Fuente: © US Open (Tennis)
http://www.usopen.org/

US OPEN: Day 12: Matthew Cronin's Picks: Men's Semifinals

/noticias.info/ by Matt Cronin
Friday, September 9, 2005

7- ANDRE AGASSI (USA) vs. ROBBY GINEPRI (USA)

When the tournament began, few folks would have bet that this would be a men's semi, given how questionable Agassi's physical state was and that Ginepri has never been a prime-time player at the Slams. But both Americans have played excellent ball all the way through, outlasting a handful of significant foes with consistent, tireless attacks from inside the baseline.

Ginepri plays much like Andre does, thumping deep balls from the baseline, returning hard and with variety, and going for openings when they are presented to him. They are even in the service department. Ginepri has a better volley, but Agassi is by far a better on-court thinker and is a bit more consistent. Both men have played numerous hours coming in, and neither will be completely fresh, but even though Andre is in great shape for a 35-year-old, you have to give the younger Ginepri the edge when it comes to conditioning if the contest goes five, merely because he isn't dealing with a nagging back injury that could flare up at any time.

But that really doesn't matter because this is a big-occasion match and the first time that Ginepri will walk out on to America's biggest tennis stage on Super Saturday against the most beloved player in U.S. history. Agassi will have the crowd completely in his corner and has the experience to know what shots to play at the right times. All props to Robby for getting this far, but dealing with the situation will be too much for him, and Agassi will prevail in three sweaty sets.

1-ROGER FEDERER (SUI) vs. 3-LLEYTON HEWITT (AUS)

Federer is going to have to have a very down day to lose this contest because Hewitt hasn't shown in his last eight losses to him that he has enough tricks in his bag to stay with the great Swiss. Oh, sure, '01 US champ Hewitt is still one of the game's most mentally tough players, but he has almost zero confidence against Roger because he has no idea how to beat him anymore.

In the first stage of their rivalry, from 1999-2003, when Hewitt was still drilling Fed, he could attack him with his backhand cross-court, coax errors out of his forehand, and make him press on his serve with his bullet returns. But Roger is so much more solid now off every wing and from every position on the court that Hewitt does not know where he can go. Plus, he now believes he's a more mentally tough player than Lleyton is, a state of mind he admitted that he once didn't have.

Essentially, Hewitt cannot change his game plan against defending champ Federer because he doesn't have anything else to go to. He doesn't have enough pop on his forehand to blow him off the court, is not a competent enough net player to own the cords, and cannot dominate with his serve. He is a counterpuncher with a tremendous return and great backhand, but that's not good enough against a guy who knows how to open the court as well as Roger does. It would be nice for fans if this was a highly competitive match, but it won't be. Much like last year's final, Fed's game will dip for a set, but he'll still get through in three. notas_de_prensa_archivo