US Open Tennis 2013: Highlighting Most Exciting Potential Quarterfinals Matchups

Compared to the two men seeded directly below him, Novak Djokovic has a stroll through the quarterfinals ahead of him. The men's No. 1 seed will face Marcel Granollers in Round 4, and then, should he win—and we know he will—he will face the winner of No. 21 Mikhail Youzhny vs. Lleyton Hewitt. 

While Hewitt is currently looking a bit reborn, neither of those potential matchups will crack this list. Possible matchups for Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray, on the other hand, most definitely have. 

Also, I'm not forgetting about the women, but to be fair, the quarterfinals on their side of things are not looking nearly as enticing. Although, there is a possible matchup involving Victoria Azarenka that I have my eye on. 

Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal 

It seems weird to write about this all-time great rivalry while we are in the quarterfinals, but with Roger Federer slipping down the rankings, this is the possibility the draw has delivered. I'm certainly not complaining. I'll take another installment of this rivalry anytime I can get it. 

While Federer has slipped a bit from the consistent excellence he made a career staple, you couldn't tell by watching him at this tournament. The legendary Swede hasn't lost a set and dropped only 21 games over the first three rounds at Flushing Meadows. 

He is in great form and would certainly be no easy out for Nadal, who has been playing out of his mind and hasn't lost a match on hard court all year. 

Over the recent past, Nadal has turned this into a one-sided rivalry by winning nine of the last 11. However, every time these two meet, it is compelling.

Andy Murray vs. Tomas Berdych

Defending champion Murray has been quietly taking care of business in his quest to add a second title at Flushing Meadows. He's dropped a set in his three matches but hasn't been seriously challenged. The latter part of that statement would come to an end should he meet Tomas Berdych in the quarterfinals. 

The big-serving Czech has been in nice form at this U.S. Open. He hasn't lost a set and has dropped just 26 games. Furthermore, Berdych and Murray have a nice rivalry going. The two have played 10 times. Berdych has won six of those meetings. He's also won both times the two have met this year. 

Not that this matchup has been one-sided. Murray beat Berdych last year at this tournament. 

I would expect an epic five-set match if these two battle at Flushing Meadows. 

Victoria Azarenka vs. Alison Riske

This potential matchup has nowhere near the pedigree of the two we just talked about. However, pedigree isn't everything. 

Alison Riske entered this tournament as a wild card, but she hasn't been playing like it. The 23-year-old American has been as impressive as anyone at Flushing Meadows this year. She has yet to drop a set and lost only 15 games. That includes a straight-set win over seventh-seeded Petra Kvitova in the third round. 

Meanwhile, second-seeded Azarenka has been powering her way to another great tournament. There are times where she looks completely unbeatable on hard courts. While she would likely put an end to Riske's dream run, it would not be without intense effort.