Stosur took an early loss at Indian Wells, as she was knocked out by former world #1 Dinara Safina in straight sets. She is only 7-7 on the year and this would be as good as time as any for her to pick up her game and make a big splash. She has been a quarterfinalist the last two years in Miami and she should definitely be playing late into the second week again.

Zheng comes into the tournament ranked #59 in the world, but she has lost early the last three tournaments she has played in. She is a former Wimbledon and Aussie Open semifinalist and she has also been to the quarters of Miami before.

Match-up:

Stosur and Zheng have played twice before with each winning a match. They last met in Los Angeles in 2009 and Stosur won that in three sets. Zheng picked up a nice win over Sorana Cirstea in the opening round, but this will be a tougher match. Stosur is comfortable at the net, has the top serve in the game and moves extremely well. Zheng will try to combat this with her fantastic side-to-side movement, her early flat groundstrokes and her solid play. I just don’t think she has enough against the heavy hitting from Stosur.

Nick’s Pick – Stosur in 2 sets

Melanie Oudin (USA) vs. Daniela Hantuchova (SVK)

Oudin beat Julia Goerges in the opening round in straight sets and she is looking to string consecutive victories for the first time in 2011. Entering the tournament she had only a 4-9 record on the year, so she could use some big wins to get her confidence back.

Hantuchova won the title in Pattaya City in February, beating Vera Zvonareva and Sara Errani along the way. She lost in the second round of Indian Wells to Safina in straight sets and her best result in Miami came last year when she reached the fourth round before falling to Serena Williams.

Match-up:

Hantuchova is 2-0 against Oudin and beat her in Miami back in 2009 in the first round. Oudin plays one way: she hits the ball hard and flat and plays very aggressive. She will take it to Hantuchova from the outset and will have the American crowd behind her. On the other side, Hantuchova plays with variety, isn’t afraid of approaching the net, and has fantastic groundstrokes. She serves the ball well and will move Oudin around the court. I see this match going three sets, and I have to give a small edge to Hantuchova because of her consistency from both wings.

Nick’s Pick – Hantuchova in 3 sets

Vera Zvonareva (RUS) vs. Dinara Safina (RUS)

Safina is playing much better as of late, reaching the fourth round at Indian Wells and beating Hantuchova and Stosur along the way. She picked up a good win over Jelena Dokic in the first round of Miami and now faces someone she knows extremely well in Zvonareva. Should be an interesting test for the former world #1.

Zvonareva comes into the tournament with a 14-5 record on the year and she also won the title in Doha where she beat four good players (Cibulkova, Hantuchova, Jankovic and Wozniacki). She then lost early at Indian Wells to Cibulkova so I am sure she will be looking to rebound in Miami. Her best result in Miami came back in 2008 when she reached the semis before losing to Jankovic in straight sets.

Match-up:

Safina is 6-5 against Zvonareva in her career, but Zvonareva won their only match in 2010 in straight sets. They met once before in Miami (2008) and Zvonareva won that 7-5, 6-4. These two women know each other extremely well and there will be no surprises between them. Safina is looking to prove to everyone that she belongs back in the top 10, and a win here would go a long way. She has a new attitude and you know that she has the game to compete. Can she get it together mentally though to beat someone as tough as Zvonareva?

The difference in this match will be Zvonareva’s footwork and movement. She will be able to get to more balls than Safina would like and this will cause Safina to over-hit. I look for a tight match because of the way Safina has been play as of late, but I have to give the edge to Zvonareva.

Nick’s Pick – Zvonareva in 3 sets

Kim Clijsters (BEL) vs. Anastasiya Yakimova (BLR)

Clijsters was forced to retire in the fourth round of Indian Wells due to a shoulder injury and that is still a question heading into this match. We all know what she is capable of when healthy, but that shoulder could be an issue in Miami.

Yakimova qualified into the main draw in Miami and then won her first round match against Alla Kudryavtseva in straight sets. She just won a challenger tournament in the Bahamas last week so that should give her some confidence against Clijsters.

Match-up:

This is the first career meeting between Yakimova and Clijsters.  This match comes down to the health of Clijsters’ shoulder. If she is healthy, than she will advance with not many issues, if she isn’t and the shoulder is causing problems than Yakimova will jump all over her. I am going to be keeping a keen eye on this match to see just how much that injury bothers her.

Nick’s Pick – Clijsters in 2 sets

Men’s names to Remember:

• Bernard Tomic: Third round loss to Nadal.  Big 6’5” guy and has many of the tools to be a top ranked pro.
• Richard Berankis: Third round loss to Ferrer.  He is only 5’10” but is very fast.
• Milos Raonic: 20 year old Canadian who is 6’5”.  You will hear lots more about this young man.
• Alexandr Dolgopolov:  he beat Tsonga, Soderling, and then lost to Murray.  He has a variety of shots, moves well, and can play both offensive and defensive.  He is an entertainer and can take you out.
• Ryan Harrison: He really came into his own at the 2010 U.S. Open.  He lost this year in the first round of the Aussie Open, but he has a complete game and his mind is catching up to his ability.

Women’s names to Remember:

• Caroline Wozniacki:  We must all remember that she is only 20 years of age.  She has received so much publicity including opinions that she should not be the No.1 tennis player, but the results beg to differ.  She has a solid all-around game but needs to add stronger defense, variety and add a stronger second serve.
• Andrea Petkovic:  She may be 23 but be careful…she is a great hitter, strong and big, has beaten Sharapova, has a huge serve, but lost to Na Li.  She can still knock any play on Tour out of a draw.
• Petra Kvitova: She is a 20 year-old lefty with a killer forehand, but also a very aggressive two-handed backhand.  She has reached the semifinals at Wimbledon and beat Stosur at the Australian Open, but lost to Vera Zvonareva.
• Dinara Safina: No one can believe she lost 6-0, 6-0.  This is not right, what is going on with Dinara?
• Samantha Stosur:  It’s tough to go into a major and be the hope of your country that is the hosting nation.  She is a keen competitor who has excellent off court training, but living up to what you did previously and finding out the kicker serve is not going to hold up made it tough for Samantha.
• Francesca Schiavone:  I wish that all athletes would take a page out of her book.  They should watch her every move and enthusiasm she displays at all times.

The Women’s Tour:

• The Tour was fortunate to have Kim Clijsters and Na Li in the draw.  There was no Venus or Serena and there were some disappointing performances.

The Men’s Tour:

• It’s deeper than deep!  The field included brilliant contenders such as Nadal, Federer, Murray, Djokovic but also had great competition from Del Porto, Berdych, Ferrer, Cilic, and other young aspiring players ranging from 18-21 years of age.
• No matter what happned at the 2011 Australian Open, Roger Federer is a champion of champions, but we learned he is not a robot.  It only happens once in a blue moon, but he showed frustration in his loss to Novak Djokovic and was outplayed by Novak.  It was very clear to me that his one-handed backhand could not stand up to Novak’s cross court backhands or match his forehands.  I am sure Roger and his coach will review the match and have a different strategy in their next meeting.
• Rafael Nadal is so special.  Only a few athletes from any sport can match what this guy does on and off the playing surface.  Yes, he appeared to get injured on the first few hits of his match against Ferrer, but never once did he falter from his drive to compete.  So many players would have retired, but his respect for his opponent forced him to complete the match.  His career will be determined by his physical make-up.  He gives so much during a match or in practice which then takes a heavy toll on his body.  Nadal is 24 years-old and if healthy has the ability to become the greatest player in the history of tennis.

The Quarters:

• Stanislas Wawrinka has always had the ability to hang with and beat the very best in the world, but once again, what happens in your mental approach to the game can often prevent you from being a consistent winner.  Even though he is in his mid-twenties, he still has time.    It seems he has made a commitment to really put all he has into the game of tennis.  His strength and movement are excellent, along with a one-handed backhand that is one of the best on Tour.  It will be interesting to see what happens with him…
• Tomas Berdych was on a hot streak but faltered in the quarters.  His ability to stay focused has helped him in so many ways.  His game is hitting the ball quite flat with a killer forehand and a very consistent backhand.

The Women’s Final

• Na Li won over the entire world, not only for her superb baseline play, but for her outstanding personality on and off of the court.  Let’s not put aside the constant battle she has with her opponents, but also with her coach/husband who she complains snores too much!  She is the new star in town and I am sure she will influence so many young Chinese girls to start playing tennis.  I have a feeling China will become a major force in tennis if they play like her!
• Na Li’s game:  Stands on the baseline with a strong foundation, giving her perfect balance at all times.  She hits the ball as hard as she can from anywhere on the court and will make huge returns.  She moves across the baseline with ease and has a very consistent serve.  She also can come forward and can put her volleys into play which are simple, yet consistent.
• What her shots lack are variety and topspin.  She must also learn to move back to the baseline when necessary.  It is difficult to win Grand Slams just hitting flat, power strokes against Clijsters.

• I could write all day about Kim Clijsters and still fall short in trying to explain what a person and tennis player she is.  What can’t this girl do?  She can move in any direction, slide on a hard court, she is the best defensive player on Tour, has a solid, well-placed serve, and can also drive the ball, add spin, hit a deep shot, serve and volley.
• During the match, Clijsters came out swinging flat and hard which caught Na Li off guard.  As soon as Na Li got her footing and won the first set 6-3, Clijsters said enough was enough and began hitting all sorts of shots.  Li never backed off and the unforced errors started coming left and right.
• Nick’s Tip:  Remember, there are times when your bombs and missiles must adjust to the enemy’s defense.  Keep in mind, a change of pace and a variety of shots can be as effective as your big weapons because you keep the opponent guessing.

The Men’s Final

• It was sad to see a repeat performance of Murray’s last Grand Slam final appearance.  He was totally a different person in every way.  What he could do was nowhere to be found in this match and kept looking to his corner and telling them to relax.  It seemed to me as if he was too worried about his strings.
• Nick’s Tip: The next time you play a major final, do not think about anything but enjoying the moment.  Remember, Agassi went to three Grand Slam finals before he won his first.  Murray can do the same.
• Djokovic displayed what the game is all about.  He went about his business and kept his focus.  At this point in time he is equal to the very best in every department of the game.  His serve is gaining speed and he is placing it in all locations and he doesn’t have much action on the second serve.
• Novak also has one of the best forehands and backhands making him eligible to do anything he wants with the ball.  Along with that, he has a great slice which can be offensive or can be used to change the rhythm of the opponents.  He plays the game with tons of confidence and has fun while doing so.

Heading into this match, there are plenty of questions surrounding Venus Williams’ health. She hasn’t played since losing in the semis of the 2010 US Open to Kim Clijsters and that isn’t a good sign. She’s a former finalist down under, but that was a long time ago (2003).

This will be a tough match for Venus as Errani has beaten some good players, including Kleybanova and she almost beat Stosur and Jankovic last year. Errani is a runner and will track down the extra ball or two which is not good for Venus.

This match really depends on Venus’ health. If she is healthy, serving well, and winning easy points than she will advance. If Errani is able to make her work and force her to hit an extra shot or two, this could spell early doom for the American. I have to give the edge to Venus, but don’t be surprised to see this go the distance pending her health.

Nick’s Pick – V. Williams in 3 sets

Jelena Jankovic (SRB) vs. Alla Kudryavtseva (RUS)

Since winning Indian Wells last year and getting back to #2 in the world in the summer of 2010, Jankovic has really struggled. She has won nine matches since last year’s French Open, but she is feeling good, has a new coach and hopefully can remain focused.

This is a really a one-man boxing match. If Jankovic can keep herself together and keep her confidence up then she will be in good shape, if not Kudryavtseva could have a chance. I look for Jankovic to advance, but keep an eye on her to see how she plays. I am interested to see what is in store for her in 2011. She has all the tools, it’s all about her mental strength.

Nick’s Pick – Jankovic in 2 sets

Yanina Wickmaer (BEL) vs. Jarmila Groth (AUS)

I am very interested in this match because Wickmayer just reached the finals at Auckland before losing to Great Arn in straight sets. She is currently #23 in the world and made the fourth round here last year.

Groth is a very aggressive right-handed who comes in ranked #40 in the world. She will be playing in front of her home fans, which may be a good thing or a bad thing depending on how relaxed she is. She has really climbed the rankings in the last year and she is a dangerous player.

This is the second meeting between these two, and Wickmayer won the first back in 2009 in three sets. Wickmayer loves to bang the ball from both sides and she is a tough competitor. On the other hand, Groth isn’t a push-over and playing in front of her fans could give her an edge. You have to give Wickmayer the advantage, but don’t be shocked if she is pushed or even takes a loss.

Nick’s Pick – Wickmayer in 3, but this could be an upset!

Kim Clijsters (BEL) vs. Dinara Safina (RUS)

Clijsters is the odds-on favorite to win this tournament and for good reason. She just lost to Li Na in the finals of Sydney so I am sure she is going to use that as fuel for the Aussie Open. Li Na is just the type of opponent that can give Clijsters a hard time though because of how early she hits the ball and her consistency across the baseline.

I can’t remember the last time Safina won a big match. The former world #1 has slipped all the way #65 and has really struggled over the last year or so. She was a finalist here back in 2009, but she lost in the first round of both the 2010 French Open and 2010 US Open. I have to think that this is going to be another first round loss for Safina.

Clijsters is 7-2 against Safina and won their only match in 2010 in straight sets. I look for Clijsters to win this match and make a deep run in this tournament.

Nick’s Pick – Clijsters in 2 sets

A couple of other first round matches to keep your eyes on:

Caroline Wozniacki vs. Gisela Dulko – Tough match for the world #1 and with her racket, new dress and new ranking how will she fair against this feisty veteran?

Maria Sharapova vs. Tamarine Tanasugarn – Sharapova spent about a month here training over the break and looked great. She showed no effects of an injury and has a new coach on her team in Thomas Hogstedt, and he is excellent. I am looking forward to watching her play.

Sam Stosur vs. Lauren Davis – Davis won the Eddie Herr, Orange Bowl and the Wildcard playoff to earn a ticket to Oz. I don’t think she has ever seen a serve or spin that Stosur has. This will be fun to watch, but I think Stosur will advance easily.

Vera Zvonareva vs. Sybille Bammer – The world #2 opens with a test from the veteran Bammer. Zvonareva trained here during the break and seemed to be in great spirits. Can she made a deep run and capture her first Grand Slam title?

Nadia Petrova (RUS) vs. Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS)

Petrova surprised just about everyone with her complete annihilation of Kim Clijsters in the third round. I don’t think anybody would have seen that coming considering the way Clijsters had been playing and her victories prior to the start of the tournament. A win here would put Petrova in the quarters for the first time since 2006. Petrova has been to the quarters of every Grand Slam, but has only been to the semis of one Grand Slam (French Open).

Kuznetsova needed three sets to shake off Angelique Kerber in the third round, but once again, her consistent play is just too much for many of the women to handle. In recent days, she has made it very clear that her intentions are winning Grand Slams and that alone. She has said that being #1 in the world isn’t a priority, and that winning the big ones is her focus.

Match-Up:

Kuznetsova is 5-1 against Petrova, and won the only time they played last year. This looks to be one heck of a match for darn good reasons. Both girls have significant strength and can do just about anything with the ball. Both girls have for the most part flat groundstrokes and both have two-handed backhands. Both girls stand fairly close to the baseline and love to pound the ball. I give a slight edge to Petrova at the net because of her doubles play and their serves are fairly equal. I see this match going three sets, but in the end I like Kuznetsova because of her mental focus and her grit. She has the ability to step up during the big moments and I think that will be the difference.

Nick’s Pick – Kuznetsova in 3 sets

Maria Kirilenko (RUS) vs. Dinara Safina (RUS)

Kirilenko knocked off Maria Sharapova in the opening round and has played solid tennis since. This is only the second time she has been to the fourth round of a Grand Slam, and both have come at the Australian Open (2008). Can she knock off another tough Russian to reach her first Grand Slam quarterfinal?

Despite being seeded second, Safina has been overlooked by many of the pundits because of Serena and Justine. Let’s not forget that Safina is ranked this high for a reason, and she has the ability to beat anyone if her nerves hold up. Her side of the draw is wide open now that Jankovic is out and she could face Henin or Kuznetsova in the semis.

Match-Up:

Safina is 2-0 against Kirilenko, but the two haven’t played since 2007. Safina has looked much calmer in the first three rounds then she has in the past couple of Grand Slams. This has been a major boost for her, but who knows if that will hold up. Safina doesn’t have any glaring technical weaknesses except for sometimes she tries to be too physical and that hurts her. Kirilenko covers the court exceptionally well and has excellent groundstrokes. She has already proved that she is capable of taking on the big girls; it is just a matter of confidence for her. I see this match going three sets, and if Safina is able to control her emotions she should move on.

Nick’s Pick – Safina in 3 sets

Roger Federer begins his quest for a sixth straight US Open title against American Devin Britton

It’s US Open time again and we are thrilled to be back in New York for the entire tournament. Be sure to stay with Nick’s Picks throughout the tournament for live coverage of the year’s final Grand Slam. We begin today with our breakdown of the draws.

Men’s Draw

The big story about the men’s draw is the change at the top. For the first time in a long while, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal could have faced before the finals. Nadal has slipped to #3 in the rankings because of injuries and Federer and Andy Murray have taken over the top two spots. Alas, it was not to be, as Nadal was placed in Murray’s half of the draw and can still face Federer in the finals.

Speaking of Federer, he starts off with an interesting match against young American, Devin Britton. Britton spent many years training at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy and then as a freshman in college he won the NCAA singles championship this year at Ole Miss. Britton is a serve-and-volleyer and this will be a great experience for him.

Assuming Federer plays like he has, he should be able to move through the draw with not many issues. He could face Lleyton Hewitt in the third round and possibly James Blake in the fourth, but I don’t see either of those guys stopping FedEx. A potential Nikolay Davydenko quarter could be tricky, but the match we all want to see is a Federer/Andy Roddick semifinal. After a fantastic Wimbledon final, a rematch in the semis here would be must-see TV.

Roddick’s path could be tough though as he could run into some trouble in the fourth round against either Tommy Haas or Fernando Verdasco. He would also have to get by Novak Djokovic in the quarters, whom he lost to in last year’s quarterfinals. Since then though, Roddick has beaten him three consecutive times (all this year).

On the bottom half of the draw, all the talk is about Murray and Nadal. Murray, last year’s runner-up, begins his quest for a first Grand Slam title with a tough opponent in Ernests Gulbis. He could also face a big-serving third round opponent as Ivo Karlovic and Taylor Dent both loom in that section of the draw.

Those guys aren’t the only big guys who can serve in the bottom half, as they are joined by Jo-Willy Tsonga, Tomas Berdych, Juan Martin Del Potro, Marin Cilic, and Stan Wawrinka. All of those guys are talented enough to beat anyone. You’ve also got a couple of sly Frenchmen in Gael Monfils and Gilles Simon in the draw; watch out for those guys as well!

The match everyone is going to be looking at early on is Nadal vs. Richard Gasquet. We all know that Nadal has been dealing with injuries, but Gasquet is playing in his first ATP Tour level match since April after missing most of 2009 because of a drug suspension. He comes in ranked #46 in the world, but has been as high as #7.  This will be a very interesting match for both players.

Overall, I think the bottom half of the draw is a bit stronger than the top half just because of the quantity of men who are more than capable of taking down the top guys. I wouldn’t be surprised to see any one of those guys playing well into the second week.

Women’s Draw

As has been the case for most of 2009, the field is once again wide open. This draw seems top-heavy to me. On the top you have a very strong contingent of Russian women which includes: Dinara Safina, Alisa Kleybanova, Elena Dementieva, Maria Sharapova, Nadia Petrova, and Svetalana Kuznetsova. You’ve also got Jelena Jankovic, Ana Ivanovic, Sabine Lisicki, Caroline Wozniacki and Jie Zheng. This is an extremely tough half of the draw and whoever comes out is going to be battle-tested.

The top-seed on the women’s side is Safina, and she is still looking for her first Grand Slam title. She has not been able to put together a strong showing in the finals of a Grand Slam yet, and some people question whether or not she should be the top seed. She could face fellow Russian Kleybanova (a big hitter) in the third round and possibly Jankovic, Ivanovic, or Lisicki in the quarters.

The semis on the top half of the draw are tough to predict. You’ve got Dementieva (who I think has the best groundstrokes on tour), and two former champions here: Sharapova and Kuznetsova. Dementieva and Sharapova could meet in an epic third-round bout with the winner having to move on and face maybe Kuznetsova or even Wozniacki in the quarters. Should be interesting to follow.

On the bottom half of the draw the story revolves around two names: Williams and Clijsters. Both Serena and Venus find themselves in the bottom half with wild-card Kim Clijsters (2005 champion) also lurking. Serena, the defending champion, opens up with American Alexa Glatch, and could face Daniela Hantuchova in the fourth round and possibly the uber-talented Vera Zvonareva in the quarters.

Venus and Clijsters could face in the fourth round, which would be one heck of a match. The winner of that match could be looking at Victoria Azarenka in the quarters, and beating her is never an easy task.

Don’t forget about the young Michelle Larcher de Brito. The 16-year old Portuguese sensation, who trains at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy, opens up with Mathilde Johansson and is looking for her first career win at the US Open.

My prediction for the women’s draw has to start with Serena. Until someone knocks her off, I just can’t predict her to lose. She is so good when she is focused and fit and playing in New York always seems to bring out the best in her. Don’t be surprised if there are numerous upsets in the draw, because when the field is this wide open, who knows what will happen!!

Dinara Safina (RUS) vs. Venus Williams (USA)

Safina fought very hard in her quarterfinal win over Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy student Sabine Lisicki. This is Safina’s first appearance in the semifinals of Wimbledon and her fourth consecutive Grand Slam overall where she has reached at least the semis. This is a great chance for her to prove to everyone that she is the best player in the world, because a win over Venus on grass is extremely difficult.

Venus moved on rather easily in the quarterfinals, beating Aggie Radwanska 6-1, 6-2 to advance to the semis for third straight year. Like Federer, she is looking for her sixth Wimbledon title, which would put her in a class with very few others. She has yet to drop a set and has only lost a total of 19 games in five matches!

Match-Up:

Venus is 2-1 against Safina, but the Russian won their only match this year on clay at Rome. Something tells me that is not going to happen here. Safina doesn’t have the best track record in big matches, but this time she isn’t the favorite. They may help her loosen up a bit and relax. For a #1 player, she is to tense and always seems like a volcano that is ready to blow. That has to change if she is going to be a consistent winner on the grandest of stages. Venus just seems so comfortable right now and with her wingspan and fantastic groundstrokes it is going to be very hard for anyone to beat her. I just think stroke for stroke and pound for pound, Venus has the advantage.

Nick’s Pick – V. Williams in 3 sets

Serena Williams (USA) vs. Elena Dementieva (RUS)

Like big sister Venus, Serena hasn’t dropped a set either. She didn’t have much trouble with talented youngster, Victoria Azarenka, dropping the Belarusian 6-2, 6-3. Serena is looking to get back to the finals for the second straight year and is looking for her first Wimbledon title since winning it back-to-back in 2002-2003. Serena has won two out of the last three Grand Slams and I wouldn’t be surprised to see her get another trophy!

Dementieva reached the semis here last year and has now advanced to the semis of four out of the last five Grand Slams. She hasn’t been to the finals of a Grand Slam since 2004 when she went to both the French Open and US Open finals. Like Venus and Serena, she hasn’t dropped a set either and hasn’t really been challenged at all.

Match-Up:

Serena is 5-3 against Dementieva and in their two matches this year they split. These girls have a long history and know each other well. There will be no surprises in this match and I expect it to be very competitive. Dementieva will use her superb groundies and excellent footwork to combat the great power of Serena. Although Dementieva’s serve is improved, it still isn’t a weapon against a player like Serena. Look for the American to jump on any weak serve and go for winners. Serena has been absolutely dominant in her run to the semis and has really cut down on her errors. She is doing just about everything as well as anyone can and I think she will continue that en route to the finals!

Nick’s Pick – S. Williams in 3 sets

Dinara Safina (RUS) vs. Sabine Lisicki (GER)

Safina needed everything she had to beat the former Wimbledon champ, Amelie Mauresmo, in the fourth round. She is now into the quarterfinals of Wimbledon for the first time in her career, and she has advanced to at least the quarters of the last four Grand Slams.

Everyone at the Academy couldn’t be happier for Sabine. She is a great girl with a fantastic attitude and has really worked hard to get to where she is today. She has been training at the Academy for the last four or five years and during that time she has become a top professional. This is her first appearance in the quarterfinals of any Grand Slam, but trust me, she has the talent to keep moving on!

Match-Up:

Lisicki is 1-0 against Safina, with that win coming in the opening round of the 2008 Australian Open. At that time, Safina was #16 in the world and Lisick was #194. Plenty has changed since then, and both have really improved their games. You are going to see a lot of hard-hitting action in this match. Both girls have big-time forehands and backhands and really play aggressively. I think for Lisicki to win she is going to have to hit get her monster first serve in and then put the ball away quickly. The longer the rallies and the match goes, the more it favors Safina. The Russian has been on this stage before and that experience should help her. This match could go either way depending on who is getting their first serve in and who is able to control the points. I like Lisicki early and then Safina if it goes long.

Nick’s Pick – Lisicki in 2, Safina in 3 sets

Venus Williams (USA) vs. Agnieszka Radwanska (POL)

Venus advanced to the quarterfinals for the third straight year and for the 10^th time in her illustrious career when Ana Ivanovic retired in the second set. There is no question that Venus is the favorite to win this tournament, but the one thing that must hold up is her knee which seems to be giving her a little trouble.

Radwanska ended the dream run of American Melanie Oudin 6-4, 7-5 to reach the quarters for the second consecutive year. Radwanska has never been to the semifinals of any Grand Slam and beating Venus here would clearly be one of the biggest victories of her career.

Match-Up:

Venus is 3-1 against Radwanska and has beaten her twice already this year (once on clay and once on the hard court). What makes Radwanska so good is her ability to cover the court and make very few unforced errors. She keeps the ball in play and is like a brick wall on the baseline. Her biggest vulnerability is her second serve. It clocks in around 65mph and can and will be attacked by Venus. Look for Ms. Williams to pounce on the weak serve and keep Radwanska on the defensive throughout the match. Venus is always comfy on the grass, she is confident she can win, and right now she isn’t making many forehand errors. That is a recipe for great success!

Nick’s Pick – V. Williams in 2 sets

Elena Dementieva (RUS) vs. Francesca Schiavone (ITA)

Dementieva has yet to drop a set in any of her matches this year and she has gone relatively quietly through the draw. She beat fellow Russian Elena Vesnina 6-1, 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals and is looking to get back into the semis for the second straight year.

Schiavone is in the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam for only the third time in her career. In fact, at Wimbledon she had never even been past the third round previous to this year. She has played well though, taking out Aleksandra Wozniak, Michelle de Brito, Marion Bartoli and Virginie Razzano en route to this match.

Match-Up:

Dementieva and Schiavone are 4-4 against each other, but they haven’t grass and haven’t played since last year. Schiavone is tricky because she isn’t a big girl, but she certainly has the ability to take it to her opponent. She is crafty with the ball and knows how to keep you off-guard. Against Dementieva that might not be enough though, especially with the improved Dementieva serve. I look for the Russian to pound the groundies from both sides and use her excellent movement to keep Schiavone pinned behind the baseline.

Nick’s Pick – Dementieva in 3 sets

Victoria Azarenka (BLR) vs. Serena Williams (USA)

Azarenka toughed out a three-set battle over Nadia Petrova in the fourth round to reach the quarterfinals for the first time at Wimbledon. This is her second consecutive Grand Slam quarter, and she is looking for her first Grand Slam semi. Right now she is the odds-makers third choice after each of the Williams’ sisters. She could become the second option with a win here.

Serena has stated numerous times that she thinks she should have won more than two Wimbledon titles at this point in her career. She looks more determined than ever and is playing some of the best tennis I have ever seen from her. She hasn’t lost a set in this year’s tournament, but Azarenka might have something to say about that.

Match-Up:

Serena is 2-1 against Azarenka and they have split two matches thus far in 2009. I know one thing is for sure, Serena will not forget the loss she incurred to Azarenka in the finals at Miami earlier this year. I know I wouldn’t want to be on the other side of the net when Serena comes out on court! Serena is playing more intelligent tennis right now than she has been in the past. She isn’t trying to win the point right away, rather she is building points while constantly attacking. This philosophy will pay handsome dividends as she continues to progress through the tournament. Azarenka knows she can beat Serena and with that knowledge and experience she should be confident heading into this match. I can’t say I would be surprised if Azarenka won, but I have to give the edge to Serena.

Nick’s Pick – S. Williams in 3 sets

Dinara Safina (RUS) vs. Amelie Mauresmo (FRA)

Safina has reached the fourth round of Wimbledon for the first time in her career and she has done so without dropping a set. Despite being the #1 player in the world, Safina is still looking for her first Grand Slam victory and she would love to get it on the hallowed grounds of Wimbledon.

Mauresmo, a former Wimbledon champion, beat 15^th-seeded Flavia Pennetta 7-5, 6-3 to reach the fourth round. This is the first time she has been to the fourth round of a Grand Slam since the 2008 US Open, and she hasn’t been past this point in any Grand Slam since the 2006 US Open when she advanced to the semifinals!

Match-Up:

Mauresmo is 4-2 against Safina, but the Russian did win their last match at Moscow in 2008. There has been absolutely no talk about Mauresmo and that is what makes this match interesting, because we all know she can win it if her nerves hold up. She definitely plays with more versatility than Safina, but what will hurt her is Safina’s strength. Safina has to control her emotions and not let Mauresmo get into her head. If she does that and plays too her strengths I have to give the Russian the edge.

Nick’s Pick – Safina in 3 sets

Venus Williams (USA) vs. Ana Ivanovic (SRB)

What can I say? When Venus gets on grass she is a different player. Like Federer, she is looking for her sixth title here and she is also the two-time defending champion. Beating Venus on grass is similar to taking down Nadal on clay – it is extremely difficult to do!

Since winning the 2008 French Open, Ivanovic hasn’t looked like the same player. She hasn’t been past the fourth round in any Grand Slam since last year’s Roland Garros and has seen her ranking fall from #1 to #12. Winning this match would be the biggest thing for her since that title.

Match-Up:

Venus is 5-1 against Ivanovic and beat her in the semis of Wimbledon in straight sets back in 2007. I definitely believe that Ivanovic is playing a bit better than she has been for much of the last year. She seems more confident and more determined. However, Venus will keep her on the defensive throughout the match and will move her around the court. Ivanovic will have to gamble and take chances, because that is the only way to beat Venus on grass. The one thing Venus has to watch out for is errors from the forehand side. If she keeps those down and serves well, she will win.

Nick’s Pick – V. Williams in 3 sets

Elena Dementieva (RUS) vs. Elena Vesnina (RUS)

Dementieva is a player that is flying under the radar a bit, and she is more than capable of winning this tournament. She hasn’t lost a set in her three matches and has been to the semifinals here before. In her last four Grand Slams she has been to the semis three times.

Vesnina picked up a good win over French Open semifinalist Dominika Cibulkova in the third round and is into the fourth round of a Grand Slam for only the second time in her career. She has never been to the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam in singles, but in doubles she did reach the finals of the 2009 French Open.

Match-Up:

Dementieva is 2-0 against her fellow Russian and she beat her earlier this year at Auckland in straight sets. In the battle of Russian Elena’s, it is Dementieva who has had much more experience on the bigger stage. She is very steady, has fantastic groundstrokes, moves exceptionally well, and the serve is improved. When you add up all that with her experience, she definitely has the edge in this match.

Nick’s Pick – Dementieva in 2 sets

Victoria Azarenka (BLR) vs. Nadia Petrova (RUS)

Petrova knocked out Gisela Dulko in the third round and is looking to reach the quarterfinals at Wimbledon for the third time in her career. She has dealt with injuries for some of her career, which has held her back, but when she is healthy and playing well she is very tough to beat.

Azarenka has had her best year on the tour to date and comes in ranked #8 in the world. She’s already won three titles, including a big-time win over Serena Williams in the finals at Miami. She is still looking for her first Grand Slam title, but if she continues to play like she has been she is definitely a contender in every tournament she enters.

Match-Up:

Petrova is 2-1 against Azarenka and did beat her last year at Wimbledon in two tiebreak sets. This is going to be a battle. Both of these women are strong, fight like dogs, and refuse to lose. Both are big girls with powerful groundies and good serves. This match could really go either way; it really depends on the unforced errors of Azarenka. She has a tendency now and then to lose her focus and make too many errors. If she does this, then Petrova will pounce. On the other hand, I feel Azarenka also has the ability to keep Petrova backed up and on the defensive if she is playing well. I give a slight edge to Azarenka, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Petrova came out as the victor.

Nick’s Pick – Azarenka in 3 sets

Dinara Safina (RUS) vs. Rossana De Los Rios (PAR)

Safina moved through the first round, but it wasn’t as easy as I am sure she would have liked. Nonetheless, winning your first round match is sometimes one of the most difficult things to do. Now that she has that out of the way, she can focus on the task at hand which is winning her maiden Grand Slam title.

De Los Rios defeated NBTA student Nicole Vaidisova in three sets in the first round. She has never been past the second round of Wimbledon, but did reach the fourth round of the French Open previously. She comes in ranked #100 in the world, but was as high as #51.

Match-Up:

Safina is 1-0 against De Los Rios, but that match came all the way back in 2003 when Safina was only 17 years old. Six years later, Safina is the #1 player in the world and is still looking for her first Grand Slam title. There may be no one on the WTA tour that is in better shape than Safina physically. She needs to believe in her head that she is the #1 player in the world and that will really help her. She is as strong as anybody, hits her groundstrokes as well as anybody and moves as well as anybody. Once she believes in herself 100%, watch out! De Los Rios moves great around the court and has solid groundstrokes from both sides, but nothing spectacular. I look for Safina to advance and hopefully she will also demonstrate what it takes to win a Grand Slam title!

Nick’s Pick – Safina in 2 sets

Sabine Lisicki (GER) vs. Patricia Mayr (AUT)

Safina picked up a big win in the first round over 32^nd seeded Anna Chakvetadze. Lisicki won 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-2 and is into the second round of Wimbledon for the first time in her young career. The 19-year old Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy student is one of the bright up-and-coming stars on the tour and you should definitely get out and watch her!

Mayr took down the top British woman, Anne Keothavong, in straight sets in the first round. She is making her inaugural appearance at Wimbledon and comes in ranked #80 in the world. A win here would put her in the second round of a Grand Slam for only the second time in her career.

Match-Up:

This is the first career meeting between Mayr and Lisicki. Mayr has solid groundstrokes from both sides and hits the backhand quite flat. She has a very good forehand, but overall she lacks consistency. Lisicki plays a very big game. She has a huge serve and killer forehand. Sometimes, when she gets excited, she tends to over-hit her shots on both sides and commits to many errors. If her first serve is on, she will win without a doubt. If she struggles serving and starts feeling the pressure with her groundies she could be in trouble. I love working with Sabine at the Academy because she has a great attitude every day and her father/coach is such a great guy who is very open to advice and working with us. I look for Sabine to advance, but this could go three.

Nick’s Pick – Lisicki in 3 sets

Nadia Petrova (RUS) vs. Shahar Peer (ISR)

Petrova needed just 46 minutes to dispense of Anastasia Yakimova in the first round. Petrova won 6-1, 6-1 and broke Yakimova six times in seven chances. She is a two-time Wimbledon quarterfinalist and I think she can get back there again this year.

Peer defeated Maria Elena Camerin 6-2, 7-6(3), and is looking to get back to the fourth round of Wimbledon for the second consecutive year. Her ranking has fallen down to #55 in the world, 40 spots lower than her career high of #15 (which came back in 2007).

Match-Up:

Petrova in 3-0 against Peer and actually beat her on grass last year at Eastbourne. Both of these girls are extremely competitive and fight for every point. Petrova has a big game, she’s a veteran, and she understands what it takes to win. Peer was once thought of as a one of the best up-and-comers in the world, but she has definitely fallen short of those expectations. She needs a big tournament to regain her confidence, and there is no better time than now. Both girls are disciplined, but I feel Petrova is a bit more consistent and has too much firepower for Peer. Petrova’s ability to hit penetrating balls constantly will be the difference in this match.

Nick’s Pick – Petrova in 3 sets

Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) vs. Urszula Radwanska (POL)

Cibulkova comes in ranked a career high of #13 in the world after a great run to the semifinals of the French Open. This is only her second appearance at Wimbledon, having never gotten past the first round previously. She defeated Julie Coin in the first round in a tough three setter and she is going to need more than 15 winners to beat Radwanska.

Many people know Urszula’s older sister, Agnieszka, but the younger Radwanska is making a name for herself as well. At the age of 18, she is one of the younger players ranked in the top 100 and checks in at a career high of #71 in the world. A win here would put her in the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career.

Match-Up:

This is the first career meeting between these two youngsters and promises to be an exciting one. Standing at only 5’3”, Cibulkova is a little spit-fire out on the course. She moves exceptionally well and gets a lot of power from such a small frame. She is brimming with confidence after the French Open and seems to be really coming into her own. Radwanska plays aggressive tennis and is not afraid to put pressure on her opponent. She is still young and has to learn what it takes to win consistently on the tour. I think she could win this match, but I give the edge to Cibulkova because of her experience and her confidence.

Nick’s Pick – Cibulkova in 3 sets

If you just see the box score from Safina’s win over Dominika Cibulkova you won’t get the full story. Cibulkova played her extremely tough and really tested Safina’s mental and physical strength. This is Safina’s third Grand Slam final and her second consecutive appearance in the finals of the French Open. She is still looking for her first Grand Slam title, and this is without a doubt her best chance.

Kuznetsova needed three sets to get past Sam Stosur in the semifinals, and it was a great battle between the two of them. I want to congratulate Stosur on the fantastic run she had at the French and I think she can be a very good singles player moving forward. Kuznetsova has been to the finals of the French Open before (2006) and is looking for her second Grand Slam title (first was at the US Open in 2004).

Match-Up:

Safina is 8-5 against Kuznetsova and they have played twice recently on clay this year. Safina won in the finals at Rome and then Kuznetsova beat her in the finals at Stuttgart. When you look at each of the girl’s games, they are similar. They both have big serves, excellent groundstrokes, and are comfy on the clay. They both have Grand Slam experience and know how to win. The difference right now is that I feel Safina is just playing a little bit better in every aspect of the game.

In Kuznetsova’s semifinal match against Stosur, when she lost the second set, you could see how emotionally and physically drained she was. She struggled moving on the court and it seemed like she may not be able to pull through. Well, she regrouped, got herself together, and was able to advance. I really like Stosur, but she is not Safina.

Right now, Safina is full of confidence and enthusiasm. She is mentally ready to take the next step in her career and she is in unbelievable physical shape. This match will not be easy for Safina, but whether it is two sets or three, I believe she will come out victorious and put a firm clamp on the #1 ranking!

Nick’s Pick – Safina in 3 sets