Stella Artois Championships: Semifinal Preview
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© Getty ImagesLee will be hoping to reach his third career ATP final.
By Barry Newcombe
Andy Roddick v Lleyton Hewitt: Hewitt leads 3-0
A first meeting on grass between two of the favourites for Wimbledon gives even more spice to the Stella Artois semi-final between two former champions here at Queens Club in Andy Roddick and Lleyton Hewitt. Whichever way you look at this clash of two men who have each held the world No 1 ranking, the match itself promises a succession of dramatic moments as two of the best fast court practitioners in the game seek supremacy. If speed was everything, Roddick gave himself a critical boost by lifting his world record serving speed by just one mile an hour to 153 mph in yesterday's quarter-final against Paradorn Srichaphan. Any repeats will be a bonus to Roddick's power game which is almost perfectly constructed to take the benefits from a grass court, this being their first meeting on the surface. Roddick says there is no better preparation for Wimbledon than playing a player like Lleyton Hewitt and says he is excited at the prospect. Hewitt, with a game equipped to cope with big serving, says he is "doing all the little things pretty well" and rated his current form as "seven on a scale of ten. " Obviously there will not be much between the 21-year-old Roddick and the 23-year-old Hewitt, at least when they start. Roddick's world ranking is better (without relating to anything that has happened this week) and his 10-1 record on grass last summer is part of an argument in his favour. He has never beaten Hewitt. Previous matches 2001 Miami Ericsson Open quarter-final Hewitt 6-3 6-2 2001 French Open third round Hewitt 6-7(6) 6-4 2-2 ret 2001 US Open quarter final Hewitt 6-7(5)6-3 6-4 6-4.
Verdict: Roddick to reach the final for a second year in a row
Hyung-Taik Lee v Sebastien Grosjean: First meeting
Sebastien Grosjean, on grass, is truly a graduate of the Stella Artois school. The first time he competed on grass here was in the junior event in 1996 when he was beaten in the first round. He has come on since in this tournament and his record going into today's semi-final--his fourth on the tour this year--is nine wins against three losses. Grosjean made a career leap on grass last year by reaching the final of the Stella Artois and defeating three times champion Lleyton Hewitt in the quarter final round and Tim Henman in the semi-final. Grosjean was beaten by Andy Roddick in the final but bounced on to make the semi-finals at Wimbledon, the third French player to do so since the game went open in 1968. Grosjean has won all of his three matches at the Stella Artois this year in straight sets and is in a strong position to do so again against his semi-final oppponent who he plays for the first time. Hyung-Taik Lee ranks 99th in the world and came into the main draw from the qualifying event. He was a quarter finalist here two years ago and has defeated Greg Rusedski and two seeds, Robby Ginepri and Sjeng Schalken, on his way to the last four.
Verdict: Grosjean in form for another win
Bob and Mike Bryan v Max Mirnyi and Nenad Zimonjic: First
meeting
Played-never previously met The 26-year-old Bryan twins, Bob and Mike, Bob beging the younger by two minutes, come from a tennis playing family and have developed into a formidable doubles team since they first went on the road in 1995. Last year they won five titles from eight finals, a first Grand Slam at the French Open, and came close to adding the Australian and French titles this year. They are the top seeds for the Stella Artois title and take on 6ft 5ins Max Mirnyi of Belarus, runner up for the Wimbledon doubles title last year, and the 6ft 4ins Serbian Nenad Zimonjic.
Verdict: The Bryans to move on to the final and aim
for a repeat of their 2001 success at the Stella Artois