The 2011 Queen's Club - Round 3

On Thursday the third round matches took place.  On Court 1 Fernando Verdasco played David Nalbandian.  This was the best match of the week so far.  Nalbandian was playing his usual smooth style with his two-handed backhand against Verdasco's powerful lefty forehand. 

Out of the two David looks like the better overall player but Fernando played the best he could getting out of a few break points and really using his forehand to take control.  Verdasco justs gets by and wins the first set 7-5 on a powerful forehand that was returned just wide by Nalbandian.  In the second set Fernando breaks David and he instantly falls apart.  Verdasco ends up winning 7-5, 6-1.

Next up on court one was Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Michael Llodra both of France.  Tsonga can be an explosive player.  He started the match of with an ace and it looked like he would be in control of the match.  He has gotten rid of his coach and he just wants to find that independence he once had.  Tsonga has been playing at the top of his game and has just been fun to watch recently.  Leading 4-3 the rains came and there was around an hour delay.  When the rain subsided Llodra had retired do to a upper leg injury.

Sadly one of my favorite tennis players lost in the next match on Court 1.  Juan Martin Del Potro lost to the Frenchmen Adrian Mannarino 6-7 (3-7), 6-7 (7-9).  In the first point of the game, Adrain dropped an awesome drop shot right over the net and from that point on you knew the Frenchmen was going to be a tricky opponent.  Mannarino has nothing special about his game, he just works hard and executes.  I was surprised when Delpo lost but that's how it goes. We all know Delpo isn't the best on grass and Thursday he played passively and that is a recipe for disaster for Juan Martin on the grass.  Adrian took the initiative and went for winners early and kept the rallies short.  There was some luck for Mannarino as everything seemed to be going his way.  He played at the top of his level.  Juan Martin del Potro is the better tennis player by far just Mannarino survived everything del Potro threw at him and had a career day.

Adrian Mannarino

Marin Cilic

The last match of the day on Court 1 was Marin Cilic and Thomaz Bellucci.  The match started out well but then kinda went downward.  With the scored tied 3-3, deuce, Cilic limped of the court into the chair and called for a trainer.  He messed up his right ankle and had it bandaged and iced.  The delay took quite a long time but Cilic came out firing with two backhand winners to break.  Despite the break, Bellucci had the match for the taking because Cilic could barely move.  The only problem was Thomaz seemed to lose his way and the first set went to Marin.  Finally Bellucci woke up and took the second set 6-0 as it got darker and colder.  In the third set Bellucci fell apart again and gave up an early break.  He then called for a trainer and eventually lost the match 7-6 (7-3), 0-6, 6-3 in a game that was determined by which player could be less self-destructive.

Over on Centre Court the top 3, Nadal, Murray and Roddick all won their matches and are into the quarterfinals. 

Nadal won in three sets against Radek Stepanek 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, advancing to the quarters at the Queen's Club. 

“I think I played much better than yesterday,” Nadal said. “I was playing a very confident match but at 5-3, 40-15 he played well and I made a few mistakes. But the turning point of the match was the beginning of the third set, especially the first game, was tough, and after that I think I played my best.”

 

Roddick, who is going after his 5th title at the Queen's Club, beat Kevin Anderson of South Africa 6-4, 6-4 and Murray beat Janko Tipsarevic 6-4, 7-6 (3).

Also, earlier today James Ward upset Sam Querrey 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.  Ward also upset Wawrinka in the second round.  Ward is now in the quarters.

Here is how the quarters look:  Verdasco vs. Roddick, Cilic vs. Murray, Nadal vs. Tsonga and Ward vs. Mannarino.

Come back tomorrow for updates on the quarters.