US Open 2013: Day 9 - Wawrinka overcomes Berdych



Wawrinka celebrates his four set victory over Berdych

US Open 2013: Day 9 - Wawrinka overcomes Berdych

When Stanislas Wawrinka played one of the greatest tennis matches you would ever wish to see against Novak Djokovic at this year's Australian Open the Swiss No.2 was truly playing top 5 tennis.  It took an incredible effort from the World No.1 to edge out Wawrinka in that magical Melbourne epic.

Thankfully Wawrinka has used that last 16 clash in Australia to launch what is probably now the best season of his career. 

He has reached a second Masters 1000 final, reached a first Roland Garros quarter final, regained his place in the top 10 and now has reached two major quarter finals in a season for the first time with his defeat of World No.5 Tomas Berdych in New York.

Under the lights on the Louis Armstrong arena Wawrinka did not flinch when his higher seeded opponent sealed the only break of the first set with a drop shot and went onto take the opener.

The World No.10 struck early in set two and soon led by a double break and took the set 6-1.  When he grabbed the early break of the Berdych serve to go up 2-0 in the third the 9th seed had all the momentum.

However he fought through a long service game to reach 5-3 but could not repeat the trick serving at 5-4 and was broken. Hit hit straight back but was again broken as Berdych forced a breaker.

When the tall Czech - wearing some very questionable H&M threads - took a 4-1 lead in the tie-break the 5th seed threatened to land a huge blow to Wawrinka and take control of the match.

Of course a 4-1 mini break always looks bigger than it is and the Swiss recovered the deficit.  Berdych coolly saved a set point at 5-6 but then erred and Wawrinka slammed down an ace on his second set point.

Having taken that vital third Stan got the break for 4-2 in the fourth and claimed a final break of the Czech's serve to seal a 3-6 6-1 7-6(8-6) 6-2 victory to reach his second US Open quarter final.  On his way to the last eight three years ago he beat his next opponent - Andy Murray.

Wawrinka is now into his fourth Grand Slam quarter final 

Women's singles round-up

The final quarter final berth in the women's draw went to No.2 seed Victoria Azarenka but only just as the two-time Australian Open champion was pushed very hard in a 4-6 6-3 6-4 win over 2008 Roland Garros queen Ana Ivanovic.

The Serb came out blasting forehand winners all over the place but began to struggle on serve as the match went on and typically Azarenka got progressively stronger.  The Belarusian failed to convert two match points serving in the ninth game of the decider and saw Ivanovic break back and save a 3rd match point in the tenth game but one final Serbian backhand in the net gave Azarenka a hard earned victory.

The next match on Ashe saw Li Na become the first Chinese player to reach the US Open semi-finals with a fluctuating 6-4 6-7(5-7) 6-2 defeat of Ekaterina Makarova.  The 5th seed led by a break three times in the second and squandered a 4-2 lead in the breaker but rebounded strongly in the decider.

In the night session Serena Williams was in no mood to celebrate Carla Suarez Navarro's birthday as the top seed demolished the Spaniard 6-0 6-0.  The World No.1 does not want to end 2013 just holding one major crown.

Men's singles round-up

Just as Williams was brutally dominant as was Men's top seed Novak Djokovic who followed Li Na onto court and crushed Marcel Granollers 6-3 6-0 6-0 to book his place in the last eight.

The man who defeated Djokovic in that thrilling final twelve months ago had a tough time in the night session but Murray eventually came through 6-7(5-7) 6-1 6-4 6-4 against Denis Istomin.  The British No.1 and Wimbledon champion responded strongly to the loss of the first set to come through and setup the last eight meeting with Wawrinka.

The match of the day saw two-time semi-finalist Mikhail Youzhny and 2001 champion Lleyton Hewitt thrill a packed crowd on the Louis Armstrong arena with a roller coaster five set ride.

The 32 year-old Australian built all sorts of leads as he looked to reach his first New York quarter final since the last of his seven year streak in 2006.  

The former World No.1 led by two sets to love and 4-1 in the fourth and then 5-2 in the decider but it was the Russian who squeezed through 6-3 3-6 6-7(3-7) 6-4 7-5 to setup a last eight meeting with Djokovic. 

Follow my US Open thoughts on Twitter https://twitter.com/TennisCJD