Thursday Preview: Stars Aim for Quarterfinals

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By Barry Newcombe

Lleyton Hewitt v Max Mirnyi: Tied 2-2
Before Lleyton Hewitt really started to make his mark in Grand Slam singles competition he joined forces with the 6ft 5ins Max Mirnyi to win the US Open doubles in 2000 which was the first Grand Slam title for either player. Hewitt has gone on from that point to win both Wimbledon and the US Open singles titles while Mirnyi has won the US Open doubles for a second time and only last weekend won the French Open doubles. In singles play, Hewitt and Mirnyi have two wins each with Hewitt winning the last match in Sydney at the start of this year. It was in that same city, of course, that Mirnyi removed Hewitt from the Olympic tournament in 2000. Hewitt is three times champion in the Stella Artois and says he is feeeling good after two breaks from the tour caused by injury.

Verdict: Hewitt to stay in command

Tim Henman v Chris Guccione: First Meeting
Tim Henman has been runner up three times at the Stella Artois and started well enough to convince his many supporters here that he can go at least as far this year when he is competing in the tournament for a 12th time. With a quarter final place at stake Henman now faces the 19-year-old Australian Chris Guccione who came through the qualifying tournament to the main draw and has since won two matches, the second of them against the 13th seed Igor Andreev of Russia. Guccione ranks 188th in the world and won a round in his debut in the Australian Open last year. This is the sixth ATP tournament in which Guccione has played and it is the first time he has won two matches in an event.

Verdict: Henman to nail down that place in the last eight

Mario Ancic v Richard Gasquet: First Meeting
This is fifth seed against tenth seed, Croatia against France, a 21-year-old against an 18-year-old, both of whom have a victory over world No 1 Roger Federer to remember with pride. Ancic should have the edge here because he has more experience on grass having played Wimbledon three times with a semi-final appearance last year after beating Tim Henman in the quarter finals. Neither Ancic or Gasquet has won a senior tournament but there is plenty of evidence to suggest that they will in the future. Gasquet, meanwhile, as a former world No 1 junior, has to work out how to challenge Ancic in the knowledge that he has a good track record on grass. Gasquet made his Wimbledon debut last year, losing his first match.

Verdict: Ancic to move on

Andrew Murray v Thomas Johansson: First Meeting
The roar which greeted Andrew Murray's arrival in the last 16 of the Stella Artois championships last night must have been heard all over West London. Perhaps beyond.
The salute which Murray received when he served his final ace against Taylor Dent was a clearcut message. The sun-baked crowds at Queen's Club have taken the 18-year-old Scot to their hearts.
What perfect timing Murray has displayed in making his mark so close to Wimbledon where he is guaranteed an entry via a wild card. He will be a marked man for the rest of the Stella Artois and then on to Wimbledon.He is sensible enough to let his racket do the talking for him, making neither promises nor threats. He says he has never played in such big matches or before such crowds as the Stella Artois has presented to him. Without actually saying so, he is enjoying himself point by point. It is all glorious stuff.
Now, reality may beckon. Murray's opponent to decide a place in the last eight is the Swede Thomas Johansson, champion of Australia in 2002. Johansson is ranked 20th in the world, 337 places higher than Murray.
Of course 30-year-old players like Johansson do not necessarily enjoy taking on fast rising teenagers like Murray. Johansson has little to gain, much to lose. The atmosphere may well mirror the intensity of a Davis Cup match. In other words, it should be quite a day.

Verdict: Murray will be going for it and has nothing to fear

Greg Rusedski v Radek Stepanek: Rusedski leads 1-0
Greg Rusedski has played a full part in the British successes in the Stella Artois this week and will be attempting to reach the quarter finals for the fourth time against the fourth seeded Czech Radek Stepanek.
There is not much between the two players in terms of world rankings with Rusedski at 38th position and Stepanek placed 16th. A variety of reasons including home territory and fast grass will close that gap in Rusedski's favour.
Also in Rusedki's favour is the fact that in their only previous meeting in St. Petersburg last year on a fast carpet court he beat Stepanek in three sets.
Stepanek was a quarter finalist in the Stella Artois last year and in eight matches at Wimbledon in the past three years has had five wins. He can serve well on grass and Rusedski will respect that aspect of the contest.
It is clear that Rusedski has enjoyed his week so far. This is his only tournament before Wimbledon and he is making the opportunities count in his quest to sharpen his game.

Verdict: Rusedski to maintain belief

Karol Beck v Andy Roddick: Roddick leads 3-0
Andy Roddick admits that he was not the most pleasant person on earth when he was beaten in the French Open last month in the first round. But there is no long term damage and once Roddick started hitting on grass last weekend to prepare for his bid to win a hat-trick of titles at the Stella Artois he knew that he was excited to be back on grass and on what he calls "the impeccable Centre Court at Queen's Club. " Today's opponent to decide a quarter final place is the Slovakian Karol Beck, 44th in the world, whose second round win over Tin Henman in the Stella Artois last year helped him to finish in the top 50 in the world for the first time. Roddick's 3-0 advantage over Beck in their previous matches includes two in The Davis Cup and one in tournament play in Miami last year.

Verdict: Roddick to benefit from the fast conditions

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