Stella Artois Quarterfinal Preview
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© Getty ImagesDent: Defeated Roddick in Memphis.
By Barry Newcombe and Boris Becker
The Boris Becker match: Taylor Dent v Andy Roddick
"I know how to win the title here. I did it four times starting when nobody knew me in 1985. This is where I was first called Boom Boom Becker. And I am very pleased to be here in the 25th year of the Stella Artois.
"I know all about the value of big serving and that is why I am intrigued as to how Taylor Dent and Andy Roddick come into today's match and how they deal with it. One thing is certain-they will be putting down some fast, well placed serves. I wish I was out there as well-but I have to wait until Sunday to go back on the Centre Court here for the exhibition against Stefan Edberg.
"I hear that Roddick served at 148 mph in one of his matches this week. That gives him a platform to take control at the net and will be part of the learning process he still has to go through on grass. Remember he has only reached the third round at Wimbledon in a couple of attempts and now that he is nearly 21 he will be looking to make a breakthrough.
"I have seen Taylor Dent before and know his capabilities. I know what his father Phil did on grass and you have to respect that heritage. But I look at Roddick and recognise he has a lot of time to prepare for this tournament after losing early in the French Open. Roddick has a new coach in Brad Gilbert and they are building something together. hey have used that time. I think that what they are building will include a win today."
Lleyton Hewitt v Sebastien Grosjean:Hewitt leads 6-2
By chance there is one grass court match between these two players which took place neither here in the Stella Artois or at Wimbledon. Lleyton Hewitt and Sebastien Grosjean played on a specially laid grass court in the Davis Cup final in Melbourne in 2001. Hewitt won that one in straight sets and now has six wins against two defeats against his French opponent. Hewitt feels he is making progress this week and respects the fact that Grosjean is a classy player who can adapt his game to all surfaces and has a very strong forehand. Hewitt is also progressing in the doubles here but rules out adding to his workload by including doubles in Grand Slam play. He was, of course, US Open doubles champion in 2000.Grosjean missed the grass court sector of the year in 2002 and his best so far at Wimbledon is a fourth round place in 1998.
Verdict: Hewitt to respond to the pressure and make the last four.
Anthony Dupuis v Tim Henman: Henman leads 1-0
Tim Henman has had to work hard to win two matches in the Stella Artois and moves on from one French challenge to another with Anthony Dupuis replacing Cyril Saulnier on the opposite side of the net. There seemed to be some common agreement that the courts in the third round were reacting to yesterday's heat and were playing a fraction faster and in view of today's weather forecast they may be quicker yet again for the quarter finals. Henman knows the road to the final here so well that he will know that the demands are growing round by round and that the match he had on an indoor carpet court against Dupuis in 2001 has very little bearing now. Dupuis started off with a win over the 16th seeded Australian Wayne Arthurs and will make the most of his chances today.
Verdict: Henman to start raising the tempo.
Xavier Malisse v Andre Agassi: Agassi leads 3-0.
Like Hewitt v Grosjean, this is a quarter-final between players who were actually seeded to meet at this stage and Agassi, the older man by ten years, has had slightly less rest overnight having been kept on court until past 8 p.m. defeating Richard Krajicek in a match of former Wimbledon champions. This is their first match on grass and if Agassi has a better record of achievement on the surface with a Wimbledon title and runner-up place to his credit, then Malisse had the stronger statement last year with a semi-final place in only his third appearance in the championships. He was beaten by David Nalbandian in a five set match thereafter. Both men could try to win from the back of the court today and the onus will be on Malisse to break the pattern of victory which Agassi has established against him.
Verdict: Agassi to keep control.
Mark Knowles and Daniel Nestor v Paradorn Srichapan and Nenad Zimonjic
Knowles and Nestor are a long term well established doubles team with a great record of success on the tour and are top seeds here at the Stella Artois. They were in three out of four Grand Slam doubles finals last year with a victory in the Australian Open and runners-up places at the French Open and Wimbledon. Srichapan, who was fourth seed in the singles here but beaten in the second round is paired with the 27-year-old Yugoslav Zimonjic who has won five doubles titles on the tour.
Verdict: Knowles and Nestor to move into the semi finals.