Looks like good things just don't come the way of Andy Murray at GrandSlams. Despite being touted as favourite to win the US Open, the Scot and when he is winning, a Brit could not cross his mental barrier at the crucial stage, this time round falling short of the quater-final.
Unable to beat Marin Cilic who has never beaten him in a previous match before, Murray bowed out to a hard-hitting Croat whom he should have an answer to based on his kind of game. That is counter punching tennis for you, sometimes the risk of an attacking game pays off better as compared to a passive approach.
Rafa Nadal meanwhile held his head up high by sweeping aside Frenchman Gael Monfils to advance to the quarterfinals. Rafa signals his return to the big stage in pretty much the Rafa way we know him for, all willpower and guts. Monfils has no answer for the determined Spainard.
Joining Rafa and Cilic are giant forehander Fernando Gonzalez and the ever consistent Argentinian Number 1 Juan Martin Del Potro. They join the big boys Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Spanish hearthrob Fernando Verdasco as well as Roland Garros finalist Robin Soderling for the full quarter finalist line-up.
All the matchups will be interesting. I fully expect Roger to beat Soderling again, even if its at a lesser stage than in Roland Garros. Djokovic and Verdasco will be a close call, but I reckon Nole will pull through this one.
Rafa should overcome Fernando's big hitting and get to the semis where he will likely meet Del Potro whose consistency should have him an edge over the a relatively less experienced Cilic on the big stage.
Hardly any surprises if this is indeed the outcome but tennis is often unpredictable from hereon.
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