Wimbledon Day 7.... or 8?

First topic message reminder :

Here we are, the most magical time of the tennis calendar.  The second week of Wimbledon is where legends are made.  16 will start the week.  Only 1 will be victorious.

Centre Court 1.00pm

LADIES' SINGLES - FOURTH ROUND Serena Williams (USA) [1] v Sabine Lisicki (GER) [23]  GENTLEMEN'S SINGLES - FOURTH ROUND Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) [20] v Andy Murray (GBR) [2]  GENTLEMEN'S SINGLES - FOURTH ROUND Novak Djokovic (SRB) [1] v Tommy Haas (GER) [13]

No.1 Court 1.00pm

LADIES' SINGLES - FOURTH ROUND Laura Robson (GBR) v Kaia Kanepi (EST)  GENTLEMEN'S SINGLES - FOURTH ROUND Andreas Seppi (ITA) [23] v Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) [8]  GENTLEMEN'S SINGLES - FOURTH ROUND Bernard Tomic (AUS) v Tomas Berdych (CZE) [7]

 Source: http://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/scores/schedule/index.html

First up on Centre Court is the irrepressible, unstoppable Serena Williams against the grass court specialist Sabine Lisicki in what will most likely be the American's toughest test on the way to her very likely 6th Wimbledon singles title.  The German is not to be underestimated as she possesses the weapons to make life more than uncomfortable for Williams, especially her first serve which regularly tops 115mph.  Also on Lisicki's side is her Wimbledon record against the year's French Open champions: in 2009 she defeated Kuznetsova, in 2011 she defeated Li Na and in 2012 she beat Sharapova.  Will it be fourth win in a row against a reigning French Open champion?  With the form Williams is in, I doubt it.  Prediction: Williams in straight sets.

Next onto Centre is home hero Andrew Murray against Mikhail Youzhny.  Murray has a 2-0 record against the Colonel but the last of those meetings was a few years ago so not much can be read into the head-to-head.  Whilst Youzhny is in superb form on the grass, having only lost to Federer on the cow food in for what seems like every previous tournament, the 2nd seed will be the heavy favourite to progress and on his current form and and with his grass court pedigree, who would disagree?  Prediction: Murray in straight sets, perhaps 4.

The final match of the day on Centre Court is the veteran Tommy Haas (ATP Comeback Player of the Year 2004 AND 2012) against a certain world number 1 Novak Djokovic.  Haas has had previous success against Djokovic at Wimbledon and also won their most recent meeting but Djokovic these days at majors compared to Masters is a different beast altogether.  After throwing in a sublime performance against Jeremy Chardy and making the Frenchman look completely weaponless, this will be a different test for Djokovic and Haas must not be underestimated but at 35 years old, could he go to 5 sets against The Ironman of tennis?  Prediction: Djokovic in 4 sets.

Starting off proceedings on Court 1 we have "Princess" Laura Robson against Kaia Kanepi who already has one British scalp to her name so far in this tournament.  Kanepi's on the comeback trail after injury and is no doubt a top 20 player (where she was ranked before injury) but if Robson can bring her first serve along and does not crack under the pressure, I can see her winning and taking her place in her maiden major quarter-final.  Prediction: Robson in 3 sets.

8th seed Juan Martin del Potro never really had much success on grass until last summer's Olympics where he was oh-so-close to a gold medal match.  However, the big man managed to shrug off the disappointment of losing out to Federer deep into a 3rd set to out-gun Djokovic in straight sets and claim bronze.  He threw in a below-par performance at Queen's but has looked in good shape this tournament and has not dropped a set heading into the 4th round.  Up against del Potro is Italian Andreas Seppi, a man more suited to the clay courts of Western Europe rather than the grass of England.  Seppi has done incredibly well to reach this round, especially after defeating Kei Nishikori in 5 sets, but he does not have anything to trouble del Potro who is looking more comfortable on grass with every match he plays.  Prediction: del Potro in 3 sets.

The last match of the day is possibly the most eagerly anticipated match in the men's 4th round.  Australian playboy Bernard Tomic has reached the quarter finals here before but after a couple of years of average results and off-court drama, perhaps he is turning a corner in his career.  However, he's up against Tomas Berdych who has made a potentially dangerous first 3 rounds look fairly easy except a below-par serving performance against Kevin Anderson.  Tomic was highly impressive against perennial disappointment Richard Gasquet but faces a much tougher challenge against the big serving, big hitting Czech.  This is possibly a bridge too far for the Aussie but I think he will give all he has on the court.  Prediction: Berdych in at least 4, possibly 5 sets.

Take a bow Sabine Lisicki what a game

Williams gone.

Robson might be kicking herself a bit more as she would have had a golden chance to make the semis.

For now though - Come on Murray!

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Go Lisicki  

Lisicki. Very well played.

 

Duty281 wrote:Williams gone.

Robson might be kicking herself a bit more as she would have had a golden chance to make the semis.
For now though - Come on Murray!

a bit of respect to Lisicki who's a proper contender for Wimbledon not some unknown qualifier...

Now THAT is a shock, forget Fedal, that is extraordinary.

Awwww Lisicki (that's a cute "aww", not a mournful one). She looks so happy and I'll be delighted if she goes on to win this (unless Tsvetty wins).

Congrats to Lisicki on this victory...I hope she finally fulfils her talent and goes all the way this time. Wow, she's crying....

WOW! What an extraordinary Wimbledon this is turning out to be!

Love Lisicki because she is such a bubbly character on the court - one of the few ladies on the circuit that has that kind of charisma on the court. Hope she can stay injury free for a bit now!

Muzza time!

whocares wrote: 

Duty281 wrote:Williams gone.

Robson might be kicking herself a bit more as she would have had a golden chance to make the semis.
For now though - Come on Murray!

a bit of respect to Lisicki who's a proper contender for Wimbledon not some unknown qualifier...

And with all due respect to Robson, who had a great run, but Lisicki is a much better grass-court player who's long overdue a good run on grass....she's a potential Wimbledon champ who just hasn't got her head together yet. Maybe this is her year....

Lisicki... my new favourite female player. Great passion, always smiling, tremendous power and movement... And look how much it meant to her? Great to see.

Plus, she's cute!

Serena Williams upset was so fun to watch, Lisicki you are my hero  

Seppi is playing very good so far, a tricky round for Del Potro.

Shame that Robson went out - but it was very close and Kanepi is a very good player with brilliant temperament. It was experience that won. Glad to see that Robson was so disappointed, (not schadenfreude) - shows how much she wants to win.

Agree with comments above - Lisicki is a very good grass court player and she had a marvellous run here a couple of years ago. She has battled so many injuries, but she is a big time player.

Would love to see Lisicki hoist the Venus Rosewater Dish. Go girl!

Will it be a Kvitova v Lisicki?

Wow! Great win for Lisicki. She was really in the zone. Feel bad about Serena going out though as she always makes entertaining viewing. I reckon this Wimbledon must be jinxed...

Have heard that Del Potro was injured in his last match after a slip. If he get's through this match he faces his nemesis Ferrer. But that may be a battle of the wounded as have also read that Ferrer is playing with an ankle problem.

Everyone plays at least one iffy match in a major. This will be Murray's I think.

Lisicki !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Interesting stats from USA Today:

Lisicki has defeated the reigning French Open champion at Wimbledon three years in a row and four times in the last five years.

The Special Juan wrote:It's on, thanks for letting me know.  The most unorthodox ladies match in a while certainly.

No worries. Definitely, some great tennis on display so far. Close match, Radwanska looks under the cosh in the power stakes, but she's found a way back into the match and is making frequent forays into the net. She just attempted a tweener - rare on the WTA!

If Tsvetlana wins, I'm putting a fiver on her to win the tournament, should get good odds.

The Special Juan wrote:Everyone plays at least one iffy match in a major.  This will be Murray's I think.

Youzhny don't look like he can really hurt Murray with his serve, think Murray through easy enough

Murray breaks as Youzhny just doesn't get enough first serves in there.

bogbrush wrote:

lydian wrote:Also watching the Lisicki-Williams match...boy Sabine can serve and hit big...multiple serves at 122mph already...and 2nd serves >100mph, bigger than Murray. Impressive stuff.

Mrs B and I were remarking last Monday has much smaller Andy's 2nd serve was than the girls who'd been on before. Very odd.

Edit: Seen the picture of Sabine on Wimbledon. She has the kind of look my Mum might have told me to keep clear of..........

Difference is they will serve four times as many DF's every two sets.

Wow Sabine.

I'm not shocked by that, just a little surprised. If I had to pick a player to beat Serena on grass, its Sabine. Clearly Boris Becker is now the second most popular German in the country.

Olly wrote:

The Special Juan wrote:Everyone plays at least one iffy match in a major.  This will be Murray's I think.

Youzhny don't look like he can really hurt Murray with his serve, think Murray through easy enough

The slice is a killer though, although I reckon Djokovic would have more trouble with it than Murray. I do think he'll win but I think it'll take more than 3 sets.

Supprised people are saying how easy this will be for Murray, Youzhny is a decent player and if he can get his serves right,  certainly will be an interesting game. 

4-3 Murray atm, hardly smashing him.

He'll have him in 3 easy

If Murray maintains his focus, he should win this in 3.

And there's the first set for Britain's finest, 4-6.

Murray comfortably takes the first set 6-4. After a tough opening service game he nicked the break and never looked in trouble on his own serve. Youzhny has had some success at the net, and should probably come in a bit more, he won't hit through Andy from the baseline...

The Colonel is angry.

I think the word "stodgy" sums up today's performance so far.

how did he find that angle there? Remarkable few points from Murray to break serve: first a gorgeous half-volley killed stone dead with the softest of touches, then a beautiful top spin lob off the backhand, and finally an incredible FH pass cross court from miles outside the court, superb

Youzhny you have embarrassed the ATP today, please take your cheque and quit tennis

but that's sloppy, loose errors to gift it straight back...

Murray looking a tad frustrated. No need Murray, just no need.

I don't know why anyone's worried, Youzhny playing his absolute best and still barely wins games. This will be over in an hour , trust me  

Meanwhile, in the match that's actually entertaining... 

Radwanska is up a break in the third set!

more loose stuff from Murray, hasn't quite had the intensity today yet...

Sometimes I want to shake and shout at him "You're not actually doing anything wrong so shut up and play instead of whining."

Idiot. This will be the bottle of bottles if it comes off.

big implosion from Murray here, Youzhny just playing solid but Murray throwing it away with error after error, not sure what's happening here

Aggy leading 4-2 in the third, very tight match that could still go either way. Supremely entertaining play out there.

how much luck has Youzhny had from the net chord today?

Silver wrote:Aggy leading 4-2 in the third, very tight match that could still go either way. Supremely entertaining play out there.

Agree - absolutely lovely stuff. Both excellent and thoroughly entertaining players.

Actually, I did see this coming from the first game today.

Great stuff from youzhny.

Youzhny suddenly looking very tight on the FH side...

but Murray misses yet another pass, dreadful

barrystar wrote:

Silver wrote:Aggy leading 4-2 in the third, very tight match that could still go either way. Supremely entertaining play out there.

Agree - absolutely lovely stuff.  Both excellent and thoroughly entertaining players.

Glad someone else is having the pleasure of watching it - match point to Radwanska, and an excellent sliced winner to finish. Brilliant match. Pironkova came out firing, but Radwanska somehow found a way back into it and just didn't miss a ball after the first set. Pironkova struggled with her foot in the third set in fairness to her, which was a shame.

Li Na vs Radwanska is the QF, I think they're the two highest seeds left in the draw (6 & 4).