Svetlana Kuznetsova  vs. Justine Henin

• Kuznetsova played very close to the baseline.  She hits flat and hard at all times and moves well from side to side but not as well when coming forward.
• She has been working hard to improve her physical conditioning and it has paid off.
• She also possesses a very consistent serve, a very comfortable volley, and her biggest weapon is hitting the ball early on the rise.
• Henin also plays close to the baseline and has an excellent one handed backhand.  She has a huge flat forehand and likes to come into the court and make contact at shoulder height or even above the shoulder.
• She too has a very good serve and can attack the serve as well while also being a prolific volleyer.  Her movement on the court ranks among the best in the game.
• The first set of this match was definitely in favor of Kuznetsova, who controlled the majority of all baseline rallies.  Henin had trouble tonight with her lack of racket head speed when hitting the forehand.  She hit with her arm tight as a drum.
• As the match went on Henin began hitting from the baseline which then helped Kuznetsova.  No matter how hard Justine could hit the ball Svetlana would return until Henin began trying to over-hit the ball from behind the baseline.  Kuznetsova ended up winning the first set playing some decent tennis.
• As the second set rolled on Kuznetsova had several chances to win not only the set, but also the match.  The set then went to a tiebreaker.
• The tiebreak included many faults and unforced errors but finally ended with Kuznetsova winning for only the 3^rd time against Henin in their 19 battles.
• Nick’s Tip: Kuznetsova could not have won this match if she did not work so hard to be in such great shape.  Henin should have not tried continuously hit with Kuznetsova but should have moved her from side to side and pull her in with short slices, hit angles, drop shots, some heavy top spin, groundstrokes, etc.

Andy Roddick vs. Robin Haase

• The first set was all Haase.  He not only had huge serves, but backed it up off the wall groundstrokes.
• The seconds set went to a tiebreak, and you guessed it, the bottom fell out, which included double faults.
• After the tiebreaker Roddick went on a roll with everything going his way.
• Conclusion: Roddick will not give up no matter what, but let’s also mention Roddick pulled the plug and really hit huge forehands, slices, and then a few strong backhands.
• During the interview, Roddick said he can always count on his serve.  With that being true, that alone will win a lot of matches for you.
• Keep in mind Haase rolled his ankle in the second game of the second set and at this point everyone thought it was over.  Haase showed heart and took Roddick to the tiebreak but that is when the bottom began to fall out with faults and errors.  After that is was all Roddick.

Caroline Wozniacki vs. Dominika Cibulkova

• The first set went to Wozniacki 6-4.  The games went this way and that way, but she moved back behind the baseline 6 to 8 feet and kept the ball in play, but very deep.  This caused several unforced errors for Cibulkova because she went for too many winners and did not work for more of a defensive shot for Wozniacki.
• The second set:  Cibulkova can hit winners when the balls are above her shoulder because she is very strong and has plenty of racket speed but this could result in errors.
• Wozniacki must also learn how to run forward, especially for short balls on her forehand side by not going into a crunched over position which slows her down.
• Wozniacki is a heck of player.  To be No. 1 in the world is one thing, but to stay as the No. 1 she must continue to use her tools well.  Watch out for her killer forehand, backhand down the line and a heck of second kicker serve.
• If you review the big time No.1 past or present champion most of the experts will talk about their weapons.  Cibulkova can hit big forehands and darn good backhands, but when running wide her backswings are a little too big.
• It would be very interesting to see Cibulkova cut down on unforced errors and still be able to hit very offensive shots.  Her forehand is either a winner or an error.  Her coach needs to remind her to not hit for winners but just to play within her comfort zone.

Roger Federer vs. Xavier Malisse

• Federer has a huge flat forehand with very little spin, but he has control of his shots because of his movement and he is always balanced when striking the ball.  With his one handed backhand he can hit over the ball or slice.  He makes a little change with his grip when hitting his regular backhand and then moves to an Eastern grip when hitting his slice and drop shot.
• His movement couldn’t be any better and same goes for his net play.  His serve is not a supersonic serve but is still one of the best on the Tour.  He is a fierce competitor who is always in control of his mind and body, and physically he is in great shape.
• Malisse’s best weapon is his forehand.  He can drive the ball and also add spin.  His movement is also fantastic and can come forward and hit solid volleys.  At times, he can lack in the mental approach to the game.
• This match had several exciting rallies, but Malisse only had a few chances to really be in the match.  Xavier has been at the IMG Bollettieri Academy since he was 17 years of age.  Off the court he is one of the nicest people in the world!
• Let me point out how creative Roger is with his game.  Watch carefully when players attack the net.  He has the ability to wait until his opponent makes their move at the net and then hits his forehand.  Only a few players can do that but he can accelerate his racket head at just the right time.

Viktor Troicki vs. Novak Djokovic

• Not easy for two friends from the same country and members of the 2010 Davis Cup team to play against each other.
• Early in the match Troicki turned his ankle and had to retire down 6-2.  Novak has a complete game but the question is, can he win a Grand Slam?  Keep in mind how good you have to be to win a Grand Slam when Nadal and Federer are in the draw and don’t forget Murray, Berdych and others too!

Maria Sharapova vs. Julia Goerges

• Goerges is a bigger girl, 6’1” to be exact, but moves quite well for her size.  She has excellent groundstrokes that are hit quite flat and also has an unorthodox swing motion but still gets plenty of racket head speed.  Julia likes to control play when on the court and prefers to use her forehand.  Her take back on the forehand is something like I have rarely seen, and I wouldn’t advise it.
• Sharapova has powerful groundstrokes that she hits flat and early.  Not too much variety on the groundies except for a few drop shots mixed in.  She doesn’t use any slices or top spin but she is a fierce competitor and is in great shape coming back from an injury and surgery.
• The first set went back and forth with breaks of serves but the final break came at 5-4 giving Goerges the first set.  There was not too much variety except for a few drop shots for Goerges.  When Maria does not control baseline play and can’t get defensive shots from her big serve it is not that easy for Maria to beat another good baseliner.  Georges won 6-4.
• The second set Maria began to get her rhythm and increasing her serving percentage especially towards the end of the match.  Goerges gets a little feisty on the court and this is not a good thing when you are playing someone like Sharapova.  Maria’s game is quite simple: When the serve is on she steps into the court and goes for a big winner with very little spin.  Maria wins 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.
• Let me end this breakdown about Maria Sharapova and what makes her so special and such a major asset for tennis.  It makes no difference what the scene is, what the weather is, how she feels, etc.  Maria will fight to the bitter end and never complain.  Why do you think she is in the highest paid female athlete in the world?  Go Maria!

Venus Williams

• What a loss to the Australian Open when both Williams’s sisters are out.  Believe me, this opens the door for all of the remaining players.
• Venus received treatment all day on her upper thigh but it just did not operate in a manner that enabled Venus to move so fluently when playing.  Get well soon, Venus!

Tomas Berdych vs. Richard Gasquet

• For so many years Berdych was always in the elite group of young ones coming up along with Gulbis, Gasquet, Del Potro, and a few others.  No one ever doubted his athletic skills, movement, technique, and his three weapons: forehand, backhand, and his serve.
• As my good friend Dick Vitale says, “You can have all the talent in the world, but you must control your emotions and play the game.”  Tomas ran through Gasquet even though the 2^nd set went to a tiebreaker.
• Berdych is on a roll and is capable of beating anyone in the draw.
• Gasquet’s backhand is pretty impressive, but against deep penetrating groundies and a big serve, he was always on the defense.

Stanislas Wawrinka vs. Gael Monfils

• There has never been doubt of Wawrinka’s ability to winning the big ones as long he understands that one’s mind can destroy what you can do, so he must be careful.
• Gael Monfils had trouble handling the constant pressure of Stanislas’ power.

Federer vs. Simon

• Simon was 2-0 vs. Federer coming into the match.  He was always one of the young guys that all of France and the world thought he could be a Grand Slam winner.
• It was 2-2 in the fifth set and the match could have gone either way.
• Simon’s first serve began to let him down, and as the set went on it was nowhere to be found.  Federer began playing the drop shot and it really was the key to the fifth set.
• The match was a display of fantastic groundstrokes and determination, but Roger went to his drop shot and began attacking the net.  Throughout the entire match I also watched the coach’s boxes.  The Frenchman’s was full of excitement, jumping up and down.  Federer’s box remained calm changed, especially his new coach Paul Annacone. I don’t think he even blinked!
• Great win for Federer and you have to hand it to Simon, he hung in there and played fantastic tennis.

Maria Sharapova

• The commentators, especially Cliff Drysdale, were talking about her serve.  Even though her motions may be different it is important to have a shoulder turn, to use your legs, and not hit the serve only using your arm.
• Maria struggled with her serve last week but really improved during the second and third set.  Her opponent did not have any shoulder turn and hit only with her arm. Maria took advantage and made some aggressive returns.

Novak Djokovic

• Novak played Dodig and believe me…he had a heck of a battle, but his relentless grinding and constant pressure was key.
• A Note: The announcers said he was having some difficulty hitting his backhand.  His arm and racket were too close to his body and he made contact inside out instead of hitting on the outside of the ball.

Justine Henin

• Very aggressive.  Moved around her backhand to hit her big flat forehands well inside the baseline.  Although still has a tendency at times for forehand errors from the baseline with balls flying out, and nervous when closing out the match.
• Justine began serving better, ending the match with two aces.
• She has also changed her serve motion by widening her feet when first starting her motion.

Caroline Wozniacki vs. Vania King

• I thought that Vania King would force the No. 1 seed to hit several unforced errors, but she did not at any time.  She does not have an easy draw and it will be helpful if she plays as she did tonight.
• She is showing the world that she is the No.1 player and will undoubtedly be a very tough opponent.

Svetlana Kuznetsova

• Played a very solid two sets giving her opponent no chance to control play which she has not done for a long time.
• She plays very close to the baseline, has a very solid foundation, and hits with very little spin.

Igor Kunitsyn vs. Andy Roddick

• Kunitsyn has very good groundstrokes and it is hesitant to come in when Andy hits his slice too short.  I like his serve because he moves it around and attacks any short return especially when Andy hits his defensive slice short.
• Roddick won the first set in a tie-breaker but was pressed and down set point, but pressure got to Kunitsyn double faulted and hit an early forehand into the net which gave away the first net.

Fernando Verdasco vs. Janko Tipsarevic

• Verdasco was lacking early in the first set and just did not keep pressure of Tipsarevic which can be dangerous, but he has been physically training for a while now with Gil Reyes to be fit and it is paying off in long battles.
• Nick’s Tip:  Being physically fit can win many major battles!

Wozniacki rolled over Vania King, losing only one game and winning the match in just under an hour. She has yet to have been tested in her two matches, but this will definitely be a challenge for her. Cibulkova is a former French Open semifinalist and a US Open quarterfinalist, so she has been in this position before.

Wozniacki is 5-2 against Cibulkova but just lost to her at Sydney last week in straight sets. These two know each other quite well and there will be no surprises out there. Cibulkova runs down just about everything which will force Wozniacki to hit an extra shot or two. The Dane needs to remain patient and not force anything otherwise Cibulkova will jump all over her. I have to give Wozniacki the advantage, but I feel this match is going to go three sets. Can’t wait to see this one!

Nick’s Pick – Wozniacki in 3 sets

Justine Henin (BEL) vs. Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS)

Henin moved past Elena Baltacha 6-1, 6-3 to reach the third round and she will face a very familiar opponent in Svetlana Kuznetsova. These two have a long history, but haven’t played since 2008. Henin is 16-2 against Kuznetsova and the last time they played at the Australian Open was in 2004 in the third round and Henin won in straight sets.

For Kuznetsova to win this match, she needs to keep Henin pinned on the baseline. She needs to hit deep, penetrating shots that force Henin to stay back which will stop her from hitting that devastating inside-out forehand for winners. If Kuznetsova is able to keep Henin back, then this match could go to her. If Henin is able to dictate play and use her arsenal of shots, then this match goes her way. I like Henin here, but I also think it’s going to go three sets.

Nick’s Pick – Henin in 3 sets

Vera Zvonareva (RUS) vs. Lucie Safarova (CZE)

Zvonareva dropped the opening set against Bojana Jovanovski but battled back and won 2-6, 6-3, 6-1 to reach the third round. No one is really talking about Zvonareva, yet she has reached the finals of the last two Grand Slams and she is the #2 player in the world. That is a great position be in, because it takes all the pressure off her shoulders.

This is the first meeting between Zvonareva and Safarova and I would think that after her scare in the second round, Zvonareva will want to put this match away quickly. She has a great team, she is an excellent doubles player, she takes the ball early and is a superb volleyer (notice how she uses two hands on the backhand side when she volleys). Against Safarova she will need to attack a little more than she usually does but I don’t see many problems here as Safarova tends to be a little inconsistent.

Nick’s Pick – Zvonareva in 2 sets

Flavia Pennetta (ITA) vs. Shahar Peer (ISR)

Peer is a dangerous player who is now full of confidence and she demonstrated that with a rather routine win over a good player in Sorana Cirstea in the second round. Pennetta had a solid first half of 2010 and then she fell off a little towards the end of the year. Like Peer, she can be a tough out and doesn’t go down without a fight.

Pennetta is 3-2 against Peer, but in their two matches in 2010 Peer won both (including in the third round of the US Open). For Peer, it has always been about her physical fitness and her mental strength. She is a warrior on the court and isn’t afraid of anything or anybody. Pennetta is like a brick wall on the baseline, she doesn’t make many mistakes and she plays well when the pressure is on. This one is going three sets and I think that Peer’s fitness and mental focus will be the difference.

Nick’s Pick – Peer in 3 sets

There have been a lot of questions about Wozniacki heading into the tournament (new racket, didn’t play well in lead-up events), but she put those to bed with a 6-3, 6-4 win over a tough opponent, Gisela Dulko, in the opening round. She was moving well and had only 15 unforced errors. This was a very positive sign for the young Dane.

King took down Tamira Paszek in three sets in the opening round and is into the second round for the second consecutive year. A win here would clearly be one of the biggest of her career and would put her into the third round of a Grand Slam for only the second time.

Wozniacki is 1-0 against King with that win coming at Indian Wells last year. King is feisty, moves well and is a fighter. The problem is that Wozniacki does all of that and she hits with more power from both sides. I don’t think King can hurt Wozniacki at all and I look for her to advance.

Nick’s Pick – Wozniacki in 2 sets

Justine Henin (BEL) vs. Elena Baltacha (GBR)

I was interested to watch Henin in the opening round because she hasn’t played in so long. I didn’t think she was hitting the ball as well as she has in the past and it showed as she needed three sets to beat Sania Mirza. Baltacha is the top ranked British female in the world (#55) and with that comes a ton of pressure.

This match is all about Henin. Coming back from an injury is never easy, but if anyone can do it, she can. The two have never faced before so this will be interesting. I will be looking for more out of her in this match and I want to see how she deals with the pounding groundstrokes of Baltacha. I look for Henin to advance, but I am more interested to see how she is playing.

Nick’s Pick – Henin in 2 sets

Jelena Jankovic (SRB) vs. Shuai Peng (CHN)

Jankovic looked like she was going to cruise in her first round match against Kudryavtseva, but she found herself in a fight in the second set. She went down a couple breaks but managed to battle back and win in straight sets. Now, she gets a tough opponent in Shuai Peng. Lucky for her, the two have faced seven times previously and she has won six of those matches.

Peng hits the ball well from both sides and doesn’t make many errors. She beat one of the flying Bondarenko sisters in the first round in three sets and that’s a good win. If Jankovic can keep herself focused and have confidence in her shots she will win this match. If Peng is able to keep her off-balance by taking the ball early I can see this going three sets. I look for Jankovic to advance in two tough sets.

Nick’s Pick – Jankovic in 2 sets

Kim Clijsters (BEL) vs. Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP)

Wow! I expected Clijsters to beat Safina, but not double bagel her. She won the match in 44 minutes and didn’t even face a break point. She is definitely playing extremely well and Safina continues to struggle mightily. This will be the first time she faces the tricky Spaniard.

Suarez Navarro needed three sets to beat Christina McHale in the opening round and isn’t off to a great start in 2011. She lost in the second round of Auckland and the first round in Hobart. If she could pull off this upset, I would be very surprised. I look for Clijsters to put constant pressure on both the forehand and backhand of Suarez Navarro and it won’t take her long to pick on her serve either.

Nick’s Pick – Clijsters in 2 sets

THE CONTENDERS

Caroline Wozniacki

Wozniacki is determined to add a major title to her career, but she has yet to breakthrough at the Aussie Open, having never advanced past the fourth round. So far, she hasn’t gotten off to a great start in 2011 and having just switched rackets I am a little wary about her chances down under. She plays a very aggressive style, has great groundstrokes and her movement is off the wall. She gets in trouble when she starts pushing her 2^nd serve in, so watch out for that. This is going to be an interesting tournament for Wozniacki.

Vera Zvonareva

Vera Zvonareva is so close to being #1 she can smell. Can she win her first Grand Slam title down under?

Vera spent a month at the Academy with her coach and trainer working extremely hard and putting in long hours. This is what makes her so darn special.  She always wants to do it better and better and will do whatever it takes to win. When she plays, she stands very close to the baseline, hits aggressively and quite flat, and will come in to the net when possible. She is a darn good doubles player because of her ability to volley. At times she might change the pace and add in a few drop shots and slices. There is nothing more that will satisfy her other than winning a Grand Slam, and I feel right now her chance of winning is as good as anybody’s.

Kim Clijsters

Clijsters may be the odds-on favorite to win this tournament especially after repeating at the US Open last year. She has never won the Australian Open, but she has been a semifinalist four times and a finalist once. She has been one of the most consistent players over the last year and with her game, she can beat anyone in the world. I look for her to make a deep run and possibly capture her first Aussie Open crown!

Venus Williams

I have always been very close to the Williams’ family and every time I think back to our time together and when I traveled with the girls I always smile.  Venus plays with grace, beautiful long strokes, outstanding movement and she is very aggressive.  At times her forehand may break down as well as her serve but she has so many weapons she can often play through these breakdowns. I do not know how healthy Venus is, but if she is healthy, watch out because she can win this tournament!

Sam Stosur

Stosur is one heck of an athlete who gives it all and she has a great kicker serve to both the deuce and ad side.  It’s not easy to play before your home crowd, but I am sure it will help her more than hurt. I don’t know if she can win this with just a kicker serve, she must play very aggressive and force play, including coming to the net more and more. She’s never been past the fourth round here, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see her best that mark.

Jelena Jankovic

Jankovic is another former student of the Academy and a friend of mine. I can still remember her changing her forehand grip a few days before she played in the Australian Open Jr. Championship when she was 16 years old. Guess What? She won the tournament. At one time, she was the #1 ranked player in the world.  She is fit as a fiddle, plays very aggressively, and has one of the best two-handed backhands in the world.    She has improved her second serve and was on a roll last year when IMG Bollettieri Tennis Director, Chip Brooks, was traveling with her for several months (including at Indian Wells, which she won).

The clock is ticking on Jelena. She is no longer a young girl.  It is very important she clears her mind and stays believing in herself again.     She must focus on the court and not look to her player’s box for help.  She has to stop complaining and play the game that she is capable of which is:

1.)    Standing close to the baseline

2.)    Controlling Play

3.)    Hitting her second serve in

4.)    Focus-Focus-Focus

Justine Henin

When physically fit, Justine defies the odds by standing only 5’5” and beating many players that are bigger and stronger than her. She won this title back in 2004 and was a finalist here last year. She is a shot-maker with a beautiful one-handed backhand, a killer forehand with very little spin, excellent serve,  movement beyond imagination,  and she won’t hesitate to come in. The question is her health. If she is not in tip top shape her determination and will to win will not be enough to take home this title.

Victoria Azarenka

Azarenka is a big, strong girl with excellent techniques, a very consistent two-handed backhand, and a consistent first serve. Her second serve can be attacked at times and her physical fitness has been questioned at times as she had to retire in big tournaments multiples times last year. That’s a big question when you are playing in the sweltering heat of Australia and that will determine how far she goes.

Li Na

Li Na was a semifinalist here last year, which is her best result at any Grand Slam. She hugs the baseline and pounds the ball from both sides. She has an excellent athletic foundation with exceptional movement side-to-side and she makes early contact with the ball. Can she repeat last year’s success or will she flame out like she did at the 2010 US Open?

Maria Sharapova

Can Sharapova get back in the winner's circle?

Maria has been a student of the IMG Bolletieri Academy since she was nine years old. She has had a heck of a career, including being one of the highest paid female athletes in the world. Her game is quite simple: stand close to the baseline and hit the tar out of the ball from both sides with very little spin. Because of injuries, Maria has had a difficult time getting back her aggressive, reliable serve that helped her win multiple Grand Slams. She is surrounded with her coach of several years (Mike Joyce) and now a new addition to the team and a heck of a coach, Thomas Hogstedt (he has spent time with several top players including Tommy Haas). Maria spent several weeks at the Academy during the Holiday Breal and for most part she in darn good shape physically and mentally. Despite her loss to Great Arn in Auckland I feel Maria will perform very well at the Aussie Open.

DARKHORSES

Shahar Peer

Peer comes into the Aussie Open ranked a career high of #12 in the world and she should be full of confidence. She is very disciplined, has consistent groundstrokes and is a fierce competitor. She must be a little more patient at times and hit a few extra shots on the big points. She’s never been past the quarters of any Grand Slam, will this be her breakthrough?

Aravane Rezai

Rezai loves to bang the ball from both the forehand and backhand side and for a smaller girl (5’5”) she packs a big punch. After winning a title at Bastad last July, she has really struggled so we will have to see if that carries over into 2011. If she was to get past the fourth round it would be a first for her at any Grand Slam.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova

Watch out for this dangerous 19-year old. She is a big, strong girl with powerful groundstrokes and a big serve. She’s looking for her first Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance. Could this be her time?

Ana Ivanovic

Ana has issued some strong words heading into the 2011 season, saying that she is ready to play the way she was back in 2008. During her slide over the last couple of years, her ranking dipped as low as #63 and she hasn’t been past the fourth round of any Grand Slam since winning the 2008 French Open. To regain her form she hired a top coach (former coach of Steffi Graf) to work with her for a while and she now is under the guidance of Antonio van Grichen. She has been focusing on her fitness and I think this was right move considering your fitness will determine everything about how you play. It’s difficult to predict how she will play, but I think she could have a bounce-back 2011.

Heather Watson

Heather Watson is primed for a breakthrough season

Heather has been a student at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy for several years and still trains her on a regular basis. She is a darn good ball striker from both sides, has excellent movement, stands close to the baseline and also has a good serve. Her mother has been a huge supporter and is very open to listening and accepting our help and suggestions. Heather is only 18 and at times thinks too much on the court instead of using her natural talents. This could be the year that Heather really breaks through as she is the youngest player in the top 150 and just reached her first WTA quarterfinal last week.

Maria Kirilenko

Kirilenko was a quarterfinalist here in 2010 and she is a very dangerous player. She plays aggressively and when she is clicking she is tough to beat. She has wins over top players and then loses to people she should beat. She needs to be more consistent if she wants to be considered a threat in every tournament.

Sabine Libsicki

Sabine has been at the Academy for several years, and had a great 2009 reaching the quarters at Wimbledon. Last year she was hurt for a majority of the season, but she is feeling better physically and she seems to be mentally strong as well. She has a big game from both sides and her serve is huge when she gets it in. At times, she plays to quickly and this really hurts her. She has what it takes to get back to the top, but she must be more patient when building points.

Flavia Pennetta

Pennetta became so successful in doubles (#2 in the world) that it took a toll on her singles play. She can hit any type of shot in the book and she has fantastic movement as well. She’s a two-time quarterfinalist at the US Open, but she has never been past the third round of the Aussie Open.

Kaia Kanepi

Kaia is a big girl, but still moves quite well. When in position, with good balance, she is consistent but she is still vulnerable if a wee bit late with her movement. She hits with power from both sides but once again she cannot have a movement breakdown. She doesn’t prefer to come into the net and she gets hurt when players move her around the court and hit behind her. She reached the quarters at both Wimbledon and the US Open, can she keep the streak going?

Yanina Wickmayer

Wickmayer is already off to a great start in 2011, reaching the finals at Auckland. She is a very strong player and usually is brimming with confidence. Don’t be surprised to see her come in towards the net when she can. When on the run, she has a tendency to have too big of a swing which results in unforced errors.  She reached the semis of the 2009 US Open, but she hasn’t been to the quarters of any Grand Slam since.

Serena may have just a little more than Sharapova in this match

From The Independent
By: Nick Bollettieri

There are some truly terrific matches being played this Super Monday, with every man and woman remaining in the singles draws scheduled to play. But this match, for me, is the stand-out pairing because it promises brilliant quality and a mesmerising battle, mentally as well as physically.

I also know both girls extremely well and have worked with both of them. And of course they have both won Wimbledon titles, with Serena winning three, and Maria, famously, winning aged 17 in 2004, beating Serena in the final. Add into the mix that Serena is the defending champion and that Maria looks back in business after a long time out of contention, and we have a potential humdinger on our hands.

It’s clear that Serena is most people’s favourite, for good reason, because she’s the world No 1 and in great shape, she leads their head-to-head 5-2, and competes with a feistiness bordering on channeled rage when she needs it. But their sole meeting to date on grass was the 2004 final, and Maria won. And Maria is a tough, tough cookie with determination unmatched on the tour when she’s physically healthy and in the zone. This is fire versus ice, and not as easy to call as many might assume.

Let’s consider their technical merits. Serena’s forehands are just a bit stronger and their backhands are both solid. Serena’s basic volley has the slight edge over Maria’s, and both girls are brutally great with the swing volley, a stroke pioneered and perfected at my academy. Serena’s serve is a little bigger and stronger at the moment, and she also enjoys edges in movement and physical strength.

Mentally, both these girls are so strong – they can’t be separated. If you corner Serena, then she can turn into a predatory monster, and I mean that in a positive sense. Since she was a little kid, Maria has been demanding of herself and steely in trying to meet those demands.

I recall her as a young girl waiting on court to practice, eager to get on with it, taking the stance: “Let’s get this frickin’ ball game started!”

I think Maria’s chance today lies in starting fast and hard, attempting to win in straight sets because although she’s in decent shape, I’m not sure she’s necessarily fully back to her stamina peak. If this goes into three sets, then the pendulum swings Serena’s way.

Serena is the player under most pressure, first because she’s the favourite, and second because she lost at Wimbledon in her only grass meeting with Maria. So Serena is supposed to win, and Maria can therefore play with the freedom of having nothing to lose.

Both these girls have the ability to win, and it’s going to be close. Forced to pick a winner, I think Serena has the edge, based mainly on her staying power and physical condition.

Today’s big match: Serena Williams v Maria Sharapova

How they match up

American Nationality Russian

28 Age 23

Palm Beach Gdns Residence Bradenton, Fla

1995 Turned pro 2001

Right-handed Plays Right-handed

5ft 9in Height 6ft 2in

No 1 World ranking No 17

36 Career titles 22

$31.2m Career prize money $13.3m

W53 L7 Wimbledon record W28 L6

Winner (3)  Wimbledon best Winner (2004)

5 Head-to-head 2

1-3 Odds 3-1

Bollettieri’s prediction: Serena to edge it, perhaps

Coaching report: Andy Murray v Sam Querrey

Murray can topple giant Californian Querrey with sharpness of his returns

Andy Murray was hugely impressive, again, when beating Gilles Simon on Saturday on Centre Court and he won by playing to his strengths: good serving, superb movement, the best returns in the game, mixing it up, being a little bit more aggressive than instinct typically dictates.

Today he faces Sam Querrey, a 22-year-old 6ft 6in Californian whose major weapon is the most enormous serve. That’s the match right there for me: how Murray deals with that serve, or not. I think Murray will be able to cope because his returns are second to none and if he can get an early read on it, Querrey doesn’t have a lot else to switch to.

Querrey had a long old match against Xavier Malisse to make the fourth round, needing five sets to get through, and that’s going to take a toll on a guy with a big frame who needs to be fresh to move well.

As we move into the second week of the tournament, the grass is turning to dirt and the bounces are more unpredictable, but none of that will worry Murray. If he plays anything like he’s played so far, then he’ll win, in three sets, four at most.

Famous Belgians are ready to serve up a treat

We’re fortunate in having such a mouth-watering prospect as Justine Henin against her compatriot Kim Clijsters so early in the tournament, relatively, but that’s a result of them both still playing themselves back into the tour after returning from retirement. Looking at the technical aspects of their games first, their forehands are very different, Henin hitting flat and Clijsters with spin. Henin’s one-handed backhand was one of the most deadly and beautiful weapons in the game at her peak but for sheer power I’d say Clijsters two-handed backhand has the edge.

Henin looked fantastic in the opening set against Nadia Petrova in the third round to take her career Grand Slam record in third-round matches to 27-0. Clijsters is in the fourth round at Wimbledon for the sixth time after her own straight sets win. This pair are level on the head-to-head stats, with 12 wins each from 24 meetings. Henin leads on grass, 3-1, but lost both meetings in 2010, both in three sets. I think this will go three. It’s a toss-up, perhaps edging Henin’s way through desire for that Wimbledon title.

Hewitt the supreme battler can knock out Djokovic

This is going to be a tough match for Novak Djokovic and the longer it goes on, the more it favours Lleyton Hewitt, stayer supreme. Hewitt took down Gaël Monfils in the third round and, having had a good rest, will be ready to go again.

World Cup of tennis

I have been trying to predict matches in South Africa based on the strengths of nations in tennis, and by assessing national sporting personalities and traits through tennis players I’ve known and worked with. Then, I project that on to the soccer and see what happens. South America has not been a continent well represented in Grand Slam successes, with a few notable Argentinian and Brazilian exceptions, but we need to look in that direction for today’s big match.

Brazil v Chile

Now if I could imagine a Chilean woman who’d stand a chance against seven-times Slam winner Maria Bueno of Brazil then we could try that, but there isn’t one. Let’s instead look to the men’s game and pitch Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil against Fernando Gonzalez of Chile, and, critical to this exercise, have them play on grass.

Kuerten won three French Opens, but didn’t get beyond the third round in Australia or the quarters of the other Slams. He was a baseliner who liked the slow slugging that the clay at Roland Garros allowed. His single-handed backhand was a weapon. Gonzalez is one of the few current players to have reached at least the quarters in each of the Slams, and he’s got Olympic medals to boot.

Now this pair actually met three times, always on clay, and Kuerten led 2- 1. But as we’re talking World Cup, let’s pretend grass. Chile’s power shocks Brazil’s languid artistry. Chile win tonight.

Win a week at my academy

Want a week’s tennis holiday at my academy in Florida? Included in the prize is five days’ top-class tuition. The prize can be for an adult wanting to shape up your game, or for a child who wants to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Andre Agassi, Monica Seles and Maria Sharapova, among other players who went from being kids under my tuition to No 1 in the world.

All you have to do is email to tell me who will win today’s big match. I want a specific score line, and as a tie-breaker, a one-sentence summary of the manner in which your pick will win. All winners go into a hat, with one overall winner picked from there. Email: n.bollettieri@independent.co.uk

Yesterday’s winner was Neil Thomas.

If the prize is for a child, parent(s) or guardian(s) must accompany at your own expense. The winner arranges the travel.

Henin looked fantastic in the opening set against Petrova, and then rallied in the second set from 1-3 down to win 6-1, 6-4. She is now 27-0 in Grand Slam third-round matches and she is also 101-12 against Russians in her career! Simply put, the odds were not in Petrova’s favor in that match.

Clijsters moved past Maria Kirilenko 6-3, 6-3 to reach the fourth round of Wimbledon for the sixth time in her career. The last time she played a third-round match at a Grand Slam she suffered the worst loss in her career – 6-0, 6-1 to Nadia Petrova at the 2010 Australian Open. I don’t think you will ever see that kind of performance from Clijsters again!

Match-Up:

This is one of the oldest rivalries on the WTA Tour. The two have faced 24 times previously and the series is tied at 12-12. Henin leads 3-1 on grass and her only loss came by retirement. In their two matches earlier this year, Clijsters won both in three tough sets. We’ve all been looking forward to this match since the draw came out and both players come in playing fantastic tennis. There will be no surprises from either side as they know each other extremely well. I believe if Henin plays the way she did in the first set against Petrova she will win this match. Although, if Clijsters is able to keep her pinned back with her fantastic serve and unbelievable movement it could go her way. This match really could go either way, but if I was forced to choose I would give a slight edge to Henin because of Clijsters’ recent injury. I believe Henin wants this title more than anything in the world and for that reason I give her a slight advantage.

Nick’s Pick – Henin in 3 sets

Jelena Jankovic (SRB) vs. Vera Zvonareva (RUS)

Jankovic needed only 57 minutes to dispense of Alona Bondarenko in the third round, and the first set only took 14 minutes! She broke Bondarenko five times out of six chances and never even gave the Ukrainian an opportunity in this match. A win here would put Jankovic in the quarters of Wimbledon for the first time in her career.

Zvonareva has been up and down this year, but right now she seems to have found her groove. She made quick work of 15^th-seeded Yanina Wickmayer in the third round and is into the 4^th round for the third time in her career. Like Jankovic, she has never been to the quarterfinals of Wimbledon so this would be a big win for her.

Match-Up:

Jankovic is 6-5 in her career against Zvonareva, but in their one match this year, Zvonareva won in straight sets. This will be their first meeting on grass. This match is going to be a barn-burner! Both girls have fantastic movement, excellent groundstrokes and solid serves. Both have spent much time at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy and they know each other’s games very well. Jankovic has been the more consistent of the two throughout 2010 and I think her two-handed backhand is a bigger weapon than Zvonareva’s backhand. The other thing to watch out for here is that Zvonareva can tend to lose her mental focus at times and that really gives her opponents an advantage. I don’t see this match ending in straight sets and I have to give a slight edge to Jankovic because of her consistency this year, but don’t be surprised if Zvonareva pulls out the win.

Nick’s Pick – Jankovic in 3 sets

Justine Henin (BEL) vs. Nadia Petrova (RUS)

The reason that Henin came back to the tour was Wimbledon. She’s won every other Grand Slam tournament, so winning this would complete the career Grand Slam for her. Twice (2001 and 2006) she’s been a finalist, and another three times she has reached the semis. Will this be the year that Henin does it?

Petrova knocked off Yung-Jan Chan in the second round in straight sets to advance to the third round of Wimbledon for the eighth time in her career.  She’s been a quarterfinalist here twice before, but never further. A win here would certainly give her a big boost in 2010!

Match-Up:

Henin is 13-2 against Petrova and beat her twice earlier this year on the hard courts down in Australia. They’ve met once on grass before, back in 2003 and Henin won that match in three sets. Petrova will come out and attack Henin from the beginning. She plays aggressively, has a very good serve, moves well and knows how to win. On the other hand, while Henin will play an aggressive brand of tennis, she has a lot more variety in her game and will keep Petrova off-balance throughout the match. I see this one going three sets, but in looking at their past history and taking into account Henin’s desire to win this tournament I give the edge to her.

Nick’s Pick – Henin in 3 sets

Kim Clijsters (BEL) vs. Maria Kirilenko (RUS)

Clijsters missed the French Open due to an injury she sustained during the Fed Cup back in April, but she did play Eastbourne before Wimbledon to get some grass-court matches in before Wimbledon. She’s a two-time semifinalist here, but just like she showed at last year’s US Open, she has the tools to win this tournament.

Kirilenko has already had two good Grand Slam results this year with a quarterfinal showing at the Aussie Open and she reached the fourth-round at the French Open. She has never been past the 2^nd round at Wimbledon, so beating Clijsters here would be huge for her!

Match-Up:

Clijsters is 2-0 against Kirilenko, but they haven’t played since 2006 and both of those matches were on clay. Kirilenko has a very solid game from both sides, is extremely smart on the court and isn’t afraid to come to the net. She also moves well, but she cannot really hurt Clijsters. I look for Clijsters to move in and take the ball early which will keep Kirilenko on her heels. Clijsters’ serve and her movement are top-notch and she seems to be healthy again after missing the French Open. I look for Clijsters to advance which will set up a dramatic battle between her and Henin!

Nick’s Pick – Clijsters in 2 sets

Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) vs. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS)

Despite being the third seed, there hasn’t been much talk about Wozniacki. Since reaching the finals of last year’s US Open, Wozniacki has failed to reach the semis of both the Australian Open and French Open. She played at Eastbourne before Wimbledon and lost her first match there to Aravane Rezai.

Pavlyuchenkova is playing in her third Wimbledon, with her best result coming back in 2008 when she reached the third round. If she wins this, it will be the first time she has reached the Round of 16 of any Grand Slam tournament.

Match-Up:

Wozniacki is 3-0 against Pavlyuchenkova and has beaten her twice already this year. This is a battle between two of the young stars on the WTA Tour. While Wozniacki has already cracked the top five, Pavlyuchenkova is still looking for her first big break. She plays an aggressive style, has a big forehand and backhand and moves pretty well. Wozniacki doesn’t have the huge game that some of the other top players have, but what she lacks in power, she makes up for in speed, quickness and smarts. She has beaten Pavlyuchenkova before and knows how to do it again. I look for a tough match, but for Wozniacki to advance.

Nick’s Pick – Wozniacki in 3 sets

Wow! What an ending to the French Open for both the ladies and the men. Let’s break down each of the finals…

Francesca Schiavone

Women’s Final

Very few people could have predicted that Sam Stosur would be playing Francesca Schiavone in the finals of the 2010 French Open. Stosur came very close to ending her career because of lime disease a couple of years ago. During her time off, she spent hours upon hours in the gym and that proved to be very positive move. She has always been an outstanding doubles player, winning title after title, but she is now ready to win some singles titles.

This year has been totally different for Stosur. She is now considered one of the very best singles players and before reaching the finals of the French she took our Justine, Serena and Jelena Jankovic back-to-back-to-back and all three of those women have been ranked #1 in their careers before. Her game is extremely physical – she has a killer forehand, an improved two-handed backhand and the very best kicker serve in women’s tennis.

Now, let’s talk about Francesca Schiavone. This Italian makes me very proud!! She is 30 years old, has been playing tennis for more than a decade and waited and worked to become the first Italian woman to win a Grand Slam ever!! She is the oldest woman since 1969 to win a Grand Slam championship and she is now ranked a career high of #6 in the world.

Isn’t it strange that a year ago she lost to Stosur in the first round?  Stosur towers over Schiavone, but it turned out that was her only real advantage. The determined Italian did a little of everything, including a well-defined court strategy, which was to hit deep and wide to Stosur’s forehand, run her wide and deep to the backhand knowing that she would slice the return and then attacking the net to put away the volley winner.

Being Italian, I am thrilled for Schiavone and all of Italy. Although she is small in size, she makes up for this by foot speed, heavy spin on her groundstrokes and her biggest asset which is her determination and will to win. Some of the Italian men can go a lot further if they followed in her footsteps!

Congrats to both women on a great tournament!

Men’s Final

Rafael Nadal

Heading into this match, we all knew the history of Nadal and Soderling. While the outcome wasn’t a huge surprise, be assured that Soderling is one heck of a player on any surface because of his size, physical strength, huge forehand, solid backhand, excellent serve and great movement. He played an great match against Nadal, but I don’t think anyone could have beaten Nadal yesterday.

The Spaniard slid 15-20 feet while hitting a ball and never lost a beat getting to the next ball. During the match, he never put down his opponent, but just did his thing. He hits the ball with heavy spin, can drive the ball using his top hand when hitting his backhand for spin and power, he has really improved his serve and that makes him a complete player. There is never a doubt in his mind that he cannot reach any ball hit to him. Nadal is the best player in the history of clay court tennis!

To Soderling: You have proved to the world that you are one of the best on the tour today. Good luck at Wimbledon and never put your head down and keep on fighting!

P.S. – What’s the real story on those Babolat strings? Are they magic??

Sharapova comes into the French Open with a lot of confidence. She just won the title in Strasbourg on clay and hasn’t dropped a set in the first two rounds. While this is clearly not her favorite surface, she has had success here, reaching the semis once and the quarters three other times.

Henin has been a bit up and down lately, as she has losses to Kaia Kanepi and Aravane Rezai but also won the title at Stuttgart beating Wickmayer, Jankovic and Stosur. She’s won this title four times in her career already and in my book she is still the favorite to win it again.

Match-Up:

This is the 10^th career meeting between Henin and Sharapova and Henin is 6-3 against her in their previous matches. They last met on clay was at the 2005 French Open and Henin won that in straight sets. This is the match that everyone pointed to when the draw came out. There is curiosity on both sides of the net as people want to see how each is performing with their comebacks.

Sharapova has to take the ball early and hit it flat. She cannot get into long rallies with Henin. She must serve well which will open the court and enable her to hit easy winners. You know Henin will do a little bit of everything and try to keep Sharapova off-balance. The movement advantage definitely goes to Henin but don’t court Sharapova out. This is a tough match to call and for Sharapova to win she has to do it in straight sets. I give a slight edge to Henin because of her play on the clay, but don’t be surprised if Sharapova pulls it out.

Nick’s Pick – Henin in 3 sets

Venus Williams (USA) vs. Dominika Cibulkova (SVK)

Venus has been making waves at the French Open because of her outfit, but the Wimbledon crowd shouldn’t be worried as she has already assured everyone she will be wearing white! Despite all the outside distractions, Venus has yet to be tested thus far and is clearly one of the favorites.

Cibulkova comes into the tournament ranked #27 in the world which is 15 spots lower than her career high of #12 which she achieved back in July of 2009. That ranking came after she reached the semis of the French last year which is her best result at any Grand Slam.

Match-Up:

Cibulkova is 1-0 against Venus with that win coming back in 2008 on the hard courts of Doha. Cibulkova is a spitfire out on the court and moves exceptionally well. At 5’3” she is almost a foot shorter than Venus, but she makes up for that height difference with her speed and quickness. What separates Venus from her competitors right now is her serve. She’s been able to get it into the mid 120’s and that gives her a distinct advantage. Look for Venus to attack, move in towards the net, pound the serve and advance!

Nick’s Pick – V. Williams in 2 sets