Sony Ericsson Open: David Ferrer and Other Day 7 Matches to Watch

Every men’s fourth-round matchup at the Sony Ericsson Open has an intriguing storyline on Day 7.

Two match countrymen against each other, a third matches two physical giants of the sport and the fourth pairs the Most Improved Player of 2010 against his likely 2011 successor. 

Meanwhile, the two women’s quarterfinal matchups and the rain-delayed fourth-rounder include four former No. 1s all striving to get closer once again to that coveted spot.  

David Ferrer (ESP) vs. Marcel Granollers (ESP)

The 24-year-old Granollers started the year by losing six of his first eight matches before stringing together back-to-back wins on Thursday and Saturday. Since peaking at No. 41 last November, he’s dropped 14 spots in the rankings.

Ferrer is an impressive 15-3 to start the season and is 2-0 against Granollers, with both wins coming last season.  

Mardy Fish (USA) vs. Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG)

Fish, last year’s out-of-nowhere player, is trying to push off indications that he’s the new face of American tennis, since Andy Roddick’s shocking loss on Saturday will cause him to plunge well out of the Top 10 come next week.

He’s 2-2 all-time against this year’s comeback kid, Mr. Del Potro, who beat Fish in the semifinals at Delray Beach to even the series. 

John Isner (USA) vs. Kevin Anderson (RSA)

Suit up Ivo Karlovic to play the post with these two guys alongside of him, have Rafael Nadal run the point and you’re a shooting guard away from a quartet that could probably give the woeful Cleveland Cavaliers (currently 15-58) a run for their money.

When the 6'8'' Anderson takes on the 6'9'' Isner, it will be the second-tallest matchup in ATP history, second only to when Isner took on Karlovic in 2008 and 2010.

Anderson has vastly out-aced Isner this year (219-163 entering the tournament), but Isner leads their all-time series 3-1 with three straight wins, including two in 2010. 

Victor Troicki (SRB) vs. Novak Djokovic (SRB)

The Davis Cup-winning besties will be on opposite ends of the net, and that’s not good for Troicki, who is just 1-8 against the hottest player in the game. 

Djokovic has started this season as close to perfect as anyone since Roger Federer’s 2006 campaign. Troicki’s only win in this series came in their first meeting, on clay in 2007.

Djokovic leads 7-0 on hard courts. 

Andrea Petkovic (GER) vs. Jelena Jankovic (SRB)

After stunning Caroline Wozniacki yesterday, Petkovic must now avoid the pitfall that every player who takes down a No. 1 faces: falling flat in the next match.

She’s somehow never faced Jankovic, but if the former No. 1 ranking doesn’t catch her eye, the impressive 15-6 start to the season should.  

Ana Ivanovic (SRB) vs. Kim Clijsters (BEL)

You don’t need much hype when both players are former No. 1s—one as recently as two months ago and the other just 23 years old and back in the Top 20 after sliding into the 60s last year. 

Clijsters leads their series 3-0, including two wins last year. The winner will oppose Victoria Azarenka in the quarterfinals.

Maria Sharapova (RUS) vs. Andrea Dulugheru (ROU)

The Romanian ranked 28th in the world now faces the streaking Sharapova, playing some of her best tennis in a few seasons and threatening to rejoin the Top 10 after almost an entire season out of it. 

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