Stella Artois Day Three Preview

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By Barry Newcombe

Greg Rusedski v Hicham Arazi: Rusedski leads 2-1
Rusedski and Arazi have met three times before,but never on grass,but three years have passed since their last match when Arazi was the winner. Apart from today's match there is reasonable cause to expect them to meet in the autumn when Great Britain's team is away to Morocco in the Davis Cup world group relegation decider. Rusedski is feeling pleased with his progress in a short time and obviously would like to add another victory to his record at the Stella Artois.Arazi,30,has always been a busy player with a considerable record in Grand Slam play where he has been most successful on Parisian clay.

Verdict: Rusedski to earn a third round test against Andy Roddick, the third seed.

Lleyton Hewitt v Raemon Sluiter: Sluiter leads 1-0
Lleyton Hewitt, the Stella Artois champion for the past two years and Wimbledon champion last year,is back on the Centre Court to defend his title-having already had an opening match in doubles where he is playing with his fellow Australian Mark Philippoussis. This is an important month for Hewitt's ambitions because he did not make any serious impact in either the Australian or French Opens and Wimbledon,of course, is just around the corner. So here is Hewitt with a new coach and a very sharp haircut known in the business as a number one.Sluiter was a semi-finalist in the Stella Artois last year, losing to Tim Henman, and has an edge on Hewitt in that he beat him in their only meeting in Stockholm last year.

Verdict: Hewitt to start in style


Richard Krajicek v Jan Vacek: Never previously met
Jan Vacek is having a week of shaking hands with Wimbledon champions. He moves on from beating Goran Ivanisevic to play a second Wimbledon winner in Krajicek for the prize of facing a third in Andre Agassi. Vacek will be aware that both of his opening opponents are wild cards into the tournament but Krajicek has fewer problems in terms of immediate injuries than Ivanisevic and would also relish the prospect of facing Agassi. Vacek has his best Wimbledon last year with a fourth round place while Krajicek made the last eight.

Verdict: Wide open with Krajicek's grass court experience being a key factor.


Alex Bogdanovic v Anthony Dupuis: Never previously met
The 19-year-old Bogdanovic is the third British player remaining in the field having justified his wild card entry by beating fellow Briton Arvind Parmar in a three set first round match stretching over two hours and 23 minutes.Dupuis,who is 30,played Wayne Arthurs, the 16th seed and well respected server, in his first match and sank to his knees at the moment of victory, kissing the court to mark the achievement.

Verdict: Big rewards for both players with Bogdanovic, in good form this past week, having a great chance.


Max Mirnyi v Cyril Saulnier: Mirnyi leads 1-0
Mirnyi comes into the Stella Artois from the French Open where he was beaten in singles in the first round but made the quarter finals of the doubles where he was second seed with Mahesh Bhupathi. Saulnier,21,was a wild card entry into the French and also lost in the first round. Mirnyi has been coming to the Stella Artois since 1998,when he has his first tour win as a qualifier, and is a strong doubles player having won the US Open last year. Mirnyi won their only match in 1999 in Andorra, which does not have much relation to Queen's Club.

Verdict: Mirnyi to move on.

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