AO Day 10: The Day of Rest…

Hey Y'all. Galileo here.

This BACKSPINNER wants to go straight into the matches. Serena just won 0 and 4, barely breaking a sweat.

Tonight is the night where the bare minimum will have to suffice. Just wait until the summer majors, though -- missed posts galore (although the day BACKSPIN visits Wimbledon does not count).

Watch this hilarious video of Daria Gavrilova, which includes my quote of the year.

Daria Gavrilova: "I'm good from behind". Ooops #quoteoftheday pic.twitter.com/uxbtIlwOW3

— Giorgio Spalluto (@GeorgeSpalluto) January 22, 2016

With the suicide, the gamble is that Murray will not be able to beat whoever gets into the final.

*Suicide Picks*
MS 1st Rd: Dimitrov d. Lorenzo {W}
MS 2nd Rd: Kyrgios [29] d. Cuevas {W}
MS 3rd Rd: Tomic [16] d. Millman {W}
MS 4th Rd: Monfils [23] d. Kuznetsov {W}
MS QF: Raonic [13] d. Monfils [23] {W}
MS SF: Murray [2] d. Raonic [13]
--
WS 1st Rd: Gavrilova d. Hradecka {W}
WS 2nd Rd: Mladenovic [28] d. Gibbs {W}
WS 3rd Rd: Beck d. Siegemund {W}
WS 4th Rd: Keys [15] d. Zhang {L}

Now, without further ado, we can complete the men’s quarterfinals. BACKSPIN can promise that its writers are more fatigued than you are. It does take its toll in the end.


ROD LAVER: MURRAY D. FERRER
...It took Muzza 200 minutes to finally come through a four-set war against Ferrer 6-3, 6-7[5], 6-2, 6-3. The scoreline does not truthfully portray the match but, then, it rarely does. Ferru had not lost a set all tournament but came out flat for the first set against the Scot. He really improved in the second and hit all his groundstrokes deeper, forcing Murray back during rallies. While this was a match primarily fought along the baseline, there were forays into the net, too. It was unfortunately a scrappy match, with over 120 errors littering what was, in patches, a high quality affair. Ferrer really struggled to serve big but Murray hit eight double faults. He capitalised on the Spaniard's softer serve, breaking six times to two. Muzza also won 42 per cent of serve points, which he needs to repeat against the powerful Canadian. Ferrer will stay in the top eight after a good tournament from him. But Murray will have to improve and do it now. Raonic will be able to pray on his second serve and he will also be nigh on impossible to break. I like him to cause the upset but, really, the match could go either way. The biggest thing for Andy is to find a way to break. Even in a five-set match, as good a returner as he is, he may not see even ten break chances. He also has to avoid breakers because Raonic is tough to beat in them. After three hours here, it is imperative he wins quickly and he stops it going to five. He has to be as fresh as possible for the final.
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RLA: RAONIC D. MONFILS
...Monfils set out to hit the shot of the match, just like he does every time he steps onto court, and he did so, too. This video shows two examples of his athletic, infuriating magic.



Raonic was too solid, too controlled and had too much for Monfils in a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory. With just three breaks to one, this match was of a higher quality than the higher seeded match. Monfils’ defence and return is one of his best weapons but he got just two break point opportunities. Over the course of their two and a quarter hour dance on the big stage, they wowed the crowd with their clash of styles. Monfils went a stunning 36-17 on winners and his opponent 47-36. La Monf! Will rise well into the top twenty following his admirable run here, and can go away having achieved and done a lot. His consistency has been one of this BACKSPINNER'S favourite things about this year’s edition. For once he didn’t disappoint and went down respectably. Milos won a third of his opponent's service points and even hit four return winners. He also volleyed quite competently and won 52 of 62 first serve points. He is just in such rich vein of form that the upset is more than on. Their match really is going to be one to watch. Can Raonic finally make a slam final?
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