Wimbledon day 4

What's on you say? Well for starters Federer and Djokovic play their second round matches, Djokovic like Murray yesterday shafted to court 1 as on Centre Court there's the small matter of former champion Leyton Hewitt and his legion of fanatics taking on world n°5 Robin Söderling. Can Hewitt cause a huge upset or will the Swede blast through his defenses? From a British viewpoint we have our two remaining women in action later, with Laura Robson taking on Maria Sharapova no less, and Baltaésha up against Peng.

Here's the place to discuss today's action

Did I just miss a McEnroe rant on the tour?

Big scare match today for Djoko, Anderson can really bomb the serve.

nah Djokovic will be fine, Anderson hasn't really done much in his career has he? Big serve, but once Djoko works that one out (and he will) he'll cruise through. Straight sets, maybe one of them a TB.

I hate to say it MFC as a Novak fan I am pretty negative when it comes to the draw he has been dealt. Anderson, you are right he probably wins but I still classify that as scare match. Llodra if things go based on ranking is another guy that can really give him fits on the surface, followed probably by the Sod and than Fed. He is looking at probably 4 of the top 10 servers on the tour to just get to the final.

Hewitt isn't fit enough to beat the Sod IMO. His greatest quality is his mental and physical strength. I can't see him chasing down enough balls to make Sod uncomfortable. Gotta love the fanatics tho...

I hope hewitt does it myself would love to see that possible stumbling block removed from Novak's path.

Hmmm 4 of the top 8 is being a bit generous I think. Isner, Karlovic, Roddick, Tsonga and Raonic I'd all rate as better servers than Soderling and Llodra, and that's just off the top of my head. Sure he's got a few tough players, but Murray for instance has Ljubicic (far more rounded player than Anderson) followed by Gasquet and Roddick, so hardly a cake-walk.

I think all slam draws are tough, and our personal preference usually leads us to see our own player's as tougher than it really is. As a neutral I don't see Sod or Anderson bothering Djokovic. Llodra could if he serves very well, and Fed of course is tough.

PS: Super, super Leyt! etc.

I hope Hewitt gets Soderling would be a nice win for a great champion who has struggled mightily with injury.

Socal,

I too am a die-hard fan of Nole. However, your cribbing about the draw and in particular about the first 2 rounds being unduly tough for Nole, is going a lil overboard for many people following the posts (Yes, I have been following the lengthy discussions on the other thread that you have spawned exclusively for this topic).

We cannot expect our hero to win without sufficient challenges en route to lifting the title. It is after all a grand-slam and some times the draw is bound to be tougher than you would like it be. Don't worry, Nole, in his present form should make it to second week without many worries.

When the 2nd week comes lets be prepared for more stiffer challenges.

Like you, I am also a bit worried about the prospect of seeing K Anderson off. But the top 4 guys being what they are capable of, we should feel optimistic. Nole has done it twice this year already (beating Kevin) and I dont see any chinks in his game not to make a hat-trick!

Novak breaks anderson at love first service game. Take that wimbeldon tournament committee. I hope he craps on your Fedal final.

socal1976 wrote:I hope Hewitt gets Soderling would be a nice win for a great champion who has struggled mightily with injury.

Would rather watch Lleyton anyday over Soderling who for me is one of the most one dimensional players on the tour .

I agree Novak, I am more angry about getting Roger again and again in his semi, what is wrong with Rog and Rafa playing in a semi.

Djokovic will dance his way through to the second week and Anderson didn't even win a single point on his opening service game.

Hmm so much for Anderson's serving. socal mate, you eed to calm down about this draw thing. There's nothing particularly shocking about having Chardy and Anderson as your first two round opponents. They are far tougher tests out there...

Hmm still feel like punching Djokovic's box more often than not. Djokovic playing some great stuff, Anderson seems to be struggling with the serve (is it windy? that might explain it) and has served three double faults already. To compound it, he seems to think he can deal with Nole from the back of the court, so isn't following his first serves in; Broken for 4-0

Hewitt will wipe the floor with Djokovic, Hewitt is a natural grass court player, whereas Djokovic is just a mad ball belter.

oh dear, Anderson plants a forehand wide of the doubles court. Dunno if he's struggling to cope with the occasion but this is pretty awful so far. Some decent serves and a lucky net chord which Djokovic reaches but doesn't deal with properly at least get him on the board.

sonic_boom10 wrote:Hewitt will wipe the floor with Djokovic, Hewitt is a natural grass court player, whereas Djokovic is just a mad ball belter.

Go back to the cricket boards!!

Hmm now Djokovic makes a couple of poor errors, and a super forehand return from Anderson gets one of the breaks back. Didn't see that one coming Maybe we have a match on our hands after all.

I think today's forum will be full of 'heated' debates. Does anyone have anything sensible of a news nature to disclose that we could discuss?

Watching Hewitt v Soderling. This first set looks like it is going the distance.

yep Hewitt is dominating most of the rallies, good match so far

If Hewitt was half a step quicker, he could be that force again like in 01/02

The score was 5-3 and 40-40. I got scared suddenly that the first set may be slipping after Nole was leading 5-1 at one point. Luckily Nole sealed it at 6-3. Good going. Nole, do not let the momentum slip

That was a dreadful call by the line judge!

Tiebreaker time! I am backing Hewitt for this one

Hewitt's first serve misfiring, but he still manages to force a first set tie-break after several deuces.

The rallying between Sod and Hewitt is absurd!

It's just to slow and not worth taking any risk.

I hate this tennis!

I don't know why given his injuries and current speed that Hewitt would want to engage in long rallies. Would like to see him try and draw his opponents to the net.

He is just feeding Soderling's game by going into rallies.

agreed, surprised we haven't seen more drop shots from Lleyton...

Super, super Leyt!

I may have to eat humble pie later, Hewitt takes the first set tie-break as Soderling overhit two fairly easy shots. Guess what the ausie shouted as his opponent's backhand flew long?

Soderling reminds me of Davydenko. Very robotic and plays a very precise game and any shread of doubt during important points seems to throw them of their concentration.

The baselines on Centre Court look like a wicket at Lords!! It's only day 4!

Adnerson cracks, and Djokovic breaks to love

Hmm Djokovic slips to 0-30, but refocuses, bounces the ball a few hundred times and pulls out some big serves. Anderson plays a couple of poor shots, and Djokovic leads two sets to love. Not playing particularly well after the start (where he was very good), but doing just enough to get the job done, which is what you want in the first week (actually a similar performance to Murray's yesterday I'd say).

What an opportunity for Hewitt that was. Credit to Soderling though. Greg spoke at the start of the set about Soderling changing 'tactics' not sure he can change tactics as it is just attack, attack and attack.

Thanks for Djokovic and Anderson updates MFC.

Much appreciated mate.

legendkillar wrote:I don't know why given his injuries and current speed that Hewitt would want to engage in long rallies. Would like to see him try and draw his opponents to the net.

Because he has no real weapon and is simply forced to use his stamina as his main advantage.

Watching Anderson try to make a volley from below the net is... painful to say the least. What is it with these tall big servers that they can't at least work on their volleying and make the most of what they've got?

Just some errors creeping into Hewitt's game here. If he can keep away from Soderling's FH, he can can break the BH down easily. Just not sure why he is pummeling the FH. Been burnt from that side all too often. Still we are on serve in the 2nd set 4-3 Hewitt.

Tenez wrote:

legendkillar wrote:I don't know why given his injuries and current speed that Hewitt would want to engage in long rallies. Would like to see him try and draw his opponents to the net.

Because he has no real weapon and is simply forced to use his stamina as his main advantage.

It served as main component of his baseline game for sure, just since his hip injuries, his speed is so down. I thought he would at least try to maybe incorporate some drop shots into his game.

GOT IT! Stunning from Leyton to break for 5-3

All I can say about that last shot by Hewitt.....Class!! He breaks. Serving for the set now.

Soderling showing some signs of a fight here.

Hewitt seals the 2nd set. Not sure that the Swede has a 5 setter in him.

"Come OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN" 2/0 to the Ausie, now then...

There it is, big serve and Sod is long. Leyton leads two sets to love; On a side note, this would be the second tie in three years he knocks out the fifth seed in the second round here, after accounting for Del P at the same stage two years ago.

I'm off now (cricket nets) catch you all later!

Laters MFC.