most decisive win came in Montréal where Hall proved too good in straight sets for the Czech giant.
Hall has been in superb form as of late; since losing in the semifinals of Wimbledon he holds a record of 16-1 and has dropped just two sets. In Nixonstown, he has not dropped a set, but has been taken to 7-5 on three occasions in his impressive run. Dropping service just four times from fifteen points, Hall has beaten Justin Williamson, Roberto Santos, Heath Davis, Dwayne Murdoch and Jefferson Drake.
Despite his exit to Hall in the semifinals of the Canada Masters, Špidlá completed his warm up by winning his first Masters Series title in Clowich. Searching for his first Grand Slam title, Špidlá has dropped just one set in his run which has included victories over Wayne Boyd, Li Ming-Wang, Björn Donaldson, Randy Smeltz and finally Rick Henson. Despite his impressive serve seeing him dominate with a tournament leading 63 aces, his season record in tiebreakers is less impressive at 11-8.
VERDICT: Both men looked unstoppable in their quarterfinal matches against formidible opposition, and this has all the makings of a classic semifinal. Many suggest the winner of this match takes the tournament, and that it is a shame that Špidlá was drawn in the top half. That being said, Hall is a tough man to bet against and is such a good returner that Špidlá's serve might be weakened. Radek still holds scars from his Grand Slam failures this year, but I think he can still take it the journey. Hall in 5 sets.
[2] Daniel Páez Blanco (ESP) vs. Oneil Stewart (JAM), Friday, Centre Court
French Open champion Daniel Páez Blanco comes into Friday's final with a 1-0 career record over Jamaica's Oneil Stewart after their only meeting at Roland Garros. There Blanco crushed Stewart in the quarterfinals 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 en route to his victory in the final over Sven Oxenstierna.
Blanco came into the tournament under an injury cloud, but has managed to do enough to win all five of his matches without being taken to a fifth set. Blanco has never made a semifinal at a hard court event (though, he did make one on the grass of Halle), however was unstoppable on clay this season with eight titles and a record of 43-0. He has dropped four sets this fortnight in his run that saw him defeat José Navarro, Jason Bradley, Morgan Carter, Henry Charles and József Boros.
Stewart is another surprising semifinals on hard courts having most of his success on clay. Despite this, he had made an appearance in the semifinals in Johannesburg. Stewart is the first unseeded player to make the semifinals of a Grand Slam, having taken victories over Radivoj Daneu, Niko Ulemek, Jojo Mustard, David Champion and Rasmus Olesen.
VERDICT: Both men have proved many of their critics wrong with their gutsy wins over the last week on a surface they have had little success on. Whilst Stewart has become a cult figure for his style, Blanco has accumulated wins without fuss and has put to bed early concerns about his fitness. Whilst Stewart has beaten some big names, he will have to overcome the mental scars from the thrashing he received in Paris. It would be fitting to end the Grand Slam year with the first official meeting between a world No. 1 and a world No. 2. Blanco in 4 sets.
