Grand Slam Professional Tennis Predictions and Picks by Nick Bollettieri. US Open, French Open, Wimbledon, Australian Open

Nick’s Picks will have complete coverage of Wimbledon 2008, and we are teaming with Tennis Week and The Independent Newspaper in London to provide in-depth analysis throughout the tournament! Also, be sure to listen for Nick on Radio Wimbledon each day at 4pm EST!

There have been three women’s matches completed already this morning, and two of them were won by the underdogs. Jelena Jankovic, who is seeded second, lost to veteran Tamarine Tanasugarn 6-3, 6-2 and #15 Agnes Szavay fell to Jie Zheng 6-3, 6-4. Jankovic didn’t look comfortable at all on the grass today, after she injured herself in her previous match  against Wozniacki. With Jankovic losing, that means the top three seeds on the women’s side are all out of the tournament. That leaves Svetlana Kuznetsova, who plays later today, as the highest seeded woman remaining.

For Tanasugarn and Zheng, this is the first time either of them have been into the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam. Tanasugarn has been playing singles matches in Grand Slams since 1997, and has been to the fourth round of Wimbledon six times previously. Zheng, who is ranked #133 in the world, had only been to the fourth round of a Grand Slam once in her career (2004 French Open) before this Wimbledon. This is a great achievement for both girls, and we will have to see if they can keep their runs going in the quarters!

One seed who didn’t lose already today is Venus Williams. The defending champion made short work of Alisa Kleybanova, beating her 6-3, 6-4 in 83 minutes. Williams is into the quarterfinals for the ninth time in twelve appearances, and she will now face Tanasugarn, whom she is 6-0 against.

Nick’s Picks will have complete coverage of Wimbledon 2008, and we are teaming with Tennis Week and The Independent Newspaper in London to provide in-depth analysis throughout the tournament! Also, be sure to listen for Nick on Radio Wimbledon each day at 4pm EST!

Serena Williams (USA) vs. Bethanie Mattek (USA)

Williams had her hands full in the first set with Amelie Mauresmo, but managed to win it in a tiebreaker. She then went on to win the second set 6-1 to reach the fourth round. She is looking to get back to the quarterfinals for the second straight year and now with Ivanovic and Sharapova out she has to be considered the favorite.

Mattek is a pleasant surprise for American tennis, and is playing in the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career. She beat last year’s finalist, Marion Bartoli, 6-4, 6-1 in the third round to advance and now will have her hands full with Serena.

Match-Up:

Williams is 1-0 against Mattek with that win coming back in 2006 at Cincinnati. Mattek is flamboyant and maybe just off center enough to not let the moment get to her. She can bring pace, but her best bet against Serena is to mix it up. She has a decent slice and can come in when she is presented the opportunity. The bottom line is that Mattek will have to take some chances if she is to derail Serena. Serena covers the court better than any female in tennis, period. Attempting to attack her movement will only bring frustration. Mattek would be better off trying to pin her to the forehand and hoping for some mistakes and some shorter, attackable balls. But in the end, this match is Serena’s to lose, I know where my money is going.

Nick’s Pick - Williams in 2 sets

Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) vs. Agnieszka Radwanska (POL)

While Kuznetsova claims grass isn’t really her favorite surface, she has been to the quarterfinals three times in her career. She advanced with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Barbora Zahlavova Strycova in the third round and is still on track to get back to the semifinals of her second straight Grand Slam.

Radwanska ended the great run of 16-year old Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, beating the Russian girl 6-3, 6-2 in just over an hour. She has only been to the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam once in her career (2008 Australian Open), so a win here would be a big thing for her.

Match-Up:

Kuznetsova is 4-1 against Radwanska, but they have split their two meetings so far in 2008. But let us not forget that Radwanska is coming off a win at the Wimbledon tune up at Eastbourne on the grass. She is a pesky fighter who is full of confidence right now, which makes her a threat. Kuznetsova will have to serve well and use her veteran prowess to limit her errors and keep Radwanska from attacking. I have to give the edge to the veteran, especially on the big points, but this one will be a dogfight.

Nick’s Pick - Kuznetsova in 3 sets

Venus Williams (USA) vs. Alisa Kleybanova (RUS)

Venus has had some tough matches so far, but she has yet to drop a set. Grass is one of, if not, the best surface for her game and she has proven that in the past. She is still on track to meet her sister, Serena, in the finals which would be the first time the two have met in the finals of a Grand Slam since Wimbledon 2003.

Kleybanova picked up a huge win over Daniela Hantuchova in the third round, and is playing in the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career. She is a big girl, and hits like one. She did train at the Academy in the past, and has excellent groundstrokes.

Match-Up:

These two have never played and the matchup should be interesting. Kleybanova has had a good year moving from #156 at the end of ‘07 to her current rank of #42. Venus does not have a title to her credit in ‘08, and has failed to make it past the semis in any event this year. But Venus loves the grass and is certainly no stranger to it. Obviously, after hitting a 127 mph serve the other day to break the women’s world record, her serve is coming off huge. The question is, can she make enough of them for it to be effective. Her forehand must also stay consistent and she should try to come in more to put pressure on the young upstart. Venus is a formidable presence at the net with her great anticipation and long wing span.

Kleybanova has nothing to lose in this one and will continue to play fearless ground and pound tennis. But this is Venus Williams and this is The Wimbledon Championships. The serve and relentless pressure will crack the young Russian, but look for more from this girl in the years to come.

Nick’s Pick - Williams in 3 sets

Elena Demetieva (RUS) vs. Shahar Peer (ISR)

Dementieva is one of six Russians left in the final 16, but did you expect anything else? In her first two matches she dropped a set, but she won her third round match over Gisela Dulko in straights. She has been to the quarterfinals at Wimbledon once before (2006), and a win here would put her back there again.

Peer had a very tough match in the third round against Dinara Safina, but managed to pull it out 8-6 in the third. It didn’t seem like either player wanted to win that match as both had chances to serve for it and didn’t capitalize. She absolutely cannot do that against Dementieva, because she will not let her off the hook.

Match-Up:

These two have played four times in the past with Peer winning the first meeting in ‘06. Since then it has been all Dementieva, winning three in a row with the latest coming at this year’s Australian Open. Peer had a breakout year in ‘07 and seemed poised to continue her run right into the top 10, but she has stalled since. This could be the match that gets her back on track, but it will be a tall order against the hard hitting Russian. Dementieva is tough to control, especially on the grass because she hits so flat and her ball stays so low to the ground. Peer must use her legs and her variety by hitting angles to open the court and forcing Dementieva into playing a more finesse style of play. Dementieva has to make first serves and be aggressive up the line, especially from the backhand side to rush Peer into giving up some weak replies.

This is a good match up on paper, but I feel at this point in time and on this surface, Dementieva has an edge.

Nick’s Pick - Dementieva in 3 sets

Nick’s Picks will have complete coverage of Wimbledon 2008, and we are teaming with Tennis Week and The Independent Newspaper in London to provide in-depth analysis throughout the tournament! Also, be sure to listen for Nick on Radio Wimbledon each day at 4pm EST!

Roger Federer (SUI) vs. Lleyton Hewitt (AUS)

After getting broken in the very first game of his third round victory, Federer came roaring back to beat Marc Gicquel 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 in a total of 81 minutes. With all of the shocking losses and upsets, Federer has remained quiet which is probably for the best. Playing Hewitt will be a good test for him, and should be quite interesting to watch.

Hewitt beat a very good Italian player, Simone Bolelli, rather routinely 6-1, 6-3, 7-6(2) in the third round. Hewitt is an excellent grass court player, as he actually the last player not named Roger Federer to win Wimbledon.

Match-Up:

Federer is 13-7 against Hewitt, and has beaten him 11 straight times (including twice at Wimbledon). When healthy, there is no one who fights harder than Hewitt. He scraps for every point, and he never, ever gives up. The fans take to him because of his great energy, and you can always count on him giving 110%. In this match, he cannot stay back four to eight feet behind the baseline and expect to win. Federer will chip and use his biting slice to keep Hewitt off-balance. The longer this match goes the more it favors Hewitt, because of his extreme competitiveness. Federer is obviously the favorite in every match he plays here, but you know he doesn’t want to give Hewitt any signs that he could possibly lose.

Nick’s Pick - Federer in 4 sets

Mario Ancic (CRO) vs. Fernando Verdasco (ESP)

Verdasco picked up a much easier win over Tomas Berdych in the third round (6-4, 6-4, 6-0) that I anticipated. While this is another bad loss for Berdych, it is an excellent win for Verdasco. This is the second time in his career the he has reached the fourth round, and if he wins it will mark the first time he has ever reached a Grand Slam quarterfinal.

Ancic got a very big “W” over fifth-seeded David Ferrer in the third round. He has always played excellent tennis on the grass at Wimbledon, as he reached the semis back in 2004 and the quarters in 2006. He has been quietly moving up the rankings this year (because of the sickness and injury last year), and this will certainly give him a big boost.

Match-Up:

Ancic is 1-0 against Verdasco, and wouldn’t you know it, that win came just a couple of weeks ago on grass at Queen’s Club. Both players are very comfortable here and are coming off of excellent victories. Verdasco has a dangerous lefty serve to go along with his monster forehand (that many think is the best in the game). He doesn’t really have any experience in winning a big match like this and that may hurt him. Ancic’s movement and wingspan trouble many of his opponents, and on grass he is always looking to move forward when possible. He has excellent groundstrokes, and when his serve is on, watch out! In his third round match against Ferrer he had 16 aces and won 88% of the points on that first serve. If he continues to do this, he is going to be very difficult to beat.

Nick’s Pick - Ancic in 4 sets

Richard Gasquet (FRA) vs. Andy Murray (GBR)

Gasquet was rolling in his third round match against fellow Frenchman Gilles Simon, until the third set which Simon won in a tiebreaker. Gasquet then went down 2-0 in the fourth set, but then proceeded to win six of the next seven games to take the set and the match. He cannot afford a mental lapse like that in this match, because Murray will jump all over him.

Murray played some of the best tennis I have seen from him in quite some time in his third round victory over Tommy Haas. His shot-making was incredible, and demonstrated just what the young Scot is capable of. He will definitely need to continue playing like that to compete with Gasquet in this match.

Match-Up:

Gasquet is 2-0 against Murray, but the two haven’t faced thus far in 2008 and have never played on grass. When the draw came out, this was a match that everyone was looking forward to. Two of the best young players in the game, facing off in front of the great British crowd. This is definitely a must-see match, because both of these men are more than qualified at producing some unbelievable shots. Against Haas, Murray pulled off some crazy passing shots, which was what really won him the match. He is deceptively quick has some of the best hands on tour. We all know how talented Gasquet is, because when he is on there is almost no one better. Two things that he can ill afford to have in this match are an injury or a mental lapse. Either one of those will give Murray a big edge. This is going to be a close match, but if Murray continues to play like he has been with the support of the English crowd, he has a slight edge.

Nick’s Pick - Murray in 4 or 5 sets

Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. Mikhail Youzhny (RUS)

Nadal continued to get a high percentage of his first serves in (77%) and kept the unforced errors to a minimum (11) in his match against Kiefer. When he serves like this and doesn’t make mistakes with the rest of his game, it is almost impossible to beat him. With each match he plays, he seems to be gaining more confidence, which is not good for the rest of the field.

Youzhny played his second consecutive five-setter in his third round victory over Radek Stepanek. This is the second straight year he has reached the fourth round, and just like in 2007 he will now face Nadal!

Match-Up:

Nadal is 6-4 against Youzhny, but the only time they met in 2008 Youzhny beat him. While that may have been case, Nadal is certainly playing a higher level now then he was back in January. Youzhny cannot let this match go very long, because he has already played so much tennis and Nadal will just wear him out. Nadal will need to serve well and keep the pressure on Youzhny throughout the match. Youzhny will try to control the court with his fantastic backhand and keep Nadal off balance. This is something no one has been able to do in about a month! He is playing at such a high intensity level, that it is extremely difficult to break his focus and cause him to commit errors. Right now I can’t see Youzhny doing that.

Nick’s Pick - Nadal in 4 sets

Nick’s Picks will have complete coverage of Wimbledon 2008, and we are teaming with Tennis Week and The Independent Newspaper in London to provide in-depth analysis throughout the tournament! Also, be sure to listen for Nick on Radio Wimbledon each day at 4pm EST!

Ana Ivanovic became the latest in a line of big names to lose early at Wimbledon, joining the likes of Novak Djokovic, Maria Sharapova, Andy Roddick, and James Blake. Ivanovic fell in straight sets to Jie Zheng of China in 6-1, 6-4. This stunning loss comes right on the heels of Ivanovic’s first career Grand Slam title, and this is also the first time she has been seeded #1 at a Grand Slam.

Like Sharapova, Ivanovic has been saying that she is mentally tired and physically exhausted and she looked it in this match. Her groundstrokes didn’t penetrate like they usually do, and her movement wasn’t as fluid as she would have liked. With both her and Sharapova out, this really opens up the draw for the Williams sisters, Jelena Jankovic, and the Russian contingent.

Who is your favorite now?

Nick’s Picks will have complete coverage of Wimbledon 2008, and we are teaming with Tennis Week and The Independent Newspaper in London to provide in-depth analysis throughout the tournament! Also, be sure to listen for Nick on Radio Wimbledon each day at 4pm EST!

Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy alum, Nicole Vaidisova, became the first woman to reach the fourth round today at Wimbledon. Vaidisova beat Australian Casey Dellacqua 6-2,  6-4 in 55 minutes to advance to the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the second time this year. She reached the fourth round at the Australian Open, before falling to Serena Williams in straight sets. Since that time, Vaidisova’s results have been nothing short of below average, so this is a good sign that she is coming out of her slump.

She will now Anna Chakvetadze in the fourth round, after Chakvetadze beat Evgeniya Rodina in 6-4, 6-3. This will be the first seeded player Nicole faces, and will definitely be the biggest test for her thus far. She is 2-0 against Chakvetadze, with both of those wins coming back in 2006.

Nick’s Picks will have complete coverage of Wimbledon 2008, and we are teaming with Tennis Week and The Independent Newspaper in London to provide in-depth analysis throughout the tournament! Also, be sure to listen for Nick on Radio Wimbledon each day at 4pm EST!

Tomas Berdych (CZE) vs. Fernando Verdasco (ESP)

Berdych picked up a four set victory over Victor Hanescu in the second round. The first two sets were very close, as Hanescu won the opener in a tie-breaker and then lost the second in the tie-breaker 8-6. This hasn’t been the best year for Berdych, and it is time he starts putting together some big wins. A deep run here would help him move back up the rankings.

Verdasco won his second round match in four sets over the Belgian cockroach Olivier Rochus. He comes into Wimbledon ranked a career high of #18 in the world, and is sporting a 22-15 record on the year. He just reached the finals of a grass court tournament at Nottingham, and did reach the fourth round at Wimbledon back in 2006.

Match-Up:

Berdych is 3-1 against Verdasco, but this will be the first meeting on grass. If you look at the rankings, Verdasco is higher, but if you look at the seedings, Berdych is higher. Go figure. Both players have big groundstrokes and huge serve. Verdasco is a lefty and knows how to use that to his advantage. If Berdych comes out with the right mindset and focuses on nothing but the match, I give him the edge. If he starts spraying his shots and hitting wild unforced errors Verdasco will not look back. This is going to be tight, but I am going to go with the Berdych.

Nick’s Pick - Berdych in 4 sets

Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) vs. Mischa Zverev (GER)

Wawrinka beat young Juan Martin Del Potro in straight sets in the second round to reach the third round for only the second time in his career. He comes into Wimbledon ranked a career high of #9 in the world and reaching the fourth round here would give a clear sign that he belongs in the top 10.

Zverev is a 20-year old German who is making only his second appearance at Wimbledon. He notched a win over Alexander Peya in the first round, and then advanced to the third round when Juan Carlos Ferrero retired (although Zverev was winning 6-4, 6-4, 2-1).

Match-Up:

This will be the first career meeting between these two talented young men. All of Germany will have their eyes on this young prospect. Zverev is quick, feisty, and doesn’t give up easily. He has a good lefty serve and uses it wisely throughout matches. In his match against Ferrero he had 12 aces and got 70% of his first serves in. He is going to need a similar performance against Wawrinka to stay in this match, because of how physical Wawrinka can be. The Swiss star has a monster backhand and his game is really starting to round into form. Look for Wawrinka to use his bruising style and very solid foundation to move Zverev around and keep him off balance. Watch out for Wawrinka as the tournament progresses, he is big and strong and won’t back off from any challenge.

Nick’s Pick - Wawrinka in 4 sets

Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) vs. Radek Stepanek (CZE)

Youzhny comes in ranked #17 in the world, and he needed five sets to beat Stefano Galvani in the second round. He has been to the fourth round four times in his career, including last year. He did play at the warm-up tournament in Halle, and lost in the second round to Nicolas Kiefer.

Stepanek, like Youzhny, needed five sets to advance to the third round. He comes in slightly injured, but the guy is a workhorse. He never stops, and can play on any surface. He did reach the quarterfinals back in 2006, which is his best result in any Grand Slam.

Match-Up:

Stepanek and Youzhny have played four times previously, with each player winning two matches (but they haven’t met since 2004). No matter how you cut it, this is setting up to be a long match. Youzhny is excellent from the baseline, and has a great one-handed backhand down-the-line passing shot. Stepanek loves to come into the net, and will do it on just about every point. I feel this will be the difference in the match. The grass has always been a place for serve and volleyers, and Stepanek knows it. This is going to be close, but in the end I’m going with Stepanek.

Nick’s Pick - Stepanek in 4 or 5 sets

Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. Nicolas Kiefer (GER)

It might have taken Nadal four sets to win his second round match, but I don’t think you would see very many players beat Gulbis like that. In my eyes, that was an excellent second rounder for Nadal, because it gave him a good test and got him ready for the upcoming challenges.

Kiefer only lost four games to Martin Vassallo Arguello in the second round, playing an excellent match. He won 89% of the points on his first serve, and broke Vassallo Arguello seven times. Something tells me this match will not be as easy for him!

Match-Up:

Nadal is 2-0 against Kiefer, with both of those wins coming this year. Kiefer is a very good baseliner, but he is also not afraid to come in. His all-court game is solid, but it is going to take more than that to beat the Spaniard. Nadal’s serve wasn’t as good in the second round as it was in the first, but he was able to make up for it by only committing 14 unforced errors in the entire match. He is going to need a better serve and a stronger forehand as the tournament advances. Nadal’s serve to the ad court gives just about everyone problems, and I am sure he will use it over and over it again during this match. Kiefer will probably hang in there for a while against Nadal, but look for Nadal to eventually wear him down.

Nick’s Pick - Nadal in 4 sets

Tommy Haas (GER) vs. Andy Murray (GBR)

This is the match to watch on Saturday! Murray has seen all types of weather in 2008, from sunny skies to rainy days. Regardless of that, he is still a contender to win a Grand Slam. He has an excellent serve, returns the serve as well as anyone, his movement is top-notch, and has the groundstrokes to back up his game (and his talk). With the British fans behind him, he is going to be tough to beat.

Haas has been at the Academy since he was 13 years old, and has developed one of the best one-handed backhands in the game. I would put it right up there with Federer. I look for Haas to use his biting and jabbing slice to keep Murray out of his comfort zone. He likes to stand a couple of feet behind the baseline, and Haas will try to bring him in inside the baseline. His problem in this match may be a lack of play. His shoulder has kept him out for a while this year, and because of that he comes into Wimbledon having played only 14 matches. The longer this one goes, the more it favors Murray.

Nick’s Pick - Going to be tight, who do you like?

Nick’s Picks will have complete coverage of Wimbledon 2008, and we are teaming with Tennis Week and The Independent Newspaper in London to provide in-depth analysis throughout the tournament! Also, be sure to listen for Nick on Radio Wimbledon each day at 4pm EST!

Serena Williams (USA) vs. Amelie Mauresmo (FRA)

After a disappointing French Open, Serena will be out to make some people pay. Her movement and big first serve give her a big advantage at this venue and she knows it. Look for her to be aggressive with her serve and get on offense early in rallies.

Mauresmo has not made it past the quarterfinals of an event in ‘08. After shaking the monkey off her back by winning two slams in ‘06, she seems to have lost her edge. She has 24 hours to get it back if she wants to continue on in this tournament. Mauresmo will need to make Serena hit an extra ball on every point and hope she is making some mistakes in order to get through.

Match-Up:

These two have some history together, as they have faced 11 times before. Serena has won nine of those matches, including twice at Wimbledon (2002 and 2004). The question surrounding Mauresmo is: How is she feeling mentally? I think we may need to send out the Navy Seals to find her, because she was completely lost at times during the French Open. But if she wakes up and finds herself, she can play with anyone in the world. I look for Serena to attack Mauresmo’s forehand throughout the match. The more balls Serena gets back the better her chances will be. She cannot show any negative signs, because when she does she tends to make more errors and not play as well as she is capable of. This has the potential to be a good one, but it all depends on Mauresmo’s mentality.

Nick’s Pick - Williams in 2 sets

Nicole Vaidisova (CZE) vs. Casey Dellacqua (AUS)

This year has probably not been what Vaidisova envisioned back in January, but a strong showing at Wimbledon will make all that go away. Her hard flat groundies will serve her well on the lawn and if her serve is clicking, her day will be much easier. If she can find herself through this one, it will be a nice boost to her confidence going into the second week.

This strong, left handed Aussie will seem small compared to the taller and longer limbed Vaidisova, but don’t be fooled. She can pound with the big dogs. Her strokes are big, which will make things a little tricky for her on the grass, but I expect her lefty serve to be effective and keep her in the battle.

Match-Up:

These two have played twice before, splitting two hard fought three setters. It’s a great thing to see Vaidisova back on track, even though she lost nine games in a row in the second round! No question about her guns, it is just whether or nor they are aimed in the right direction. She will need to move well, and will have to fight hard to win this match. Having a very good service day wouldn’t be a bad idea either.

Nick’s Pick - Vaidisova in 3 sets

Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) vs. Jelena Jankovic (SRB)

Playing in only her second Wimbledon, 17-year old Caroline Wozniacki has reached the third round of a Grand Slam for the third time this year. She easily dispensed of Aleksandra Wozniak (no relation) in the second round, 6-1, 6-1 and is one of the best young women on the WTA Tour.

For the second time in the last month, Jankovic beat Carla Suarez Navarro. They last played in the French Open quarterfinals when Navarro made her incredible run. Jankovic has been to the fourth round the last two years, but never further. I am sure she would like to change that in 2008.

Match-Up:

This is going to be a very interesting match-up between these two, and will be the first time they have faced. Wozniacki is an excellent mover, has great groundstrokes, and a more than solid serve. In her last match she was up around 83% on the first serves, and had four aces. She is going to need her serve to win some free points against Jankovic, because once play begins there is no better athlete on tour than the Serb. She has one of the best two-handed backhands of anyone, and her movement is top-notch. There are going to be some long rallies in this match, and Jankovic’s defense is superb. It is going to be hard for her to stay in there shot-for-shot with the relentless groundstrokes of Jankovic. Wozniacki’s best chance to is try and break down Jankovic’s serve and get a couple of breaks. If that happens, you never know how the match will go. I think this is going to be tight, but in the end I give the edge to Jankovic.

Nick’s Pick - Jankovic in 3 sets

Shahar Peer (ISR) vs. Dinara Safina (RUS)

Peer picked up a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Emilie Loit in the second round, and is into the third round at Wimbledon for the second time in her career. This hasn’t been the best year for Peer, as she started 2008 ranked #17, and is currently at #26 in the world.

Safina, who comes in ranked a career high of #9 in the world, moved on easily with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Su-Wei Hsieh. Safina has never really had great success at Wimbledon, but maybe with her recent appearance in the finals at the French Open she has some new-found confidence in her game.

Match-Up:

This will be the sixth meeting between Safina and Peer, and their third this year. Safina leads 3-2, but Peer has won both encounters in 2008. When Peer burst on the scene I always thought she had a lot of potential and could be a top 10 player. She moves well, can volley, and really plays an all-court game. The one thing about her that was excellent was her fitness, and I don’t think she is in the same physical shape that she was last year and that has hurt her. Safina has the ability to negate just about everything Peer can do, and she is bursting with confidence. Her lateral movement is fantastic and she uses it very well. I feel this is going to be a close match because of their history, but in the end Safina is just playing too well right now.

Nick’s Pick - Safina in 3 sets

Nick’s Picks will have complete coverage of Wimbledon 2008, and we are teaming with Tennis Week and The Independent Newspaper in London to provide in-depth analysis throughout the tournament! Also, be sure to listen for Nick on Radio Wimbledon each day at 4pm EST!

It has not been a predictable day so far at Wimbledon as 2004 champion Maria Sharapova and American James Blake both lost. Sharapova, the #2 ranked player in the world, was beaten by Alla Kudryavtseva 6-2, 6-4. Kudryavtseva, who has only been to the third round of a Grand Slam once, came into the tournament ranked #154 in the world and is the 22nd ranked Russian.

As big as Djokovic’s loss was yesterday, this has to be considered an even bigger one today. Sharapova was the odds-on favorite to win the tournament, and for her to lose in the second round at Wimbledon it just unthinkable. You have to hand it to Kudryavtseva, she played really well. Her movement was excellent and her groundstrokes kept Sharapova behind the baseline. It was a well played match for her. This just shows the depth of the Russian women, they just keep coming and coming and coming.

On the men’s side, it was American James Blake who found himself on the wrong end of the score. He fell in five sets to Rainer Schuettler, who just happens to be the same guy Blake beat in straight sets at the French Open just a couple of weeks ago. This is another disappointing early exit at a Grand Slam for Blake. The year started off so good at the Australian Open, where he reached the quarters, but he has now lost in the second round in both Paris and London. Hopefully the summer US Open Series will treat him better!

In other news, NBTA alum Tommy Haas won his second round match over Tommy Robredo. Haas beat Robredo 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 and will now face British favorite Andy Murray (who beat another Bollettieri alum Xaiver Malisse today) in the third round. Another excellent win for Haas, who is coming off of a shoulder injury that kept him out of play for a couple of months. Good luck in the third round!

Nick’s Picks will have complete coverage of Wimbledon 2008, and we are teaming with Tennis Week and The Independent Newspaper in London to provide in-depth analysis throughout the tournament! Also, be sure to listen for Nick on Radio Wimbledon each day at 4pm EST!

Former Wimbledon champion, Lindsay Davenport, has withdrawn from Wimbledon because of a knee injury. This is an extremely tough blow for Davenport, because she had been training for six weeks before the tournament to prepare for Wimbledon. She made Wimbledon one of her priorities when the season began and it is a shame that she had to pull out. Hopefully she will be okay for the summer hard court season, the Olympics, and the US Open.

Good luck to Lindsay!

Nick’s Picks will have complete coverage of Wimbledon 2008, and we are teaming with Tennis Week and The Independent Newspaper in London to provide in-depth analysis throughout the tournament! Also, be sure to listen for Nick on Radio Wimbledon each day at 4pm EST!

For all the recent talk about how good the Serbian tennis stars are (and rightfully so), Wednesday was not the day for them. It began with the exit of the third ranked man in the world, Novak Djokovic. After plenty of talking from the Djoker over the last couple of weeks about how Federer’s reign is over, a second round loss to former Grand Slam champion Marat Safin is not good. Especially when you consider that Safin has a 10-13 record on the year and pretty much despises playing on grass (for some reasons I don’t understand). Safin may not have any Grand Slam championship runs left in him, but he sure does have some good matches.

Safin won the match by frustrating Djokovic and dominating the court with his backhand. I wrote in my pre-match breakdown that Djokovic had more variety on his backhand than Safin, but it was Safin who was able to take control with the shot. I think a telling point of the match was when Djokovic double faulted twice in one game. Not often that you see him do that, but this was a clear sign of how he was not comfortable at all. Tough loss for Djokovic to swallow, but I am sure one guy won’t mind: Roger Federer.

On the women’s side, it was top-seeded Ana Ivanovic that came about as cloes as you can to losing. Her opponent, Nathalie Dechy, won the first set in a tiebreaker and had two match points in the second set. On one of those match points, Ivanovic hit a shot that clipped the top of the net, hung in the air for about a second, and eventually fell on Dechy’s side. Ivanovic was about one inch away from losing that point and the match.

After that, Ivanovic came back to win the second set in a tiebreaker and eventually won the third set 10-8. It was an incredible match for the #1 ranked player in the world, and just goes to show that you cannot look over any match at all. If I was Ivanovic I would head to the nearest church and say a couple of prayers, because sometimes you just need a little luck.

We will have to see if Jelena Jankovic is affected by the Serbian curse tomorrow…