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.

3 unforced errors, Haas what you doing ?

Bernie's certainly playing well. I'd say Berdych was about 80% so it's not like he's playing woefully. No breaks of serve yet which is a bit of a surprise and not many break points either.

What a game , Djoko out powered Haas in it to get his break back.

C'mon Haas 4-2 up, now 4-4.

Every time I switch onto the Djokovic match, Novak is all over him. I've not seen Haas win a game yet!

I'm a jinx for Tommy! For the sake of all your entertainment, I think it's best I watch Tomic Berdych.

You wait all match for a break and 2 come along at once.

Berdych breaks at the start of the third set... And Tomic breaks straight back. 2 games all.

Gotta say nothing Haas could do once he lost his serve when he was leading.

It's like Murray v Robredo - breaking whenever he wants.

Danny_1982 wrote:Berdych breaks at the start of the third set... And Tomic breaks straight back. 2 games all.

I am gonna switch to tat match as well, Djoko running with this match, poor Haas cannot run anymore at 35.

Thats it now for Tommy.

Needs a miracle and more to turn this around.

The Special Juan wrote:Meanwhile, I am rather envious of Kyle Edmund who's playing mixed doubles with Eugenie Bouchard.

Got a feeling Genie could be the WTA's poster girl in a few years time!



Yowza!

Cogen wrote:

The Special Juan wrote:Meanwhile, I am rather envious of Kyle Edmund who's playing mixed doubles with Eugenie Bouchard.

Got a feeling Genie could be the WTA's poster girl in a few years time!



Yowza!

Wow, what the hell am I doing watching other matches, thx Cogen, I am gonna keep an eye on her as well.  

There are many things in tennis I will never know and understand. I will never understand how Nadal manages to put so much topspin on his forehand and I will never know how Daveed Ferrer can keep playing the way he does at his age. I will never know how Hewitt has managed to come back from numerous surgeries and I will never know why Murray keeps berating himself on court. However, the thing I will never, ever, ever be able to comprehend is why Tomas Berdych, ranked 7 in the world and former major finalist, is sponsored H&M.

There's definitely more to like about Genie than the Ice Queen.

westisbest wrote:Thats it now for Tommy.

Needs a miracle and more to turn this around.

I am watching this match just to keep my curse away from Tomic, when ever I saw the other match Tommy started to lose and when I watch this match Haas started to lose from winning, so one of the Tommy have to lose let it be older Tommy.

Another break for the Berd.

The Special Juan wrote:Another break for the Berd.

Poor Oh Tomic  

When Djokovic plays like the sadist in me skips a beat

3rd set to the Berd.

Haas has been disappointing for me: not made nearly enough use of his variety, despite Djokovic doing very little off his slice, sprayed a lot of errors, and returned really poorly (as IC pointed out, Djokovic has made so many aces down the T yet Haas isn't even attempting to put him off that serve by standing closer to the middle of the court).

Having said that, Djokovic has looked pretty impressive, barring a poor start to the second set.

Novak Chokovic

Well done Tommy, it was mentioned in commentary that it might be tommys last match in centre... do you reckon thats true?

a real wobble from Djokovic: a tentative double fault, and some loose groundstrokes, and Haas has broken back. Unusual to see that from Djokovic...

I don't think it's his last Wimbledon but for anyone outside the top 10 you can never be guaranteed to be on Centre at any point so if the fixtures don't go your way it might be his last Centre Court match.

Another set that Novak fails to serve out! Happened too many times this year.

Berdych a break up in the 4th.

falzy21 wrote:Well done Tommy, it was mentioned in commentary that it might be tommys last match in centre... do you reckon thats true?

Impossible to say! This could be his last big year where he gives everything he has, a la Fish a couple of years ago (can't see him making a comeback) ... Or Tommy could become the Kimiko Date-Krumm of the men's tour? Who knows?!  

Cogen wrote:

falzy21 wrote:Well done Tommy, it was mentioned in commentary that it might be tommys last match in centre... do you reckon thats true?

Impossible to say! This could be his last big year where he gives everything he has, a la Fish a couple of years ago (can't see him making a comeback) ... Or Tommy could become the Kimiko Date-Krumm of the men's tour? Who knows?!  

I'm gutted Fish is not about these days. Gutted.

DW Juan i dont think hes fin-ished yet

Hed feel gill-ty if he didnt try once more

He'll get his plaice back on tour then, hopefully.

Hell be back when he needs some fresh waters in his life

Though ive heard he may not have the spine for it anymore...

 

He's the life and sole of the tour.

shame, Haas having battled so hard completely loses it in the TBs, spraying it all over the place and rather throwing the match away.

Ok guys, enough jokes...

Fin.

Cogen wins, as does Djokovic and the Berd.

how amusing: both matches finish at pretty much exactly the same time

anyway, Berdych had too much power really for Tomic, but it's been a good tournament for the youngster, who I really hope does something in the game, he's too talented not to, surely?

Djokovic eventually gets it done, but he made heavy work of the finish, and in the end it took a very poor first half of TB for Haas to get him far enough in front. Not sure what to make of that performance, looked mightily impressive in patches, but very dodgy in others. Still yet to drop a set though, like Murray...

Berdych is making all the right noises....

"I know how to beat him. I beat him last time, so let's try for the same."

This is the point where I start to get nervous!

If it ends up being Berdych then Del Potro, I'm not confident of Novak getting through that sequence on grass.

Jonny Mac going crazy at the end there

HM hes looking imperious, I reckon hes screwed on for the final

HM Murdoch wrote:This is the point where I start to get nervous!

If it ends up being Berdych then Del Potro, I'm not confident of Novak getting through that sequence on grass.

I am, he has a great head to head against both those guys and moves better on the grass than both those players as well. I honestly think Haas' style gives him problems and I was more worried about this match than the two other matchups. He did play a loose service game or two that he should have won and was in control of but I think it was more a slip in focus when he was up comfortably.

I honestly don't see Del Po getting that far, his movement is labored and I would favor Ferrer in that matchup. Poor Juan seems to have injured that leg.

Who is the Ice Queen?

Dave. wrote:Who is the Ice Queen?

Sharapova. She was once called that but I can't remember who said it.

Ahh. Yes, I never really got Pova. I mean, the noise, the petulance, the fact she looks like she wants to get angry at Dimitrov for losing, that wee "COME ON" she does......