Murray Melts Down, Del Potro Hungry for More

Andy Murray: Missing in action, knocked out in the 4th round.

Most experts in the tennis world felt that the time had come for Andy Murray and the United Kingdom. Most experts were wrong. Andy Murray got dropped on Arthur Ashe Stadium today by Marin Cilic from Croatia and I’m not really sure why.

Andy Murray fell off the face of the earth after the first set losing 7-5, 6-2, 6-2. Cilic didn’t do anything particularly impressive, he just kind of showed up.

Murray displayed no real fight and not much emotion. He went out there, got his butt kicked and left. Not much more to say except that the people in the U.K. are going to be pissed when they see the low-lights from this match..

Cilic earns (sort of) a quarterfinal matchup against the 6th seed Juan Martin Del Potro, my pick from the start to win the whole darn thing. ((Article: Beware the Dark Horse from Argentina)) It’s safe to say that I’m in the overwhelming minority here.

Del Potro wasn’t a popular pick when I selected him to shock the world and win the Open and he still isn’t. Regardless of that fact, this six-foot-six Argentine has been racing around this tournament punishing his opponents with remarkable speed and sledgehammer-like power.

He treated Juan Carlos Ferrero like a speed bump, thumping him 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. I believe that even the mighty Federer will wilt under the barrage that Del Potro will bring to him. Stay Tuned!

Day 9: Kim Clijsters in Search of the Semis

Some outstanding headlines on tap for Day 9 at the 2009 U.S. Open Championships including the breathtaking comeback of unseeded Kim Clijsters and her return to professional tennis. Clijsters won a thriller against Venus Williams during the weekend and says it is these types of moments -- that made her long for a return to the game.

She took Labor Day (yesterday) off without hitting so she would be fresh for her early afternoon quarterfinal match against the 18th seed, Na Li from China. Clijsters, the 2005 U.S. Open Champion has to be the favorite in this one having already dispatched Venus in three tough sets. Look for her to cruise to a straight set victory today.

Serena Williams, a three-time U.S. Open Champion is playing in the other quarterfinal against Italy’s Flavia Pennetta. Pennetta has enjoyed a remarkable run in this tournament, but Serena is playing on another level right now. If Italian veteran manages more than 6 games against Serena in the entire match, that would be an accomplishment.

On the men’s side, "My Darkhorse Pick from Day I" 6th seeded Juan Martin Del Potro should have no trouble today against the 24th seed, Juan Carlos Ferrero. Del Potro had some injury issues in his last match, but says he’s feeling great again. I still believe (perhaps foolishly) that Del Potro will claim his first grand slam title here against Roger Federer on Sunday. He's too tough and too fast and is ready to shock the world.

Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal remain on a semifinal collision course. But Nadal has to get past a tricky fourth round match against the Frenchman, Gael Monfils. Nadal reaggravated an abdominal strain in his 3rd round match against Nicolas Almagro and had to get taped up during the match. Monfils has also had some injury issues, so health will be a factor for both players. Look for Nadal to advance in four sets.

As for the second seeded Andy Murray, he’s had some up and downs in this tournament so far, but should take care of business rather handily against the 16th seed, Marin Cilic from Croatia.