Stanislas Wawrinka vs Mikhail Youzhny US Open preview
This was the US Open quarter-final that was supposed to read Andy Murray vs Tomas Berdych, but by the end of the first round that possibility had been ruled out, with Michael Llodra producing the upset that upended seventh seeded Berdych from the tournament at its earliest possible stage.
By the end of the third round, Murray’s tournament was also over, as Stanislas Wawrinka came from a set behind to take the 6-7(3), 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-3 victory over the world No. 4 and make his mark on the tournament.
While Llodra has since gone by the wayside, Wawrinka remains in the mix into the quarters after following up his win over the Scot with a fighting five-set win over 20th seed Sam Querrey to line up a match against Mikhail Youzhny.
The Russian has also been made to work for his place in the final eight, with second-round opponent Dudi Sela, 18th seed John Isner and most recently fourth round opponent Tommy Robredo all taking Youzhny to four sets.
This is not entirely unfamiliar territory for Youzhny, who was a quarter-finalist at Roland Garros this year and in 2006 reached the semi-finals at the US Open (lost to Andy Roddick), while for Wawrinka it’s the furthest he’s progressed at a major so far in his career.
It’s experience the 12th seed will surely be hoping to use against Wawrinka in their fifth career head-to-head match, with their record against one another standing at 2-2 heading into it.
But while the raw numbers might indicate the players are evenly matched, Youzhny may just have the edge at Flushing Meadows, with both his previous victories over the 25-year-old coming on hard courts, while Wawrinka has only ever defeated the world No. 14 on clay.
If Wawrinka is to be judged on his two most recent matches though, he’s not one who holds much stead in past records either against his opponent or at the tournament – he’d won just three of eight matches against Murray before the US Open, where the world No. 4 was runner-up in 2008.
Nor is the Swiss No. 2 – who has spent his career playing second fiddle to Roger Federer in his homeland – one to give up on the fight. Wawrinka completed his victory over Querrey, a match that he won in just under four-and-a-half hours, with a heavily strapped right thigh, the legacy of an injury that came to light in the match against Murray.
Then again, neither is Youzhny, who fought back from a two set deficit against Richard Gasquet in the opening round of the Australian Open this year, and conceded a one set lead in his second and third round matches at Roland Garros before winning them in four.
The stage, then, is set for an intriguing battle between two players who will be set on making the most of their opportunity to reach the final four in Flushing Meadows.
Prediction: Youzhny’s fresher legs to prove the difference.
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