Joe Soriano
O.J. LewisWimbledon Gentlemen's Fourth Round Preview and Picks
June 30th 2008 10:47
Wimbledon Gentlemen's Fourth Round Preview and Picks
Day Seven at Wimbledon is going to be and exciting one for sure. Even if you don’t like tennis I would suggest tuning in even for a little while, today’s action just might change your mind. I will start off by previewing each match a bit, and close with my reasons as to why Roger Federer will not win Wimbledon for the sixth straight time.
Roger Federer SUI (1)
v
Lleyton Hewitt AUS (20)
Federer and Hewitt have had 21 matches since 1999, Federer has won 13 of them, including the last 11 straight. Hewitt has been bother by his hip, but has still made it through his matches to this point, he has had a much rougher time of it than Federer has. Hewitt will make it Federer’s toughest match in his first seven days, but should come up a bit short.
My Pick: Roger Federer in four sets.
Fernando Verdasco ESP (22)
v
Mario Ancic CRO
Both of these guys got through round three without having their serve broken once. As impressive as that is, Ancic’s feat is moreso since he did it against #5 David Ferrer who is a very good returner. Ancic was slowed on Saturday and had end practice early due to an injured Achilles tendon. On the plus side for Ancic he defeated Verdasco two weeks ago at the Artois Championship. I still think Ancic can get it done.
My Pick: Mario Ancic in five sets.
Marat Safin RUS
v
Stanislas Wawrinka SUI (13)
Wawrinka holds a 2-0 edge over Safin, the #2 Swiss player also has the benefit of his third round opponent retiring early. Safin has had to work hard to get through his earlier matches with Djokovic, and Andreas Seppi. Good thing everyone had Sunday off to rest. Safin will continue his unexpected run at Wimbledon and down Wawrinka too.
My Pick: Marat Safin in straight sets.
Marcos Baghdatis CYP (10)
v
Feliciano Lopez ESP (31)
Baghdatis reached his first quarterfinal, since February, last week in Halle, Germany. He has been playing well lately, and should get past Lopez.
My Pick: Marcos Baghdatis in four sets.
Janko Tipsarevic SRB
v
Rainer Schuettler GER
This match is a story of two players going in opposite directions. Schuettler is barely inside the World 100 and aging, while Tipsarevic is fast becoming a much better player and moving up the rankings. Tipsarevic has never made a quarterfinal in a Grand Slam, that ends this week.
My Pick: Janko Tipsarevic in three or four sets. If it is four it is because Schuettler just barely eeked out a set.
Marin Cilic CRO
v
Arnaud Clement FRA
Clement has been playing well as of late, much better than his World #145 ranking shows. On this day however I do believe the young 19 year old Croat will be too much for the Frenchman.
My Pick: Marin Cilic in straight sets.
Richard Gasquet FRA (8)
v
Andy Murray GBR (12)
Gasquet holds a 2-0 advantage over Murray. On this day with this crowd none of that will matter. The Brits will rejoice as Murray moves on.
My Pick: Andy Murray in five sets. (Yes, he will make it dramatic for the crowd.)
Mikhail Youzhny RUS (17)
v
Rafael Nadal ESP (2)
Rafa holds a 3-1 advantage over Youzhny. The only loss came in the last match in January. It was the Chennai Open finals, but Nadal was worn down after a marathon match against Carlos Moya. They faced off in the fourth round here at Wimbledon last year also. Nadal won that match in five sets en route to his finals battle with Federer.
My Pick: Rafael Nadal in four sets this time.
My reasons why Roger Federer will not win Wimbledon this year are as follows:
I am not sure at which point he will lose, but he will in my opinion have to face the following opponents...
1) Lleyton Hewitt, the last man not named Federer to win Wimbledon.
2) Mario Ancic, the last man to defeat Federer on grass.
3) Marat Safin, they have had ten matches, and Federer has won eight of them, the last one being last year in round three at Wimbledon. However, I feel this Safin is more like the one that defeated Federer at the 2005 Australian Open in the Semi-finals.
4) Rafael Nadal. I won't even get into the details of this matchup.
My feeling is, playing all of those opponents will wear him down enough that somewhere along the way he won't have what it takes to get it done against one of them.
Day Seven at Wimbledon is going to be and exciting one for sure. Even if you don’t like tennis I would suggest tuning in even for a little while, today’s action just might change your mind. I will start off by previewing each match a bit, and close with my reasons as to why Roger Federer will not win Wimbledon for the sixth straight time.
Roger Federer SUI (1)
v
Lleyton Hewitt AUS (20)
Federer and Hewitt have had 21 matches since 1999, Federer has won 13 of them, including the last 11 straight. Hewitt has been bother by his hip, but has still made it through his matches to this point, he has had a much rougher time of it than Federer has. Hewitt will make it Federer’s toughest match in his first seven days, but should come up a bit short.
My Pick: Roger Federer in four sets.
Fernando Verdasco ESP (22)
v
Mario Ancic CRO
Both of these guys got through round three without having their serve broken once. As impressive as that is, Ancic’s feat is moreso since he did it against #5 David Ferrer who is a very good returner. Ancic was slowed on Saturday and had end practice early due to an injured Achilles tendon. On the plus side for Ancic he defeated Verdasco two weeks ago at the Artois Championship. I still think Ancic can get it done.
My Pick: Mario Ancic in five sets.
Marat Safin RUS
v
Stanislas Wawrinka SUI (13)
Wawrinka holds a 2-0 edge over Safin, the #2 Swiss player also has the benefit of his third round opponent retiring early. Safin has had to work hard to get through his earlier matches with Djokovic, and Andreas Seppi. Good thing everyone had Sunday off to rest. Safin will continue his unexpected run at Wimbledon and down Wawrinka too.
My Pick: Marat Safin in straight sets.
Marcos Baghdatis CYP (10)
v
Feliciano Lopez ESP (31)
Baghdatis reached his first quarterfinal, since February, last week in Halle, Germany. He has been playing well lately, and should get past Lopez.
My Pick: Marcos Baghdatis in four sets.
Janko Tipsarevic SRB
v
Rainer Schuettler GER
This match is a story of two players going in opposite directions. Schuettler is barely inside the World 100 and aging, while Tipsarevic is fast becoming a much better player and moving up the rankings. Tipsarevic has never made a quarterfinal in a Grand Slam, that ends this week.
My Pick: Janko Tipsarevic in three or four sets. If it is four it is because Schuettler just barely eeked out a set.
Marin Cilic CRO
v
Arnaud Clement FRA
Clement has been playing well as of late, much better than his World #145 ranking shows. On this day however I do believe the young 19 year old Croat will be too much for the Frenchman.
My Pick: Marin Cilic in straight sets.
Richard Gasquet FRA (8)
v
Andy Murray GBR (12)
Gasquet holds a 2-0 advantage over Murray. On this day with this crowd none of that will matter. The Brits will rejoice as Murray moves on.
My Pick: Andy Murray in five sets. (Yes, he will make it dramatic for the crowd.)
Mikhail Youzhny RUS (17)
v
Rafael Nadal ESP (2)
Rafa holds a 3-1 advantage over Youzhny. The only loss came in the last match in January. It was the Chennai Open finals, but Nadal was worn down after a marathon match against Carlos Moya. They faced off in the fourth round here at Wimbledon last year also. Nadal won that match in five sets en route to his finals battle with Federer.
My Pick: Rafael Nadal in four sets this time.
My reasons why Roger Federer will not win Wimbledon this year are as follows:
I am not sure at which point he will lose, but he will in my opinion have to face the following opponents...
1) Lleyton Hewitt, the last man not named Federer to win Wimbledon.
2) Mario Ancic, the last man to defeat Federer on grass.
3) Marat Safin, they have had ten matches, and Federer has won eight of them, the last one being last year in round three at Wimbledon. However, I feel this Safin is more like the one that defeated Federer at the 2005 Australian Open in the Semi-finals.
4) Rafael Nadal. I won't even get into the details of this matchup.
My feeling is, playing all of those opponents will wear him down enough that somewhere along the way he won't have what it takes to get it done against one of them.
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