Stella Artois Championships Friday Preview
Back to list >Dmitry Tursonov v Tim Henman
PLAYED: Tursonov leads 3-0
Tim Henman reaches a critical point in the Stella Artois championships today, not because anyone doubts his ability to progress in a tournament where he has been a finalist three times but because he is being a challenged to record a first victory over his opponent Dmitry Tursonov. In three of the past four Grand Slam championships Tursonov has had the better of Henman and now that they are to meet again one player will be trying to amend history,the other to continue it. Henman promises to play the way he has been through the weekand keep concentrating. "If I go and play the way I have been I think I've got a good chance of beating him," he says. "If I play like that and lose then I'll shake his hand and say 'too good'." The 23-year-old Tursonov, Moscow born and California resident, put down his marker on grass against Henman with a five set second round win at Wimbledon last year so will not be short of optimism.If it is impossible to sense where Henman believes he is heading this week at least he has pulled off a sequence of victories after a period of tournament play where he has under produced. A combination of positive factors this week could see see Henman inmto the semi-finals.
Verdict: Henman to march on
Rafael Nadal v Lleyton Hewitt
PLAYED: Hewitt leads 3-1
The heat should now be on the Stella Artois debutant Rafael Nadal as he faces the former world No 1 Lleyton Hewitt. But there has already been plenty of heat in Nadal's direction in play yesterday when he required three hours and three sets to dispose of his fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco to reach the last eight. If Nadal had expected to learn more about grass court play when he came to this tournament the evidence was there point by point yesterday. Hewitt, no stranger here, may have dropped out of the top ten in the world but he knows the business on grass as underlined by his victory at Wimbledon in 2002 and championship years he at Queen's Club in 2000, 2001, and 2002. Hewitt has won three out of four matches against Nadal and whenever they have met an element of endurance has been involved. Nadal won their last clash in the fourth round of the French Open but Hewitt observes of the Spanish players in general: "Even though grass isn't their favourite and best surface these guys are classs players and are able to play well."
Verdict: Hewitt to pile on the pressure
James Blake v Gael Monfils
PLAYED: Monfils leads 1-0
At 13th seed Gael Monfils, the former world junior champion, has made a breakthrough on grass to reach his first quarterfinal at the age of 19. With a world ranking of 23rd which should improve before Wimbledon he now takes on the fifth seed James Blake just a matter of days of their meeting in the French championships. On that occasion Monfils won in five sets and judging by the way he defeated second seed Ivan Ljubicic here yesterday he will go into this contest with a fair degree of confidence. His victory reflected much graft and commitment and a belief in where he was going. On the way he fashioned a shot which has been replayed on television more than once--his back to the court, on the baseline, and a flick just inside the tramlines which ran on for a clear winner which Monfils saluted in style. Blake will try to put the lid on that sort of activity from his opponent and, instead, set up his own command of this quarter final which is unknown territory for him on grass as much as his opponent.
Verdict: Blake to edge through
Fernando Gonzalez v Andy Roddick
PLAYED: Roddick leads 4-2
Defending Stella Artois champion Andy Roddick has already beaten Fernando Gonzalez on grass this year in a Davis Cup tie played in California in April and has plenty of respect for the Chilean who was a quarter finalist at Wimbledon last year, losing to champion Roger Federer. "I say watch out for him, he is going to be dangerous on grass," says Roddick who had a long day of waiting to play yesterday before delighting the evening audience on court one. Roddick more than expected an experienced field at this stage of the tournament and has seen some strong contenders come through to the last eight--"Queen's has probably the strongest field as far as grass court playes go"--and knows there is keen competition for the title he has held for three years. The question for Gonzalez is whether he can close the gap,sixth seed on third seed.He has the equipment and game plan to do some damage and with Roddick trying to raise his serve-volley attack to influential levels this should be a well defined contest.
Verdict: Roddick to maintain his status
Frantisek Cermak and Leos Friedl v Mark Knowles and Daniel Nestor
Cermak and Friedl, the all Czech pairing, are sixth seeds for the doubles title and go into this quarter final against the partnership of Daniel Nestor and Mark Knowles after winning titles in Buenos Aires and Acapulco this year and runners up in two other finals. Knowles and Nestor have been a team for 12 years and this year have won titles in Rome, Indian Wells, and Delray Beach.
Verdict: Knowles and Nestor to move on.
James Blake and Mardy Fish v Jonas Bjorkman and Max Mirnyi
Bjorkman and Mirnyi, the current French champions and one of the most successful teams on the tour, strike out for a semi-final place against the American pairing of James Blake and Mardy Fish who came into the doubles as a wild card entry and have already won two matches. Bjorkman and Mirnyi have already beaten another wild card pairing, James Auckland and Jamie Delgado.
Verdict: Bjorkman and Mirnyi to take command