Wawrinka and Youzhny have their best opportunity to reach a semi
Published:Both Stanislav Wawrinka and Mikhael Youzhny have worked hard to get to their quarter-final match-up, and neither are likely to relinquish the chance of a semi-final without a fight.
Wawrinka caused the biggest upset of the tournament when knocking out Andy Murray in the third round, but despite his impressive performance coming back from a set down in that match, he is 6/5 to beat Youzhny and progress to the semi-final.
Wawrinka’s five set victory over Sam Querrey in the fourth round left the Americans without a hope in the men’s draw, and it will be curious to see whether the Flushing Meadows crowd sides with the Swiss man, or against him.
The 25th seed has been described by John McEnroe as having the strongest backhand in the men’s game, a shot he will need to utilise it in order to beat Youzhny.
Youzhny has dropped three sets in the tournament so far against opposition poorer than Wawrinka, and the Russian will need to be on top of his game to justify his 8/13 favouritism.
The 12th seed does have the experience of making a US Open semi-final before, he lost to Andy Roddick in four sets before Roddick went on to lost the final against Roger Federer.
The Russian will be able to draw on that encounter as his fight against the man from Switzerland is likely to come down to a battle of wills – a Youzhny victory in five sets is 5/1.
The two have played each other four times, each winning twice, but Wawrinka’s two wins came on clay and he will have to overcome Youzhny’s supremacy over him on the hard courts.
The winner is likely to face Rafael Nadal in the semi and Nadal is 6/5 to win the US Open. See the full US Open tennis betting market here.
