Quarterfinal Preview

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By Barry Newcombe

Andy Murray v Andy Roddick
Played—Murray leads 4-2

This is now Murray's best run in the Artois Championships as his place in the quarter-finals underlines but when he was slipping and sliding around the court yesterday there were many who feared for his immediate fitness. But he survived and now the challenge for the British No. 1 moves on to one of the most experienced grass court players in the field, Andy Roddick. Murray's record against Roddick includes the victory in the fourth round at Wimbledon in 2006 which was their only meeting on grass.

Murray has been building his game on grass for just over week but, along with everyone else, has had to cope with what the weather has thrown at the tournament, yesterday's skid on the Centre Court underlining what can happen. He resumes today against Roddick who has already won the Artois title four times and knows the business of winning on grass inside out. In both camps there is some concern about injuries, Roddick and his shoulder, Murray and a thumb problem which was being examined this morning.

Verdict—Murray to remain optimistic

Richard Gasquet v David Nalbandian
Played-Nalbandian leads 5-0

Richard Gasquet reaches his 22nd birthday on Wednesday and surely one aspect of his celebration is that he has become the best French player on grass, infinitely better than his record on European clay, and obviously believes there is more to come. He won a key match yesterday against the Croatian Mario Ancic which lifted his confidence another rung and is starting to believe that his grass court game is falling into place at the right time. His pedigree includes a Wimbledon semi-final appearance last year and he says that he is ready for Wimbledon yet again. But he insists: "I want to keep going in Queen's. It's a great tournament, I am in the quarter-finals, I want to go far. Why not?"

David Nalbandian may be a big part of the answer to "Why not." He would not readily concede ground against Gasquet having beaten him five times, one of those victories being in straight sets at Wimbledon in 2005. All of this suggests an intriguing match to decide a quarter-final place with both players liking what they have achieved so far.

Verdict-Gasquet to hold an edge

Rafael Nadal v Ivo Karlovic
Played—Nadal leads 1-0

The quarter-final round of the Artois Championships has, so far, been a barrier for the top seed Rafael Nadal because in his two years here this is where his interest in the tournament has come to a halt. In 2006 he retired with a sore back after two sets against Lleyton Hewitt and last year he was beaten by Nicolas Mahut. Now Ivo Karlovic of Croatia stands in his way and at 6ft 10ins he definitely occupies a lot of space. He also knows how to play on grass and has a spectacular serve as his ace record proves beyond doubt. He served 1,318 aces last year, the second highest since 1991, and also won titles on three different surfaces. This year he has served 412 aces in 27 matches.

He is a difficult opponent when he is on song and uses his height (he is the tallest player to rank in the top 100) to good effect. Nadal had to win through on a slippery court last evening and in one memorable game against Kei Nishikori of Japan fell over twice, once into the net with his legs sticking through to his opponent's half of the court. That is all part of the learning process on grass and he will be looking today to add to his previous win over Karlovic on a fast carpet court in Milan in 2004 (when Karlovic served 25 aces). A calculator may come in handy.

Verdict-Nadal into the semi-finals


Lleyton Hewitt v Novak Djokovic
Played-Djokovic leads 2-1

Novak Djokovic played until beyond 9 pm last evening before defeating his fellow Serbian Janko Tipsaveric to earn the right to play the former champion in the quarter-finals of the Artois Championships. Djokovic needed to play three sets to win the match which finished in reasonably bright conditions which gave the Serb the platform for his best performance in this tournament. The second seeded Djokovic, the 2008 Australian champion, has only played Hewitt in Grand Slam tournaments.

Hewitt won the first match in the US Open in 2006 but Djokovic beat Hewitt in four close sets in Wimbledon last year and then again in Australia in January. Hewitt has won this title four times and a record fifth awaits if he can go all the way to Sunday's final and win that. But he will be under real pressure today from Djokovic who has been battling away in the slipstream of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, conceding little. He has made himself a man to watch.

Verdict-Djokovic to stay in the title hunt