Stella Artois Championships: Final Preview

Back to list >

By Boris Becker

(1)Andy Roddick vs (5)Sebastien Grosjean: Roddick leads 3-1

I remember saying last year that the final between Andy Roddick and Sebastien Grosjean for the Stella Artois championship was not one which the form book anticipated. The same applied this year because Tim Henman had a big run to the semi-finals at the French Open and there was a good chance that he would do well here in one of his home tournaments and so close to Wimbledon. But Henman, at fourth seed, had gone after his first match. Third seed Andre Agassi and second seed Guillermo Coria also went out in their first matches.

So I guess it is no real surprise that first seed Roddick and fifth seed Grosjean are in the final. They could see the way ahead from the start and played themselves into the tournament, both against different types of players with different objectives and different skills. So what has changed since last year when Roddick won the title over Grosjean 6-3 6-3? The most important alteration is with Roddick because he has since won his first Grand Slam, the 2003 US Open last September, and become world No 1 in the year since he was here at Queens Club.

I know how he would have felt with achieving those two targets so close together in his career. He will now want more Slams and to regain that top spot in the world and you cannot argue with my belief that he is well equipped to do so as he approaches his 22nd birthday in August. Since the French Open last month, when they were both beaten in the second round, Roddick and Grosjean have regrouped for the challenge of grass and made a very good job of it. Roddick is always going to be comfortable on grass because it adds so much to his game and Grosjean is also comfortable after reaching the final here last year and also the semi-finals at Wimbledon.

I am not so sure I would have liked playing against Grosjean because he is not as tall as some opponents and that makes his serve difficult to handle. His returns are consistent enough to put a lot of balls back into play and his footwork around the court is also excellent. Apart from that one victory on clay in their first meeting in 2002, Grosjean has been beaten by Roddick in their last three matches. I do keep it in my mind that Grosjean beat Henman on grass last year both here and at Wimbledon.

They are sound wins on the Grosjean record. The link between success at the Stella Artois and at Wimbledon is well chronicled as I can testify from my own experience. We have a huge tournament here and if you are in the final you should go on to Wimbledon almost ready. I guess Roddick will still be putting in some more specific work with his coach Brad Gilbert with whom he has been working for just over a year and I know that Grosjean is off to France for a couple of days before returning to prepare for Wimbledon.

I hear Grosjean takes France to win against England 2-1 in Euro 2004 tonight. We shall see. Meanwhile, my belief for the Stella Artois championship final is that Roddick will win to repeat last year's triumph. Later, I have a little activity of my own. I will be playing my old friend and rival Henri Leconte. I beat him ten times in 13 matches when we were on the tour and three of those wins were on grass. I really hope I can get another win today in a return to the court I remember so well.

Verdict: Andy Roddick (and his 153 mph serve) to come through as champion.

Back to list >