ATP Wimbledon – Men’s Friday Preview

Feliciano Lopez vs. Andy Roddick

Andy Roddick posted a solid display over Romanian Victor Hanescu to advance to the third round of the 2011 Wimbledon. Everything is much easier in Roddick’s game when his serve is at full capacity. He fired 15 aces against Romanian and has 45 in two games here wining 93% points behind first serve.

But also his opponent, Feliciano Lopez served well in both matches so far firing 44 aces and wining a lot of free points behind the serve but he faced more break points, eight, losing his serve once. They met in Queens and the match was dictated by serve, Roddick putted a lot of run catching a lot of balls there to win the match.

H2h is 7-0 for American and 7 tie-breaks were being played with Lopez wining 2 of them. This will be another match dictate by serve and overall the American has the upper hand in this compartment, when he serves solid he saves himself with the serve as still on the ground he makes a lot of errors. Lights rain are expected and the match being played under a closed roof both players will be up on serve, overall the American looks the likely winner.

Gael Monfils vs. Lukasz Kubot

Lukasz Kubot qualified for the third round after beating Ivo Karlovic in straight sets. He took two hours and three minutes to wrap up victory, striking three serve breaks and facing only four break opportunities but without losing his serve. Impressive match for the Polish who was extremely focused on his serve and consistently tried to attack the Karlovic’s game when he did not hit his first service. He was patient and attacked when he saw the opportunity, after the first set where long rallies were seen then was mostly on serve. It will be the first meeting with Monfils who had a hard time with Zemlja.The Frenchman won in four sets but was close to be forced to play a decider, Zemlja played some aggressive tennis but his mental aspect and the experience were on Monfils side.

Both players have a powerful serve and hit with a lot of power but if Kubot likes to charge the net then the Frenchman has a better defense but sometimes the Frenchman makes too many unforced errors and Kubot will come out with a lot of morale. Will be an unknown terrain for both players as Monfils never advanced this round losing 3 times in second round, Kubot isn’t without chances and we see a tough match here.

Alex Bogomolov vs. Tomas Berdych

American Alex Bogomolov continued his solid year and advanced in second round in Wimbledon after he easily won against Argentine Chela. It was a one sided match with the Argentine making a lot of errors on court and was off on serve. He will meet now Berdych and the American is full of confidence.

"I've seen him play so many times, but he's probably never seen me play. I'm dreaming about being in the second week of Wimbledon. Hopefully it will happen", said the American.

It might be strange but he beat Murray this year so isn’t without chances but Berdych showed solid tennis so far and can resist in a tussle from the back of the court and also has more sting on serve. Still the American puts a lot of fight and can snatch a set, especially in tie-break.  

Richard Gasquet vs. Simone Bolelli

As in 2008, when he defeated Fernando Gonzalez again in the second round, the Italian Simone Bolelli has won a superb match, passing in three sets by Stanislas Wawrinka. He has played almost a perfect match, dominating the Swiss rival in every aspect of the game, the depth of his ball was good pushing consistently Wawrinka way behind and hit the ball clean and with a lot of power.

The Swiss was nervous in some moments and with his serve keep it close but Bolelli made a perfect match. H2h is 3-0 for the Frenchman with one meeting back in 2008 on grass.

The Frenchman advanced with no fuss until this round showing solid tennis keeping his errors low and serving well. The Italian isn’t without chances after his solid match against Wawrinka but Gasquet is warned and he will start cautious the match. Should be an entertaining match with a lot of good rallies as both are shot makers but the Frenchman has more variety in his game and also has the old coach of the Italian, Piati.  

Mardy Fish vs. Robin Haase

Robin Haase managed to beat Fernando Verdasco in four sets but he didn’t impress as Verdasco was the men of the match making a lot of errors on court, 44 unforced errors, and was nervous missing a lot.

The Dutchman had some downs but simply the Spaniard couldn’t profit by that. They will meet second time this year after Fish managed to win easily in three sets in Roland Garros.

Fish resisted well against Istomin, he was solid on serve and resisted well the powerful display of the Uzbekistan player.

Haase will have more sting on serve on grass then on clay but Fish looks in good form hitting the ball right and he looks better in long rallies then Haase who likes to finish the points quickly.   

Juan Martin Del Potro vs. Gilles Simon        

Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro advanced to the third round of Wimbledon for the first time in his career, rallying for a four sets victory over Olivier Rochus in a match played over two days. He found himself down a set when play was suspended by darkness but he completely dominated the Belgian once the match resumed with his powerful serve and ground strokes and also advancing more at the net. It will not have an easy task against Simon who even that wasn’t sharp against Sela he managed to win in three sets.

The Frenchman always put a lot of trouble to the Argentine as he can take from the Argentine’s power and forces him to play an extra shot. The key of the match will be Simon’s serve as still he doesn’t have too much sting on serve recently and the Argentine is a good retriever but in match interrupted by rain and slower grass.

Rafael Nadal vs. Gilles Muller        

Canadian Milos Raonic slipped and fell early in his match against Gilles Muller. Raonic was serving the first point at 2-1 and fell awkwardly. A positive thing for Muller who beat the Spaniard on the same surface back in 2005 at Wimbledon. Muller has a powerful serve which will give him a lot of free points, he charge the net with every opportunity but he can resist well from the back of the court.

Nadal made a better match with Sweeting but he had some downs in the third set and still his game isn’t at his best.

Muller needs to be fit physically and the extra rest will help him against Nadal and a surprise isn’t out of cards as Muller puts a lot of fight against top players, he lost hardly to Federer at US Open in 2008, close to beat Del Potro at AO back in 2009, he also is coming in good form on grass wining the Nottingham Challenger.

Andy Murray vs. Ivan Ljubicic      

Ljubicic's record in Wimbledon isn’t impressive for a player whose game is based around the serve. This is his 11th Wimbledon and only twice before has he made it beyond the second round.

The Croat already has two good wins over Marin Cilic and Sergiy Stakhovsky and he is playing great tennis showing solid serving display.

Also Murray after he lost the first set he showed solid tennis. H2h is 5-3 for Murray but will be the first meeting on grass. Ljubicic has a big serve, but once the ball is in play the points should favor Murray, he needs to win quick points and take his chances on Murray’s serve.

Although, Murray has improved his serve recently, it still isn’t as big as Ljubicic’s is but the Britt has a great return of serve and he should be able to break Ljubicic at the right times and will compensate his slowish serve. Behind a closed roof the Croat will have the upper hand on serve.