Stella Artois Day Four Preview

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By Barry Newcombe

Lleyton Hewitt v Dick Norman: Never previously met.
Lleyton Hewitt, the reigning Stella Artois and Wimbledon champion, was extended to three sets at the start of his title defence here against the Dutchman Raemon Sluiter and mow moves over the border in terms of opposition to play the Belgian Dick Norman. They have never met before and Hewitt remembers practising against the 6ft 8ins Norman just once. "You have to try and open up some plays, you are going to have to take small opportunities on his serve," insists Hewitt. Norman broke into the top 100 in the world last year at the age of 31.He has played at Wimbledon just once and beat Stefan Edberg before losing to Boris Becker in the fourth round. Which is not a bad once.

Verdict: Hewitt to show he is on his way on grass.

Cyril Saulnier v Tim Henman: Never previously met.
Tim Henman was saying after his first lengthy match in the Stella Artois that he would prefer a quicker court than was available on that day. But he could be in position to change his view if he comes through his second test today and builds a little more confidence and current experience at the same time. The Stella Artois is, after all, the first grass court tournament in Europe since Wimbledon last year and so many players are finding their way. Henman's way is now blocked by a new opponent in the French player, Saulnier, aged 27, whose performances this year include taking Andy Roddick through three close sets in Miami in March.

Verdict: Henman to ease his concerns and move on to the last eight.

Sjeng Schalken v Taylor Dent: Dent leads 2-0
Taylor Dent continues a family tradition by playing in the Stella Artois where his father Phil was a well-known competitor in singles and doubles. If Dent is to take the family name into the quarter-finals he has to maintain his grip on Schalken who he has beaten twice on hard courts, once in Miami in 2001 and again in Stockholm last year. Dent had his best Wimbledon last year, reaching the third round, but Schalken, who is sixth seed here, has been playing at Wimbledon since 1995 and had his best run, to the quarter finals, only last year. Schalken was also a semi-finalist at the Stella Artois last year and is in the third round this time after having a walkover against the injured Todd Martin.

Verdict: Schalken to break the Dent grip.

Greg Rusedski v Andy Roddick: Rusedski leads 1-0
Whether it makes much difference remains to be seen but Rusedski has a comforting record against the third seeded Roddick in that he beat him in straight sets on the grass at Wimbledon only last summer. Much has happened to Rusedski since then(including a nine month lay off) but after a great deal of grass court activity in the past two weeks he is starting to feel more comfortable with his form and the knowledge that the more he wins the more it becomes a habit. Rusedski did not have his service broken in his last match--and that must help the confidence level as well. Roddick will be 21 in August and has reached the third round twice in his Wimbledon challenges. He is a wise player and fierce competitor with a vastly experienced coach in Brad Gilbert who used to work with Andre Agassi.

Verdict: Rusedski to find the going tougher.

Richard Krajicek v Andre Agassi: Tied 3-3
It is a demonstration of the quality of entry in this 25th year of the Stella Artois that two Wimbledon champions meet in the third round-Krajicek took the Wimbledon crown in 1996 and Agassi was champion in 1992(and runner up in 1999). Krajicek was on court until past 8 p.m. yesterday and may be engaged to a similar hour today. They are here from differing competitive backgrounds these days with Agassi, at 33,still firmly on the world circuit while Krajicek has assured us that he is slowing down his tournament commitments and may not be seen for much longer--with perhaps a last fling at the English summer circuit next year. Even so it is rewarding to see such respected champions come into competition here and it will be intriguing to see how they handle the day.

Verdict: Agassi to move on to the quarterfinals.

Mahesh Bhupathi and Max Mirnyi v Jarkko Nieminen and Raemon Sluiter
Bhupathi, a long time doubles specialist, won five doubles titles with four different partners last year when he played for most of the time with Mirnyi. Together they were finalists in the Stella Artois last year and were quarter finalists at Wimbledon. They won the US Open doubles title last autumn. In this second round doubles match they face Nieminen and Sluiter, the latter having pushed the singles champion Lleyton Hewitt to three sets in singles yesterday.

Verdict: Bhupathi and Mirnyi to show their skills.

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