Stella Artois Championships: Tuesday Preview

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By Barry Newcombe

Goran Ivanisevic v Victor Hanescu: First meeting

It is always special when a Wimbledon champion goes to business on a grass court and that is certainly the case today with Goran Ivanisevic starting his bid in the Stella Artois against the Romanian Victor Hanescu. It is their first meeting.Three years ago Ivanisevic,as a wild card,gained the Wimbledon title in that classic Monday finish against Patrick Rafter,having been runner up in three previous finals.Ivansevic intends to play at Wimbledon this year and,competitively,that may be the last we will see of him.Ivanisevic has played ten singles this year, winning two, one in Milan against the Czech Bohdan Ulihrach and the other against Nicolas Escude of France in Miami.He has been beaten in six other starts and now at the Stella Artois,where he was runner up to Mark Philippoussos in 1997,he has a demanding opener against Hanescu who made his Wimbledon debut last year and reached the third round,losing there to Sjeng Schalken.

Verdict: Hanescu to ask some awkward questions.

Andre Agassi v Igor Andreev: First meeting.

Andre Agassi's first singles in the Stella Artois this year(he was on court at the end of yesterday's sun-drenched day of record crowds playing doubles)brings him up against the 20-year-old Russian Igor Andreev who also had the benefit of competition on the opening day with a win over the French teenager Richard Gasquet. This was quite a feat by Andreev because the first time he played on grass was when he practised on a back court on Sunday.The third seeded Agassi took a wild card into the Stella Artois after being beaten in the first round of the French Open. At 34 he is an icon in the game he has played with such distinction for approaching 19 years.He has gained eight Grand Slam titles on the way and is one of that rare breed to have won all four Grand Slam championships. His victory at Wimbledon was in 1992.Agassi was a semi-finalist at the 2003 Stella Artois.

Verdict: Agassi's experience to prove too much for Andreev.

Andy Roddick v Karol Kucera: Roddick leads 2-0

For Andy Roddick the Stella Artois is a clear reminder of where, mostly,the rhythms of the game began to run his way.By November he was world No 1,a status he still held at the end of the year,after winning his second title of 2003 here at Queens Club.At this tournament he came through a sequence of tests against Greg Rusedski, Taylor Dent,Andre Agassi(after saving a match point),and then Sebastien Grosjean to win the title.Doubtless fuelled by the fact that he served at 149mph here he went on to make the semi-finals at Wimbledon where Roger Federer ended his charge. But no one halted Roddick at the US Open.Karol Kucera also had his best year in 2003 as he headed towards his 30th birthday in March and can always be counted on to make his skills produce dividends, especially on a fast surface.

Verdict: Top seeded Roddick to start off eager and ambitious.

Sjeng Schalken v Wesley Whitehouse: First meeting

Sjeng Schalken has long ago taken over from Richard Krajicek as the top Dutch player and has fully enjoyed and proved that status with a string of successes around the world,some of them on grass where his durable game gives him an edge over a great many opponents. Here in the second round of the Stella Artois eighth seeded Schalken starts against the qualifier Wesley Whitehouse of South Africa whose other match victories this year were in diverse locations such as Joplin,Missouri,Qatar,and Lebanon,all some way removed from the main tour.Schalken's record on grass commands respect with back to back quarter final appearances at Wimbledon(he was beaten last year by the eventual champion Roger Federer).In 2002 he was the only player to win sets against the eventual champion Lleyton Hewitt.In other words Schalken creates problems for the best.

Verdict: Schalken ready to move into the last 16.

Ian Flanagan v Mark Philippoussis: First meeting

Ian Flanagan,who is based in Nottingham,deserves his place on a show court at the Stella Artois having come through the qualifying rounds with a ranking of 947th in the world.His reward is a first round match against the former champion here and last year's runner-up at Wimbledon,Mark Philippoussis.Flanagan is 22 but missed out on playing between the ages of 16 to 19 because of glandular fever. Now that he is firmly committed to the game he is aiming to reach a place in the top 100 and says: "It is all about confidence,if you have a couple of good wins you think you can mix it with these guys." Philippoussis had a great year in 2003 when he started serving aces to such good effect at Wimbledon that he stormed to the final for the first time.He ran out the year by finishing in the top ten,also for the first time,but would be the first to admit that the record has suffered this year. Perhaps Stella Artois, with all its good memories, will be a place to start the repair work.

Verdict: Philippoussis to start well.

Thomas Enqvist v Takao Suzuki: Suzuki leads 1-0

At 30 Thomas Enqvist has a long and outstanding career behind him. That career includes many appearances at the Stella Artois and there will be no question that he will like his chances of gaining a first round win over the qualifier Takao Suzuki of Japan who,in fact,was the victor in their only previous meeting in 1998. Although 2003 saw Enqvist miss out on a top 50 place for the first time since 1994 the Swede has already achieved one of the more significant feats of this year by winning both singles in the Davis Cup win over holders Australia.Enqvist's best two years at Wimbledon were in 2000,when he reached the fourth round, and 2001 when he was a quarter finalist, losing to Pat Rafter. He is also a former junior champion at Wimbledon.Suzuki,who is coached by the Italian Claudio Pistolesi,likes the attacking serve and volley game.

Cyril Saulnier v Robby Ginepri: Saulnier leads 3-1

Cyril Saulnier had an impressive tourmament at the Stella Artois last year after reaching the third round in his first appearance and taking Tim Henman to three sets.He then qualified for Wimbledon for the first time and lost in the second round to Mark Philippoussis. In other words he is comfortable on a grass court. So,it seems, is his first round opponent ,the 12th seeded Robby Ginepri from the United States.His record includes a good performance here after qualifying two years ago and he has been moving steadily up the world rankings. He lost at Wimbledon in the first round on his debut last year but attracted attention by becoming the first player to wear a sleeveless shirt.

Verdict: Ginepri to live up to his heritage.

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