There is only one other “person” that is undefeated on the tennis court and that is the backboard and if Novak keeps winning I just might start calling him Novak “The Backboard” Djokovic! The in streak he is on is historic and it seems he is getting more confident as the tournaments go.

Hanescu is 0-5 against Djokovic in his career and things don’t look too good for him heading into this match. He has an all-court game, but he lacks the firepower to push Djokovic back. Djokovic has been taking the ball early, even on the clay, and his conditioning has been world-class throughout this amazing run. I can’t see him losing a set against Hanescu, nevermind the entire match. I look for the streak to hit 38!

Nick’s Pick – Djokovic in 3 sets

David Ferrer (ESP) vs. Julien Benneteau (FRA)

Ferrer faced a tough opponent in the opening round in Jarkko Nieminen, but he made quick work of him and displayed just how good he can be on clay. He grinds for every point and he keeps his unforced errors very low. He also has a great return of serve and his movement is remarkable. There is no glaring weakness in his game, especially when he is on clay.

Benneteau is 3-2 against Ferrer, but the two haven’t met in three years. Benneteau is a very good player and will have the crowd behind him, but right now Ferrer is playing some fantastic tennis and I don’t see him losing this match. I look for Ferrer to advance in straight sets.

Nick’s Pick – Ferrer in 3 sets

Sam Querrey (USA) vs. Ivan Ljubicic (CRO)

Before I mention Querrey, I want to take a quick second to say how proud I am of the way John Isner competed against Rafael Nadal. He gave him everything he could handle and he really played some great tennis. This was a very positive sign for American tennis. Now, back to Querrey, he beat a very tough opponent in Philipp Kohlschreiber in the first round in four sets and now gets another difficult test in Ljubicic. He is 1-1 against the hard-serving Croat, but they have never met on clay.

When you break down these two, they both have big serves (don’t expect a ton of brakes of serve) and excellent forehands, but to me it’s the backhand and the movement that make the difference for Querrey. His backhand is superb and his movement for a big guy is very good. I think those two elements of his game will make the difference in this match and I look for Querrey to advance in four or five sets.

Nick’s Pick – Querrey in 4 sets

Robin Soderling (SWE) vs. Albert Ramos (ESP)

When people think of Robin Soderling they often overlook how good of a clay-courter he is. He’s been to the finals the last two years and although he really pounds the ball from both sides, he doesn’t hit with a ton of spin and he is able to push his opponents back off the court.

He had a test in the first round against IMG Bollettieri student, Ryan Harrison, but he proved too much for the young American (although Ryan did take a set). I don’t think Ramos will prove to be a huge challenge for Soderling and I look for the Swede to move on.

Nick’s Pick – Soderling in 3 sets

Keep your eye on…

Kei Nishikori vs. Sergiy Stakhovsky – Around here, Stakhovsky is remembered for taking out Ryan Harrison in the second round of last year’s US Open in a thrilling five-setter. Now, another IMG Bollettieri student will try to beat the powerful Ukrainian. Nishikori doesn’t want to get into long rallies with Stakhovsky and he should try to put the ball away early. When Stakhovsky is on, he doesn’t miss and he can also serve bombs. Should be a close match that could really go either way, but you know I will be cheering for Kei!!

THE CONTENDERS

Can Roger Federer get back to the winner's cirlce down under?

Roger Federer

Federer is a special player that has a style that few can match: he can play and hit any shot in the book. He ran into a bit of a dry spell in 2010 and no one can really say why, but I think we will see a totally different Roger this time around.

The addition of Paul Annacone (a former student of mine and close friend) was definitely a great move for Federer’s team. Annacone boasts a successful playing career, extensive experience as a coach (USTA, LTA, and private coach of Pete Sampras), and played college tennis at the University of Tennessee. Annacone has had a great influence already on Federer and he explained that Roger had become a defensive player hitting too many slices, chipping the return of serve, not coming to the net enough, and applying pressure at all times. The end result was that Federer won the year-end ATP World Championships. Federer is far from finished and I feel he can win additional Grand Slam titles.

Rafael Nadal

Rafael is only 24-years old and no matter how far back I go in tennis history I cannot find any player that plays the game like he does. Every single point is a match-point to him and very few players can match what he does on and off the court.

He’s won 9 Grand Slam titles and I’m sure he congratulated Roger on winning the year-end championships, but I am sure this is going to give him more of a reason to get out of the gate quickly this year and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him win this title.

Novak Djokovic

I can evaluate his entire game and I find it almost impossible to find a flaw with his techniques, movement and style of play. At times, you might think he is out of shape because of the way he gasps for air but knowing Djokovic personally, I know this isn’t true. If I was his coach, I would have him attack a little more, especially against Federer, Nadal and a few others. He is definitely a contender to win any tournament and even a Grand Slam.

Andy Murray

Andy is one heck of a player, who has so many of the necessary tools to win a Grand Slam, but it also seems like little things happen here and there that cut down his chances of really contending. I really like Andy and his mother, Judy. He is my kind of player – he excited me because he reminds me of my former student Andre Agassi.

It was recently printed that Andy over-trained during the Holiday Break and did not have his normal energy while playing in the Hopman Cup. Andy has got to tell himself that he is 100% fit mentally and physically and he cannot have any excuses. He is capable of so much and just needs to focus on that. I would like to see him play much more offensively, including attacking at times. He must also play much closer to the baseline.

Gael Monfils

He is truly an entertainer, but at the same time, he is a fantastic athlete who at any time can hit any shot whether he is standing still, running, jumping, lying on the ground, well, you get the point. He has shown flashes of brilliance against the very best in the world and is a tough out. He has been plagued by injuries and I am sure that has cut down on his chances of winning the big ones! If healthy, watch out, he can take you down.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

He is another guy, like Monfils, who has shown the ability to play at a very high level but he has been injured off and on and that has really affected his performance. Back in 2008 he reached the finals of the Aussie Open and he really got the crowd on his side with his flashy play. It’s really a shame that he has had so many injuries because when he is on, he is incredible to watch.

Robin Soderling

He takes it to you at all times with very aggressive, quite flat, groundstrokes from both sides. It isn’t that easy to take advantage of his serve, and he puts a ton of pressure on your serve, and he will not hesitate to come to the net. I like the way he competes and his movement is excellent. Don’t be surprised to see him playing well into the second week.

Andy Roddick

He has come so close in many tournaments, but has come up short of winning a Grand Slam title since 2003. Yes, he has a huge serve, big forehand, and an improved backhand, but when you have Federer and Nadal playing alongside you it doesn’t make it easy to win a Grand Slam. He is a fierce competitor, but some are saying his time may be running out. I think he still may have some good runs left in the tank!

Tomas Berdych

He’s another guy who has all the physical ability in the world, but at times loses his mental focus. He was able to correct that in the middle of 2010, reaching the semis of the French and the finals of Wimbledon, but then a first-round exit at the US Open left us all wondering again. Will 2011 be more of the same, or will Berdych put it together consistently?

WATCH OUT FOR THESE GUYS!

Can Querrey and Isner make some noise in Melbourne?

Sam Querrey/John Isner

Sam and John are big boys with off the wall serve, darn good groundstrokes, they move well for their height and are capable of playing on all surfaces. They both look to attack and are very comfortable at the net.

Isner was an All-American tennis player at the University of Georgia and by all accounts his time at college was well spent. He was at the center of one of the most historic matches of all time last year at Wimbledon, but I don’t think he wants to be remembered for that.

Both men hold their own well against the top guys, but can they win a Grand Slam? I am not sure.

Mardy Fish

Every time you feel his time is up, Mardy will come up with a big win. His two-handed backhand is one of the very best and he is extremely aggressive. His forehand has improved, he has a big serve and is a very sound volleyer. The US needs him to come through with a big tournament.

Stanislas Wawrinka

Wawrinka stated that he is ready to get down to business in 2011, and we will have to see how that pans out. He and his wife have recently separated and he has added Peter Lundgren as his coach. These are some big changes, and they will have a significant impact on the way he plays. No one has ever doubted his physical talents, but sometimes his mind goes in all directions.

Ernests Gulbis

What can I say? He is a very dangerous player with all sorts of weapons, but he comes and goes.

Marin Cilic

Never, never count him out. He can play against any player, but seems to get to a high point and then flame out. I’ll be keeping a close eye on him in 2011.

Richard Gasquet

The years are rolling on and we can no longer call him “someone to watch out for in the future.” It’s time for Gasquet to step up to the plate and demonstrate his talents consistently.

YOUNG AND DANGEROUS

Kei Nishikori

Kei has been a student at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy since he was 13-years old. He is a shot-maker with brilliant speed and a flair for the dramatic. He was on a roll and all of Japan was behind him as he became not only one of the best Japanese males to play, but he was also starting to beat some of the top men in the world. His run to the top came to a sudden halt when he injured his elbow and was basically out for a year.

He is now back and looking good and has a new look and team which includes the ugliest technical tennis player I have ever known: Brad Gilbert (he sure knew how to win though!). Glenn Weiner (his former traveling coach of two years) did one heck of a job, but there comes a time when change is a must. In addition to Brad, Bollettieri Academy coach Dante Bottini will be on the road with Kei.

Kei is already off to a great start in 2011 with wins over world #14 Marin Cilic and Alejandro Falla in Chennai. If he stays healthy, I feel very optimistic he will have a banner year.

Ryan Harrison is the new hope for American tennis.

Ryan Harrison

Ryan and the entire Harrison family live and train at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy. At the age of 18, Ryan’s performance at the 2010 US Open vaulted him into another level of play and stardom. His style of play includes a huge Bollettieri forehand, steady two-handed backhand, very aggressive 1^st and 2^nd serve, attacking game style, excellent movement and physically prepared to battle the higher ranked players.

It’s very important for Ryan to control his emotions and listen to his new coach, Martin Damm, because that could make a huge difference in the rest of his career. I am looking for big things from Ryan in 2011 and beyond and I really enjoy working with him and his father, Pat, here at the Academy.

Richard Berankis

Berankis is another student of the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy and he and his coach, Remigijus Balzekas (a top Lithuanian coach) are a perfect team. Berankis isn’t tall, but he packs a wallop with his outstanding groundstrokes and serve. He moves extremely well and players very aggressively. Another strong point of his game is his ability to compete for every single point – he fights like a lion! He is currently the youngest player in the top 100 and has shown the ability to compete with the top pros. I look for big things from him this year.

DARKHORSES

Ivo Karlovic

Karlovic is coming back from an Achilles tendon injury that kept him out of action for much of 2010. He spent his Holiday Break training at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy with his team and he looks to be in good shape. No one has a more dangerous serve than Karlovic and he is also a fantastic volleyer. I worked with him on his backhand during his stay and suggested that he might not want to hit every backhand with a slice. When on a roll his aggressive forehand can beat the best in the world.

P.S. He has a great support team and is a great person.

Kevin Anderson

Anderson spent some time at the Academy during the Holiday Break and he is really a great guy. Standing at 6’8”, he can serve big bombs and then capitalize on any defensive return with a very aggressive forehand and backhand. He must come in towards the net more often though to beat the best.

Xavier Malisse

He has been a favorite student of mine since he came to the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy when he was 16 years of age. No one ever has questioned his techniques, movement and talent, but he has lacked focus at times and has also battled injuries. Just recently, Xavier told me he is really enjoying playing tennis again which is great to hear.

Andrey Golubev

He is a hard-hitter with a killer forehand and a one-handed backhand that can penetrate at any time. The serve is good, but his percentages go down when the pressure is on.

Viktor Troicki

This man is dangerous, and I mean dangerous! His serve and two-handed backhand are a lethal weapon. He can be a little off the wall at times, and sometimes his forehand can break down.

Alexandr Dolgopolov

This man is still very young, but he has very smooth strokes with a two-handed backhand. He is fast, fast, fast, but still might need a year of playing before winning a big match.

Federer has yet to drop a set in three matches, and he looks as confident as ever. He is gliding around the court with ease and I feel he is still the favorite to win this tournament. The fans love watching Federer and how can you argue when he is playing such beautiful tennis?

Melzer is in the fourth round of the US Open for the first time in his career. It almost didn’t happen as IMG Bollettieri pro, Ricardas Berankis, nearly took him out in the second round in five sets. Melzer recovered from that match well and beat Juan Carlos Ferrero in straight sets in the third round.

Match-Up:

Federer is 1-0 against Melzer, with that win coming earlier this year in the fourth round of Wimbledon. Melzer has a big serve, is a lefty, has excellent groundstrokes and he is extremely quick on the court. He gets his racket on just about every ball which can really frustrate his opponents. He has a tendency to blow his top on occasion and if that happens, Federer will jump all over him. I am interested to see how Federer does against a lefty that will hit cross-courts at his backhand throughout the match. Federer is playing aggressively, changing the temp with this slice, moving well and coming in when he can. He’s working with Paul Annacone now, and I think that is definitely the right guy for him. This should be a good match, but I don’t think Melzer can take out Federer right now.

Nick’s Pick – Federer in 4 sets

Mardy Fish (USA) vs. Novak Djokovic (SRB)

Fish had to go five sets to beat veteran Arnaud Clement in the third round and is looking to get back to the quarters for the second straight time. He’s already played two five set matches in this tournament and we will have to see if that has any effect when taking on someone at Djokovic’s level.

Djokovic has been to at least the quarterfinals of 9 of the last 11 Grand Slams. He was the runner up here in 2007 and has been to the semis the last two years. After winning a close five-setter in the opening round, Djokovic has won two straight set matches over Phillipp Petzschner and James Blake.

Match-Up:

Djokovic is 4-0 against Fish and that includes a win over him earlier this year at Indian Wells. The fan support really helped Fish in his win over Clement in the third round and they will be at it again in this match. Fish’s groundstrokes are excellent and his big serve is really flowing. He has trimmed down and I’m not sure if maybe he is too thin and that is affecting his stamina. Djokovic has some of the best groundstrokes in the game, he moves well laterally, is a great returner and loves the bright lights of NYC. His serve has been giving him a little trouble, but with the cooler weather and the winds calming I think that will help him. I have to give Djokovic the edge in this match in four sets, but the longer this goes the more it favors Fish (especially with the fans behind him). This is going to be a very interesting match, so make sure you watch it!

Nick’s Pick – Djokovic in 4 sets

Sam Querrey (USA) vs. Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI)

After dropping one set to Bradley Klahn in the first round, Querrey has won eight straight sets. He handled Nicolas Almagro in the third round, and looked extremely comfortable out there. This is a great opportunity for Querrey to reach his first career Grand Slam quarterfinal and you know the USA fans will be out in full force for him.

Wawrinka upset Andy Murray in the third round in four sets, and is into the fourth round of the US Open for the this time in his career. Like Querrey, Wawrinka is looking for his first appearance in the quarters of a Grand Slam too.

Match-Up:

Wawrinka is 1-0 against Querrey, with that win coming at Indian Wells in 2009. I watched the Wawrinka/Murray match very closely and was impressed with Wawrinka from the outset. He frustrated Murray with his shot-making and he didn’t make many mistakes. We all know that Wawrinka is capable of playing this way, his issue it doing it consistently. Murray didn’t serve too well against Wawrinka, but you can count on Querrey serving better. He also has a huge forehand, solid backhand, and for a big guy he moves around the court well. I don’t think his groundstrokes will fail him like they did Murray and I am also worried about Wawrinka playing at the same high level. With the USA fans behind him, I like Querrey to advance in a tight match.

Nick’s Pick – Querrey in 4 sets

Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. Feliciano Lopez (ESP)

Nadal has played some close sets in this tournament, but he has yet to drop one. He looked great against Gilles Simon in the third round, winnign over 90% of the points on his first serve. Everyone is hoping for a Federer/Nadal US Open final, but there is still a lot that can happen before that is set.

Lopez was up 6-3, 4-0 when Sergiy Stakhovsky retired in the third round. This is his second appearance in the fourth round of the US Open and if he wins here it would be his first US Open quarterfinal and only the third Grand Slam quarterfinal of his career.

Match-Up:

Nadal is 5-2 against Lopez, but did lose to him earlier this year on grass at Queen’s Club. I can’t wait to see these two powerful Spanish lefties go at it! Lopez has had some success against Nadal in the past and he comes in serving brilliantly. He had the serve up over 135 mph against Stakhovsky and he also places it really well. I am not sure if Lopez needs to vary his serve throughout this match, because when playing another lefty it negates his ability to hit the wide serve on the ad side. There is no doubt that Lopez needs to win points quickly because there is no one better during rallies than Nadal. If I was Lopez’s coach, I will tell him to come in and press the issue a bit. He can’t stay back and pound with Nadal – that’s not a winning strategy. This will be a great match, and I look for Nadal to advance in four sets.

Nick’s Pick – Nadal in 4 sets

Kim is on a roll!

The Independent
By: Nick Bollettieri

Kim Clijsters eventually overcome her compatriot Justine Henin yesterday to earn this quarter-final against Vera Zvonareva, who won after Jelena Jankovic retired with a leg problem.

Clijsters’ major strengths are her powerful, well-placed groundstrokes, hit early and with spin, and her athleticism, which underpins her great movement. Her fragility, traditionally, has been psychological, although that does not appear to be an issue for her at the moment, and it certainly was not yesterday when she came back from a set down to win in three.

As Clijsters herself described it she was trying too hard to go for her shots in that first set and got “overwhelmed” by Henin’s power and shot.

“I was out there somewhere, but I’m not quite sure where,” she said. “She was definitely overpowering me on every aspect of the match, I think. She was serving extremely well, returning extremely well.”

But Clijsters did then find the groove and started hitting the lines and she needs more of the same today from the start: variety allied with aggression.

Zvonareva would not have been expecting such an easy day at the office but Jelena – who lived at the academy for years and has been back training recently – was struggling with her movement from the start. And as we know, Jelena is not great mentally when she falls behind.

Zvonareva has also been to the academy to use our facilities and she is very dangerous. There is a significant proviso to that statement, however; she’s dangerous if she remains calm. Her biggest weakness is between the ears and if she loses her cool then she can fall to pieces.

Technically, her game is fairly simple. She bangs the heck out of the ball, and she takes it early. Her movement is wonderful, graceful. She covers the court like a gazelle. If she stays in this match mentally then she can be a threat.

Clijsters absolutely does not want to get involved in a match of bang-bang, playing Zvonareva’s game, because the Russian can do that very competently. What Kim needs to do is mix it up again like she did yesterday.

It goes without saying that this is a big occasion for Clijsters in her comeback campaign. She has not played at Wimbledon since 2006 and now here she is, one victory away from a semi-final, which would equal her best-ever year at SW19.

Her ranking is No 8 in the world, which is as high as it’s been since her return to the game last year, and straight-sets wins in her three matches before Henin showed she’s found her touch on the surface.

This comes down to the Russian’s one-dimensional but consistently strong game, against the variety and experience of Clijsters, with the key factor a psychological one.

Today’s big match: Kim Clijsters v Vera Zvonareva

HOW THEY MATCH UP

Belgian……… Nationality……… Russian

27……… Age……… 25

Bree, Belgium……… Residence……… Moscow

1997……… Turned pro……… 2000

Right-handed……… Plays……… Right-handed

5ft 9in……… Height……… 5ft 8in

No 8……… World ranking……… No 21

37……… Career titles……… 10

$17.2m……… Career prize-money……… $7m

W26 L7……… Wimbledon record……… W15 L7

SF (twice)……… Wimbledon best.……..  QF (2010)

5-0……… Head-to-head………

1-8……… Odds……… 7-1

Bollettieri’s prediction: Clijsters edges it

Sharapova lost – but this performance showed her star is in the ascendant

Serena Williams had the edge over Maria Sharapova yesterday, as I thought she might, but this was not a walkover for the American champion and the difference really was in that first-set tiebreak. It swung both ways and arguably Maria could have sealed it. But she looked just a little tight and her serve broke down a bit at just the wrong time and Serena took advantage, as good champions do.

They pounce on weakness and they exploit them. That was the match for me, and once Maria had lost that first set, it was always going to be a struggle for her.

But. There’s a positive but. Watch out for Sharapova as we move on into the summer because she’s getting closer and closer. She’s not quite ready to be battling toe to toe with the biggest guns in the Slams, but if she stays healthy and gains confidence, I think we’ll see her challenging at the US Open.

As for Serena, she served very well, especially in that first set when she hit 13 aces at speeds of up to 125mph. She moved well and strongly, and perhaps most importantly of all she stayed strong in her mind in a match against someone to whom she’d lost in their only other meeting on grass – the 2004 final.

Federer not tested but he won’t care Roger Federer eased into the quarter-finals by beating Jürgen Melzer but it wasn’t really the kind of match where his class was needed because Melzer did not have a great day. Federer won playing well within capacity. Only a few times did we see that phenomenal change of pace from graceful, easy shot-maker to thunderous killer of points. It’s been a strange tournament for the No 1 seed so far, and he’ll face tougher tests ahead.

Lleyton Hewitt won’t face any more tests this fortnight after falling to Novak Djokovic, and that wasn’t what I expected. But Djokovic was pumped up and played very well.

Staying with the men, I was also impressed, again, with Andy Murray. He won as I expected, in straight sets, having got the early read he needed on Sam Querrey’s serve, then pushed home the advantaged against the bigger, tiring man.

Beware the outsiders

The one anomalous quarter-final today is Petra Kvitova against Kaia Kanepi because one of those two is going to be in the semi-finals and on their rankings neither should have got beyond the second round. Kvitova is a big, strong Czech, age 20, 6ft tall and built solidly. She’s a real powerhouse and a leftie to boot. Kanepi is older, but also strong. I wouldn’t be surprised if Kvitova ends up meeting Serena Williams in the semis.

Dear Nick…

With England, the USA and Italy all out of the World Cup, we’ll leave my World Cup of tennis behind! Instead, I invite your questions, either about my life in tennis or about your own game. Today’s question is from Fiona Roberts, who had seen me speak at a conference and emailed to say: “You talk with great humour about having had eight wives, but in seriousness, is life as a top-level player, or indeed coach, incompatible with a settled personal life?”

Well Fiona, the simple answer is yes, it’s incompatible, and at the very least, difficult. I have indeed been married eight times, and I’m blissfully happy with my wife Cindi, and our son, Gio. But there was one marriage when I was coaching Andre Agassi where my wife said ‘Andre or me’ and I replied ‘I’ll just pack and be gone’.

Several other of my marriages went west with the demands of the morning-to-night coaching needed to give proper attention to students; when Monica Seles was young, she’d stay out til nightfall hitting just one shot until it was right.

Being away for long periods is also damaging. For players it’s harder to maintain relationships, definitely, and having a family on the road is tough.

Email your questions to n.bollettieri@independent.co.uk

Holy mackerel!

The heat at Wimbledon is staggering, literally. It was pushing 30 at 7pm yesterday! Look at how it’s taking a physical toll on players. Novak Djokovic won but not before breathing problems. Definition of irony: rain at every single Wimbledon since 1995 (and most before), then a £100m roof is built, there’s a few drops last year and none in 2010 at all quite possibly.

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 Agassi, Seles or Sharapova.

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 Rachel O’Reilly.

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

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.

Murray comes into the tournament ranked #4 in the world but his record on the year is a paltry 13-7 and he has yet to win a title in 2010. His clay court results have been okay, losing his first match at Monte Carlo, winning a round at Rome and then reaching the quarters at Madrid. It seems as those he is feeling more comfortable on the clay as the tournaments go by, and his game is adaptable to the surface. He reached the quarterfinals here last year, which is his best result thus far at Roland Garros.

Gasquet just won a Challenger title on clay in Bordeaux and before that he lost in the quarterfinals to John Isner in Serbia. I was at that match, and he seems to be playing the kind of tennis that took him to #7 in the world a couple of years ago. He is currently ranked #68, but he is a dangerous player, especially on the clay.

Match-Up:

Gasquet is 2-1 against Murray but the two 23-year olds haven’t played since the fourth round of Wimbledon in 2008. This is going to be one heck of a match, and is definitely the highlight of the first round. Playing in front of his home fans, there will be pressure on Gasquet to win. Like I said above, he should’ve beaten Isner in Serbia and his play seems to have picked up as of late. He isn’t hitting as many unforced errors and he is focused on winning again instead of all the outside distractions. He has all the tools to beat Murray, but that is much easier said than done. This has not been Murray’s best year, but a deep run here would surely get him going in the right direction before Wimbledon. He cannot get pushed back behind the baseline 6-8 feet and expect to win this match. He must take it to Gasquet, which will keep the Frenchman off balance. The condition of the court will have an impact on this match. If it is dry and fast it favors Murray, if it is wet and slow it gives an edge to Gasquet. I have to give a slight edge to Murray because of all his weapons, but this will not be easy or over quickly.

Nick’s Pick – Murray in 4 or 5 sets

Sam Querrey (USA) vs. Robby Ginepri (USA)

Querrey comes into the French Open ranked a career high of #21 in the world. He just won the title in Serbia earlier this month but then followed it up with a first round loss in Madrid. He needs to play the kind of tennis that won him the title in Belgrade if he wants to make an impact at Roland Garros.

Ginepri is only 1-5 on the year in ATP events, but he did reach the finals of a Challenger recently in Tallahassee so that should give him some confidence. He comes in ranked #98 in the world and has only been past the first round of the French Open once in his career. That came back in 2008 when he advanced to the fourth round.

Match-Up:

Ginepri is 1-0 against Querrey, having beaten him at Indianapolis in straight sets last year. Ginepri is going to be really hungry for a win here as he hasn’t had a very good year. He serves big and will play aggressive at all times. He will have to gamble against Querrey, because his fellow American is getting better each tournament. For a big guy, Querrey moves well, takes the backhand early, has added a little slice and you know his forehand and serve are huge. He has almost cracked the top-20 for the first time in his career, and I believe he is on his way to bigger and better things. I give the edge to Querrey here.

Nick’s Pick – Querrey in 4 sets

Kei Nishikori (JPN) vs. Santiago Giraldo (COL)

Nishikori, an IMG Bollettieri student, comes into the French Open on a hot streak. He has won the last two Challenger tournaments he has played in (both on clay) and the elbow injury that hampered him for much of 2009 seems to be gone now. I look for his young Japanese star to find his way back into the top 50 very soon.

Giraldo is a 22-year old Colombian who is currently ranked a career high of #55 in the world. He won a Challenger on clay in Pereira in April, reached the fourth round (after qualifying) in Rome and qualified and reached the second round in Madrid. The last three years he has qualified for the French Open before falling in the first round, so I am sure he is looking to get past that point for the first time in his career.

Match-Up:

This is the first career meeting between Nishikori and Giraldo and promises to be interesting. Giraldo is a very good clay-courter who moves well and can change the pace with the best of them. Growing up on the clay in Colombia, he knows how to win on the surface and will be a dangerous opponent for Kei.

I’ve worked with Kei for many years now, and he is back to the person that we saw in 2008. He can sting and bite you from anywhere on the court and his “jump shots” from both sides are really fun to watch. His movement is simply incredible and that is what separates him from his opponents. This will be a fun match to watch, but the way Kei is playing now I have to give the edge to him.

Nick’s Pick – Nishikori in 4 sets

Men’s Draw

After taking a quick look through the men’s draw it seems to be pretty balanced. Nadal could face either Hewitt or Karlovic in the third round, but on clay I don’t think either of those guys will give him a big problem. A potential fourth round battle with fellow Spaniard, David Ferrer, whom Nadal is 7-3 against in his career and 6-1 on clay, is lurking as well. Nadal could also face Davydenko or Verdasco in the quarters – two guys he has never lost to on clay. Standing in Nadal’s way for a potential birth in the finals could be either Gilles Simon or Andy Murray. Neither one of those guys has had much success in the past at Roland Garros and like just about everyone else, neither has beaten Nadal on clay. All in all, the top half of the draw doesn’t look too bad for Nadal.

There are a couple interesting first round match-ups on the top half of the men’s draw starting with Ivo Karlovic and Lleyton Hewitt. Karlovic hasn’t been past the second round in Paris while Hewitt is a two-time quarterfinalist but is definitely nearing the end of his great career. Karlovic is 3-0 against Hewitt, but they have never faced on clay.

Another interesting first round match will feature Ernests Gulbis and Sam Querrey. Gulbis reached the quarters last year, but is not having a good 2009 while Querrey has never been past the first round. These two have never faced before, but this will be a match I am keeping my eye on. Two other first round matches on the top half will be between Andy Murray and Juan Ignacio Chela and Radek Stepanek and 2004 French Open champion, Gaston Gaudio (who received a wild card into the main draw).

On the bottom half of the draw, everyone will be keeping their eyes on Roger Federer. The three time finalist begins with Spaniard Alberto Martin and then will get either Jose Acasuso or a qualifier in the second round. His first test could come in the third round against local favorite, Paul-Henri Mathieu. Federer is 3-0 against Mathieu, but the Frenchman has the game to challenge him on clay. Assuming Federer wins, he is looking at a fourth round match against any number of guys -could be James Blake, Tommy Haas, or Tomas Berdych or even Jeremy Chardy. Federer’s quarterfinal opponent is very much up in the air. If the seeds hold he would face Andy Roddick, but we know Roddick’s track record on clay isn’t good. Another possibility is Gael Monfils, but he recently said he didn’t even know if he was going to play because of a knee injury. The other seeded players there are Jurgen Melzer and Rainer Schuettler, so Federer’s draw is looking pretty good so far.

In the other quarter of the bottom half of the draw, Novak Djokovic leads the charge. The Serb will take on Nicolas Lapentti first, but could face Ivan Ljubicic, JC Ferrero or Philipp Kohlschreiber in the third round. Waiting for him in the fourth round may be Spaniard Tommy Robredo or possibly American Mardy Fish. Both guys have had poor results at Roland Garros in the past, so there is a bit of a question mark surrounding this section of the draw. Finally, Djokovic could meet Juan Martin Del Potro in the quarters assuming he gets past a tough first round opponent in Michael Llodra and then can survive potential guys like Igor Andreev and Jo-Willy Tsonga. Both of those men could present a big challenge for Del Potro.

Assuming that Djokovic and Federer both get to the semis, that would be a very interesting match. Federer is 7-4 in his career against Djokovic, and is 2-1 on clay. Although, that loss on clay came just a couple of weeks ago in Rome. Federer is going to be focused, and I would have trouble picking against him until he faces Nadal!

Should be a great tournament for the men, and you know everyone wants to see Nadal vs. Federer once again, especially after Federer just beat Nadal on clay in the finals of Madrid.

Women’s Draw

I’ve been saying this all week: The women’s field is wide open. The favorite has to be Safina with the way she has been playing recently, but there are certainly no guarantees in women’s tennis. Speaking of Safina, she opens with a tough opponent in Anne Keothavong. Assuming she gets past that, she could face a couple of Russians en route to the quarters – Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the third round and Alisa Kleybanova in the fourth round. Both are good young players who would present interesting matches for Safina. Waiting for Safina in the quarters could be Victoria Azarenka, Ana Ivanovic, or Carla Suarez Navarro. Azarenka has been one of the most consistent women on tour this year, but is 1-3 against Safina in her career.  Ivanovic is who Safina lost to in the finals last year, but she hasn’t played well in 2009. Navarro was the surprise of 2008 at Roland Garros and she reached the quarters in Australia as well. That would be a fun match to watch.

In the bottom quarter of the top half of the women’s draw the top-seed is Venus Williams. She will get a familiar opponent in the opening round in American Bethanie Mattek. The second round could present a challenge for Venus as she would face either Lucie Safarova or Sabine Lisicki. If you remember, Lisicki, an NBTA student, beat Venus en route to the title in Charleston last month. Venus could also face a couple of Russian women who are coming back from injury in Maria Sharapova or Vera Zvonareva. Sharapova played in Poland this week (after a very, very long layoff) and Zvonareva hasn’t played since Charleston. Both have the stuff needed to beat Venus on clay. If the seeds hold, a Venus/Safina semi would make for good television!

On the bottom half of the draw Serena Williams is the clear favorite (if she is healthy). Her first round opponent is Klara Zakopalova who actually just beat Serena in Marbella on clay a couple of weeks ago. Her second round opponent could be tricky as well, as she could face veteran Virginia Ruano Pascual or Nicole Vaidisova. Serena is looking at another potential tough match in the fourth round against Flavia Pennetta. If Serena’s knee holds up and she gets to the quarters she is looking at Kuznetsova, Schnyder or Radwanska – all would be tough for her.

In the top quarters of the bottom half of the women’s draw, Elena Dementieva, Jelena Jankovic, and Caroline Wozniacki are the top seeds. It wouldn’t surprise me to see any of those girls in the quarterfinals, but  I think Dementieva probably has the best chance because of her history here. Look out for Medina Garrigues and Alize Cornet as well as both players are solid on clay.

It’s going to be a wild two weeks for the ladies, and I can’t wait for it to begin!

Jesse Levine (USA) vs. Benjamin Becker (GER)

Levine is not a giant in size, but he truly is a warrior. Being a lefty is certainly helpful, especially if his wide slice is on to the ad side of the court. His game includes a little bit of everything and he can come to the net.

Becker is no longer the rookie that knocked out Agassi at the US Open. He has powerful groundstrokes from both side, but his driving forehand is definitely his bred and butter shot.

Match up:

Becker is 1-0 against Levine, with that win coming back in 2007 at Delray Beach. Becker must not loose his focus and positive attitude, especially when Levine fights for every ball. Jesse spent a great deal of time at the NBTA training and as a result of this I really got to know him very well. To win this match he must take advantage of all opportunities and put pressure on Becker at all times. This is going to be a close one.

Nick’s Pick – Levine in 3 sets

Sam Querrey (USA) vs. Gilles Muller (LUX)

Querrey has long been the hope as the leader of the next wave of American talent. So far, he has had mixed results but at times has shown he can hang with the best. He comes in ranked #47 in the world and he did reach the finals in Auckland earlier this year.

Muller is a 25-year old lefty that has a big game. He is currently ranked #69 in the world and did reach the third round of the Aussie Open back in January. He has an abundance of talent, he has just not yet found the best way to harness it.

Match up:

Querrey is 1-0 against Muller, with that win coming earlier this year in Auckland. Both men have big serves and big groundstrokes. Muller is no push over and has had some good wins in his career. The key to this match will be Querrey’s serve. If he gets a high percentage of first serves in play and is able to attack the net then he has a good chance of winning this match. Muller will not give too many serves that can be attacked. With the crowd behind him, I’m going with Querrey.

Nick’s Pick – Querrey in 3 sets

Tommy Haas (GER) vs. Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ)

Haas is coming off a nice run to the third round at Indian Wells before falling to Novak Djokovic. He has been working extremely hard at the Academy over the last couple of months and seems to be healthy once again. He has been to the fourth round at Miami once before, and has always played well on the hard courts.

Kukushkin is a 21-year old from Kazakhstan who is currently ranked #142 in the world. He is playing in his first ATP Main Draw event of 2009, but has faired well at a couple of Challengers this year.

Match-Up:

This is the first career meeting between Haas and Kukushkin. Haas comes into the match fit with a great attitude. I feel in his older age, he has really done a much better job of controlling his temper and maintaining his focus. I have been working with him on the court and he is getting excellent depth on his groundstrokes and his backhand looks as good as ever. Kukushkin is going to have to go for it all in this match. He will have no pressure on him and needs to take advantage of every defensive ball and opportunity that he has. I look for Tommy to come through this match, but he will have to stay focused the entire time.

Nick’s Pick – Haas in 2 sets

Yuki Bhambri (IND) vs. Diego Junqueira (ARG)

Bhambri is a 16-year old that has trained at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy for the last couple of years. He was a very highly ranked junior and won both the prestigious Orange Bowl and he won the Junior Australian Open earlier this year. He is playing in his first ATP main draw singles match!

Junqueira is a 28-year old veteran who comes into the tournament ranked #73 in the world. He pushed Richard Gasquet to four sets at the Aussie Open earlier this year and is a bit more comfortable on clay than he is on the hard courts.

Match up:

This is the first career meeting between Bhambri and Junqueira. Bhambri has an outstanding forehand, solid backhand, is a comfortable volleyer, and has a peculiar service motion but it is effective! He needs to put on about 15 to 20 more pounds of muscle, but is working hard at the Academy all the time to build his strength. All of India will be watching him in this match, as he is one of the best young prospects in the world. Against Junqueira he has to hit with depth and put arc on the ball, he cannot hit it too flat and short otherwise he will be in major trouble. Junqueira is also a lefty and moves well, which can be a tricky combination for a young player to deal with. I feel if Bhambri can get ahead early and gain some confidence he can win this match. This match can really go either way, but I’ve got to go with my young student!

Nick’s Pick – Bhambri in 3 sets

It was great to see Taylor Dent back on the tennis court at the Aussie Open!

Day 1 one of the Aussie Open is in the books, and it was a record-breaking day for the crowds as there were over 46,000 people there during they day and another 15,000 at night. WOW!  It was also a  great start if you were a seeded player. The bottom half of the men’s draw was in action on Day 1, and that included defending champion Novak Djokovic, three-time champion Roger Federer, and American Andy Roddick. All three of those guys won their matches without dropping a set, as did every other seeded man on the bottom half except for Feliciano Lopez (he lostto Gilles Muller 16-14 in the fifth set, it was an incredible match).

I was very interested to watch the Federer match to see how he looked in his opener. First thing I have to say is that if a line judge misses three or more calls of balls that are out by 16-18 inches, you have to find out if that person needs glasses!!! Watching Federer just reminded me again how great he is. Without a doubt, he is the best all-around player on the tour. His speed and anticipation are off the wall, and he can with any shot in the book. Brad Gilbert made a comment during the match that I agree with. He said that Federer’s return of serve is not as offensive as it was a couple of years ago, this may hurt him down the line. Federer is definitely not the biggest server on tour, but he is certainly one of the smartest and can come up with the ace when needed. Also, many people don’t realize how much action and how heavy Federer’s second serve is. If Seppi could have put pressure on Federer’s second serve then this match would have been much closer. Speaking of Seppi, he is a very good player and has a possibility to become the first Italian to be ranked in the top-20 in 30 years (since Corrado Barazzutti in 1978)! Seppi had chances to get even in this match, but he couldn’t convert on his break chances because he didn’t play aggressive enough. He waited for Federer to make mistakes, and you can’t do that when you play against this guy. It was a very solid start for Federer, and I will be watching him closely throughout the rest of the tournament.

It was not a good start for the American men. There were nine in action and only three (Roddick, Fish, and Delic) won. Among the losers were two of our better young guys, Sam Querrey and John Isner. Delic faced another American, Taylor Dent, who was playing in his first Grand Slam since the 2006 Aussie Open. The match went five set, with Delic winning 6-4 in the fifth.  After three back operations doctors said Dent had a 20% chance of getting back on the court, but he didn’t let that deter him. He followed his heart and didn’t let anything deter him. He truly is an inspiration and even the other guys like Roddick were happy see him back out there. “From the sounds of it, for a while, you didn’t think he was going to come back with how severe his injuries were,” Roddick said. “So it’s a testament to him wanting to get back.” Despite the loss, I am sure Dent was thrilled to be back out there and we are all rooting him on! Congrats to Taylor and we look forward to seeing him back at the Academy training soon.

A couple of other notes on the men…

• What a match between Muller and Lopez. There are two things you look for when a match goes long like this. The first is tired legs (which Lopez had) and the second is hitting low percentage shots (too many from Lopez). Those were the big deciding factors in this match. I also want to commend the umpire of this match for using his head wisely and allowing the guys to take more time between points and during breaks. Everyone was battling temperatures in the 100′s, and this can really take a toll on your body.
• Watch out for Nalbandian. He looked good and could give the top guys fits. He is one of those players that if he is hot, he is capable of anything.
• Nice to see Santoro and Xavier Malisse get wins. Santoro defeated JC Ferrero and X (after qualifying) beat Michael Llodra. Next up for Santoro is Philipp Kohlschreiber and X will take on Roddick.
• A lot of people have asked me about Andy Murray’s chances, you can read my thoughts here from The Indepedent newspaper in London and what makes him so difficult to beat is his movement and anticipation. It’s as if his opponent is playing on a much bigger court than he is, and because of this his opponent’s get impatient and over-hit. That is what makes Murray so dangerous.

On the women’s side, there were no big upsets. Both Jankovic and Ivanovic won their openers, as did Safina, Zvonareva, Petrova, Wozniacki and Cornet. I really think it is going to be difficult for Ivanovic to win this tournament if she continues to serve like she did in her opening match. Her toss is all over the place and is causing her to hit to the opponent’s forehand side almost 100% of the time. I suggest she relaxes her arm a bit, because right now it is as stiff as a board. If she gets that toss under control, her chances of winning go up dramatically. Jankovic played fantastic tennis, and it look as though the hard-work she put in during the off-season is really paying off. The one thing you notice right now about the women’s tour is that they really miss Sharapova and Henin. What’s missing is the feistyness and competitiveness of Sharapova and the variety from Henin. Neither of those girls can be replaced…

Overall it was a fantastic Day 1, and I am really looking forward to Day 2!

Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. Christophe Rochus (BEL)

For the first time in his career, Nadal is the top seed of the Australian Open. His best finish came last year when he reached the semis before falling to Tsonga, and you would have to think that anything short of that in 2009 would be considered a disappointment. I will be very interested to see how Nadal looks in this match.

Rochus is a fun guy to watch. He stands at only 5’7″ and moves around the court like a road runner! He is currently ranked #75 in the world, but has been as high as #38. His beat appearance down under came all the way back in 2000, when he reached the fourth round.

The Match-Up:

This will be the first career meeting between Nadal and Rochus. It’s nice to see a guy like Rochus, at the age of 30, still going strong. Like I said before, he is so quick around the court, but as you get older this is one part of your game that you lose. I will be watching this match to see how Nadal is moving around the court and challenging balls, because I think this will give us a good indicator of how he is feeling and how he will play throughout the tournament. Rochus certainly doesn’t have the guns to compete with Nadal, but this will be an interesting match to keep your eye on.

Nick’s Pick – Nadal in 3 sets

Richard Gasquet (FRA) vs. Diego Junqueira (ARG)

Gasquet comes into the tournament ranked #25 in the world, which is way down from his career high of #7. The last two years he has faired well here, reaching the fourth round on both accounts. He could use a big tournament to help get back into the top 20.

Junqueira is a 28-year old Argentinean lefty who is ranked a career high of #76 in the world. This will only be his second main draw Grand Slam appearance, and his first at the Aussie Open. Last year he qualified for the French Open and reached the second round before falling to Ivan Ljubicic.

The Match-Up:

This will be the first career meeting between Gasquet and Junqueira. What a great opportunity this is for Junquiera to make a name for himself. He is a relative unknown at this point, but if he could pick up an upset that can certainly change overnight. However, defeating Gasquet is no easy task, especially with the way the ball bounces in Australia. For some time now, we have heard how good Gasquet is going to be and he has never been able to put it together and reach the finals of a Grand Slam. Now, some of the other French guys have passed him up in the rankings (Monfils, Simon, Tsonga) and that has to motivate him to get back to the top. I look for Gasquet to come out and play a strong match and make a statement.

Nick’s Pick – Gasquet in 3 sets

Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) vs. Mischa Zverev (GER)

Del Potro comes into the tournament ranked #9 in the world, and for the first time he is a top-ten seed in a Grand Slam. How he follows up a great 2008 season is going to be one of the most interesting story lines of 2009. Can he continue on that success, or take a step backwards?

Zverev is a 21-year old German that is currently ranked #80 in the world. He is a tough competitor and in 2008 he reached the quarterfinals of two tournaments. This is someone to watch out for in the next couple of years.

The Match-Up:

This is the first career meeting between these two young talents, and should be a good one. Zverev is a lefty, and they are always tricky to play against so Del Potro will have to be ready for that. The big story about Del Potro is his energy. I liken his run in 2008 to a big F-18 that was firing on all cylinders and then one of the engines goes out. For a while there, Del Potro was unbeatable, but then it looked like he tired out and just couldn’t go anymore. He needs to manage his playing schedule a bit more closely this year and that will help him maintain his mental focus. For this match, I believe Del Potro just has too many weapons for Zverev and that will be the difference.

Nick’s Pick – Del Potro in 4 sets

Roger Federer (SUI) vs. Andreas Seppi (ITA)

Federer doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone, but if could start the year by winning this tournament that would certainly be a big boost to his confidence. He needs a solid start here, and a good win over a talented player would definitely be that.

Seppi is a 24-year old Italian that is ranked #34 in the world. He is a big boy, 6’3″, and plays like it. This is his fourth Australian Open, and he has never been past the second round.

The Match-Up:

Federer is 3-0 against Seppi, and just beat him a couple of weeks ago in Doha 6-3, 6-3. Like Nadal, all eyes will be on Federer, looking to see how he is moving and where he is mentally. I really like Federer’s chances at winning this tournament, and having just beat Seppi recently will definitely help him out.

Nick’s Pick – Federer in 3 sets

Other matches of interest:

Here are some of the other matches that I will be keeping my eye on during the first round.

Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) vs. Fernando Gonzalez (ARG) – This is quite the first round match! I will be looking to see how Gonzalez plays without Larry Stefanki by his side. That is a compelling story line to me. Hewitt has been hut as of late and without a doubt will have the crowd behind him. This is a must see match!

Kei Nishikori (JPN) vs. Jurgen Melzer (AUT) – We hope Nishikori’s arm is feeling better, because it caused him to pull out of a tournament last week. This is a big chance for Kei to continue his climb up the rankings and the entire Academy will be rooting him on! Watch out though, because Melzer is one heck of a competitor.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) vs. Juan Monaco (ARG) – This is another excellent first round match. Can Tsonga find the magic that worked for him in 2008? I sure hope so, because he has a lot of points to defend!

Sam Querrey (USA) vs. Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) – I’m looking for Querrey to have a big year, and I think he is one of the best young Americans we have. He just reached the finals last week and is playing excellent tennis.

Juan Carlos Ferrero vs. Fabrice Santoro (FRA) – Here is a great match between two veterans. I’m sad to here that Santoro is retiring this year, and I will be following him closely throughout 2009!

Marat Safin (RUS) vs. Ivan Navarro (ESP) – The fun thing about Safin is that you never know what the heck is going to happen!! He is a former champion here and the crowd loves him. He is one of my favorite guys to watch and I without a doubt I’ll be watching this one.