Round of Sixteen Preview:

With the grandest day of tennis taking place on the second Monday of the Championships, the remaining 16 combatants in the men's draw will compete with the sole purpose of inching ever-so-close to holding the cherished gold trophy.

For those of you have a recession-proof ticket to tomorrow's action, consider yourself the few and fortunate.

Without further adieu ladies and gents, let's take a look at how the sweet sixteen and Wimbledon will fare.

 

Lleyton Hewitt vs. 23rd seed Radek Stepanek

Head-to-head record: Hewitt leads 2-0, with the no matches being played on grass.

If grass-court tennis is your fix, this is the match you don't want to miss. There will be serves, there will be volley's, and let's not forget a c'mon or two.

Both these charges are fine grass-court players, with Hewitt holding the slight edge in the return-of-serve-department. Radek is arguably the fitter of the two players, with Hewitt's recent hip injury taking away from his once-upon-a-time lightening court speed.

Nevertheless, you would like to think that this is Hewitt's time, and the Aussie wants nothing more than a quality finish at his favorite tournament.

Stepanek will not go away without a fight, that is for certain. But with Hewit holding a tad more power, one has to think that the Czechs low-speed game -style will wear thin quickly.

With neither player being reluctant about going the distance, the crowd on Court 2 should look forward to strapping themselves in for a war of attrition. With the "Manics" chirping away, and Stepanek creating his self created cheering section, at least four hours awaits.

Pick: Hewitt in 5-sets

 

6th seed Andy Roddick vs. 20th seed Tomas Berdych

Head to head record: tied at 2 wins a piece. First grass-court meeting.

Here is the thing about this match. Berdych in reality can do everything better than Roddick. He has cleaner strokes, and more efficient power. But the Czech isn't exactly what you would call the cream de la cream of mental toughness. Roddick certainly is.

If Andy can whether the early shooting-range performance by Berdych, he should be in good shape. Tomas has been on fire thus far in the event, losing his serve all but once. He recently put the beat down on Nikolay Davydenko (a man he had never beaten), and a rare smile of enjoyment resided through his shots.

Andy has persevered through the fortnight, and although he has not had the same clean-cut road to the fourth round that Berdych has (Roddick has lost the third set in all of his matches in the event), his mental state is in far better form than his opponent.

Berdych defiantly has the right stuff to take down Roddick. But with big(ger) man historically showing that he wilts under pressure (see Australian Open collapse against Roger Federer), Tomas will once again find one-way or another to goof this match up, and fall perpetually into the category of the games current greatest underachievers.

Pick: Roddick in 4-sets

 

3rd seed Andy Murray vs. 19th seed Stanislas Wawrinka

Head to head record: Murray leads 4-3, with no matches being played on grass.

Good friends will be put on hold for this match, with the most popular ticket in Britain being the final match on Center Court. Murray has looked convincingly poised throughout the event, and has taken full advantage of his cup-cake draw. It won't hurt one bit that he's playing Mr. Nice guy, Stan Wawrinka in the sixteens.

Stan's career is starting to mirror the career of another proverbial let-down player, Tommy Robredo. Both are quiet and reserved, both never losing in round one.

Trouble being, that neither Stan or T-Rob have, or will ever make the latter stages of grand slam competition. If there was ever a time to call a tennis player content, Stan would be the prime suspect.

Although the "other Swiss" has a magnificent game, his lack of a killer instinct will once again clip him in the end.

With Murray mischievously not feeling any pressure up until this point, it will have to take a monster effort from Stan to persuaded Murray and the calm and relaxed patrons on Murray Mountain to shed some doubt.

Look for a high first serve percentage from Murray, to be followed by an unbreakable aura of chalk finding ground-strokes.

Stan, the man, will see better days—just not at Wimbledon 2009.

Pick: Murray in 3, maybe 4 sets

 

8th seed Gilles Simon vs. Juan Carlos Ferrero

First meeting.

What do we have here? King Carlos back in action. Weren't there rumor talks about the Spaniard retiring? Well, it appears, at least for the moment that those inclinations can be squashed.

With the Rafa-movement inspiring each and every topspin hitting Spaniard, JCF finds himself in his second career Wimbledon final sixteen. The former number one is playing some stellar ball at the moment, taking out Gonzo in round three and sending notice that he can certainly play on the lawns.

If anything, JCF in recent times has been a better grass than clay-court player.

And how about his opponent.

The flat-hitting Frenchmen continues to prove the haters wrong. After making the quarters in Oz, his hard and clay-court play resembled the abilities of a starving journeymen—not a top ten player.

In saying that, Gilles has come up full force thus far on the turf. His game actually blends in with the needs of grass quite well. His strike-zones are adequate and his serve remains low, to his benefit.

Ferrero will fill the power quotient in this encounter, with Simon possessing the edge in returning and passing shots.

There is a conflict in the decision making here, with both players matching up well.

With Ferrero playing far more tennis in the fortnight, and Simon having a slightly better grass-court game, the higher ranked Frenchmen will look to uphold his seeding.

Pick: Simon in four

 

24th seed Tommy Hass vs. 29th seed Igor Andreev

Head-to-head record: Andreev leads 1-0, with no matches being played on grass.

If there was ever a time for German Tommy Haas to make the quarters of Wimbledon, this year would be preferred. Haas has been riding the wave of hot last month, and if tennis has shown us nothing us, it is to embrace hot-streaks when they are present.

Tommy has fought well up until this point in the event. His ground-game has been varied and his focus (usually a hindrance) has been above par. He was almost sent packing at the hands of Croatian sensation Marin Cilic in round 3, with the experience card shining through in a tough 5th set.

If there is one important variable for Haas in this match, it will be net approaches. In unconventional fashion, Tommy bombarded the net against Cilic almost the the chagrin of the viewing gallery of Court 1. He will have to do more of the same against Andreev.

Igor is all about the forehand, and when given the opportunity his mechanical stroke can create havoc for any opponent. His backhand however is a different animal all together.

Haas will be served well to chip his solid one-hander and force Andreev to pass with his suspect double-trouble backhand.

If Andreev is left alone to hammer his bread and butter, Haas will once come up short, in the round which he usually falls.

It says here however, that Haas seems to fully understand the task at hand, and moment he is under. They will not be around for ever.

With his grass-court credentials in sublime standing to his Russian opponent, Haas will finally advance to his deepest Wimbledon to date.

Pick: Haas in 4 sets

 

4th seed Novak Djokvoic vs. Dudi Sela

Head-to-head record: Novak leads 1-0, with no prior grass-court matches.

Another top seed, another easy draw. If you were to ask Novak Djokvoic at the beginning of the event what he would be willing to give in order to have Dudi Sela as he fourth round opponent—the outspoken Serb would not hesitate to do a free tassel dance, at no extra charge.

Just what the doctor ordered for Djokvoic. An attempt at relinquishing his poor result of a year ago, and continuing to solidify and push forward on his number four ranking.

No disrespect to our man Dudi here, the diminutive Israeli has put together a remarkable fortnight, which included the dismissing of 15th seed Tommy Robredo.

But in all honestly, with only a world-class backhand to his name, not much else in the form of red-flags reside in front of Djokvoic moving forward here.

Sela is consistent, but so is Novak. The Serb's serve has also been spot on throughout the Championships, and his kick serve to the Sela backhand will be a nightmare to return.

The lone chance for Sela will be to jump on Djokovic as quickly as possible. When doubt resides in Djokovic, so to have ill timed shots and the history of fading away. That will not happen here.

With Sela having to produce an epic effort to come out on top, a calm and confident Djokovic will ease right through.

Pick: Djokovic in 3 sets

 

7th seed Fernando Verdasco vs. 22nd seed Ivo Karlovic

Head-to-head record: Karlovic leads 2-1, which includes one win on grass.

Perhaps the most interesting match-up of the day, with both players having to endure agony to prevail.

Verdasco's task will be to solve the riddle of : "when are all these aces going to end?"

With Karlovic fighting the mighty voice in his 6'10" frame which asks: "hey buddy, you know you have to make at least one Wimbledon quarterfinal, right?

With the aces not stopping, and Karlovic having to stair his quarterfinal berth in the face, do not expect two happy campers in this match.

The tail of the tape in this one will come down to a few variables. Karlovic has not lost serve thus far in the event, only allowing two break point chances throughout 10 sets won. With 102 aces to date, the Croatian as been feeling his hefty serve in a major way. No doubt, this will have to continue against Verdasco.

From the Spaniards end, the key to his success will be determined through his service games. He must concentrate on exploiting the weak Karlovic backhand return, and hoping to draw on his new found mental toughness, in set deciding 'breakers. That is really the only way.

The greats like Rafa and Roger, also end up in 6-all situations with Karlovic—it's now Verdasco's tern to show he is capable.

Surely the popcorn match of the day on many accounts. Verdasco will stay will Ivo, but it says here that the greatest server in terms of physics, must at some point benefit on the lawns from all the aces and 35 second services games—finding a way to reach the latter stages of his tailor made slam.

Verdasco will not like the result, but the fan's on Court 1 will be treated to a gentle giant on his knees in joy.

Pick: Karlovic 4 sets

 

2nd seed Roger Federer vs. 13 seed Robin Soderling

Head-t0-head record: Federer leads 10-0, with the Swiss holding a 2-0 winning mark on grass.

Sometime, in the not to distant future, perhaps at an ATP World Tour reunion party, Roger Federer and Robin Soderling will cross paths and give each other a friendly smirk. Federer will have finished his career, as the greatest player to have ever lived (Nadal fan's will have there say), with Robin Soderling finding comfort and confidence that he was briefly a top-ten player, and scratched the surface of greatness.

The two will begin chatting, with the found memories of that Sunday afternoon in Paris, vividly engraved in both players membranes. Federer will say, "hey man, thanks for taking out Rafa, can I buy you a soda"? Robin will smile, with disgust under his breath and answer, "sure Rog... a soda would be great."

Within that great hypothetical, one would have to guess that tomorrow's round of sixteen meeting in England will not be part of that potential conversation. Here's why.

Federer has owned Soderling, no question. And as great as Roger is on clay, he eclipses those accolades on the lawns. Soderling on the other hand will be hurt by the grass. He will not be able to wind up for his loopy ground-strokes, a play Federer has used exceeding well when playing the Swede—robbing him of time.

Roger also has this distinctive knack on a grass-court to put his opponents in the most uncomfortable of positions—usually the net. With that being said, look for many low chips to the Soderling ground-stokes, which will initially entice the Swede, only to be shaken when the blistering passing shots of Federer whiz by in uncontrollable speeds.

The Sod does a have a small chance in making an impression. His opportunity will not be found in winning the first set, or going up a break in the second. The key to beating Federer on grass is having longevity throughout, something the Swiss star proved in last years final.

Will the headway that Robin created in Paris resurrect in the exact same round in England? It says here that although history does have a tendency to remind us all that "anything is possible", the tennis world also has this fellow by the name of Roger Federer, who always seems to inject his greatness, when standing in the way of an upset defeat.

Will be a fun one to watch.

Pick: Federer in 4 sets