No Nadal, Can Any One Beat Federer? My Picks Say YES

Moments ago Rafeal Nadal announced he will not be physically able to play in the Wimbledon Championships this year. The injury would have stopped him from winning the tournament if he did play, but with him officially out the top of the bracket is completely open.

I never have and never will like Nadal, but he knew he was pretty badly hurt and should have pulled out a couple of days ago. The bracket is now in place and can not be adjusted. Luckily the two best players and everyone's pick for the final (Federer and Murray) are on different sides of the bracket. This was a tough decision for Nadal, but he should have announced after his loss to Lleyton Hewitt yesterday that he was out. I personally am happy as a tennis fan to have an event without out Nadal, but it hurts the appeal of the event and may in turn hurt the interest.

As i usually like to do I now give you all my picks for the Final 16 and on for this Grand Slam Event. First though It will be a Williams sisters final again on the Women's side with Serena taking the Championship.

Here is the way the Final 16 will look...

Lleyton Hewitt vs. 23 Radek Stepanek

-It will not be easy for Hewitt vs. Ginepri, who ever he gets in round 2 and Tursnov, but I like the way he is playing. Stepanek will surprise Ferrer after both roll to the Third round. In this match I like Lleyton to keep it going HEWITT in 4.

12 Nikolay Davydenko vs. 6 Andy Roddick

-This is the most likely matchup to happen in Round 4. Who will beat either of these two in the first three rounds. I believe Andy's ankle is OK and if it is he will roll to face Davydenko. I actually like Odesink to win 2 matches then fall to Andy. In this match if Andy is ok he survives, RODDICK in 5.

3 Andy Murray vs. 14 Marat Safin

-I love this match on paper and I am hoping to see it, but both have road blocks. Gulbis is a very good player but hasn't fired like he should have yet, Murray will get by him. Safin is looking at Rochus who is playing will now and Wawrinka who is the biggest Crapshot out there, but I like him to get. In the Match though the crowd pushes MURRAY on in 4.

10 Fernando Gonzalez vs. Nicolas Kiefer

- Weak part of the draw for me. Gonzo is playing well now and should roll. I love James Blake but he has to prove to me again how good he is. I think he falls to Gonzo in 4 in round 3. The bottom part is weak. Simon is a good player but i don't love his game. Kiefer is playing well and he is the most experienced here. In the match though GONZO rolls in 3.

5 Juan Martin Del Potro vs. 24 Tommy Haas

- I think the only player in the draw that could stop this from happening is Cilic. I like Marin but he is inconsistent and hasn't done much at Wimbledon. No one beats Del Potro early, but he does fall here to one of the hottest players in HAAS in 4.

15 Tommy Robredo vs. 28 Mardy Fish

- The biggest question here is how is Djokovic phsically and mentally? The next question is who can take advantage of him if he plays subpar? I think Mardy is ready he plays good on grass and he has to get those big serves going. If Novak plays good he should beat Mardy but I like the upset. Robredo should win the top half by default. I want to pick Mardy in the match but ROBREDO is playing well now so he wins in 5.

7 Fernando Verdasco vs. 9 Jo-Wilfred Tsonga

- Very fun match if it happens and it should. Karlovic could beat Jo-Wilfred but I like the Frenchmen, while Verdasco draw is a joke on a grass surface. He will not lose a set in rounds 1-3. But  I like Tsonga to win a classic in 5 with his speed and serve.

Marcos Baghdatis vs. 2 Roger Federer

-Baghdatis is a shot in the dark pick. Soderling is due for a bad tourney after his miracle run, there are some other road blocks there, but i like Baggy to get through. No one touches Federer inculding Marcos, FEDERER in 3.

Quarterfinals

Lleyton Hewitt vs. 6 Andy Roddick

-Both are playing well now, but I like Andy to keep it going RODDICK in 4

3 Andy Murray vs. 10 Fernando Gonzalez

-A very good quarterfinal match. Payback from Paris for Murray if he wins it. I like the way Murray matches up against Gonzo, even though he struggled at the French against him, these tough matches may come back to haunt him later but MURRAY takes it in 4.

24 Tommy Hass vs. 15 Tommy Robredo

-The battle of the Tommy's should be a good one. Robredo is an underrated player and Haas is very hot right now. I like HAAS here though because of his overall play is better and he is playing better now, HAAS in 4.

9 Jo-Wilfred Tsonga vs. 2 Roger Federer

-Can anyone give Federer a battle in this tournament? I think that Tsonga can, if he serves well and doesn't get intimated by center court this will be a match. Experience wins out though, FEDERER in 5.

Semifinals

6 Andy Roddick vs. 3 Andy Murray

-Another tough match for Murray, the darw is really tough for the Scotsman. But the crowd and emotion of a wimbledon final will push Andy over Andy, MURRAY in 4.

24 Tommy Haas vs. 2 Roger Federer

-Haas had Roger at the French and let him off the hook. The wimbledon stage is Roger's though and after a scare vs. Tsonga he plays better against Haas this time, FEDERER in 4.

CHAMPIONSHIP

3 Andy Murray vs. 1 Roger Federer

-Everyone's final, and I'm sorry to pick the chalk championship, but they are the two best players and for them to play on Sunday Morning at Wimbledon is ' hope. I don't think anyone quite will have enough to knock either of them off on there way here. So on to the match, just as i did in New York in September I am picking the Upset with ANDY MURRAY winning the championship in 4 sets over Roger Federer. Here is what he has to do 1. Serve well throughout and not get broken early 2. Win set number 1 3. And win it 4 because he will loss in 5. Murray is very confident right now and played better for alot of the tournament in PARIS then Roger did, he just struggled against Gonzo. This match would be so intriguing on so many levels. Murray looking for number 1, Federer looking for 15, Who will the crowd root for more?, and can Roger take back his title? I just love the way MURRAY is playing now there are many times he may stumble but I say he takes it home for all the British tennis fans.