2nd Week Predictions at Wimbledon

The second Week of Wimbledon if upon us and so are all the early round upsets (and hopefully Candy Murray's attempt at humor). Here are my predictions for the draw.

Fourth Round

Lleyton Hewitt vs. Radek Stepenak: Stepenak is a fun player to watch but Hewitt's just better. It will be a good match though.

Hewitt in four

Andy Roddick vs. Tomas Berdych: Berdych has the potential. Doesn't have the nerve to beat Roddick though. Andy will turn up a better performance than what he showed against Melzer and he'll take in a few tight sets.

Roddick infour

Andy Murray vs. Stan Wawrinka: Sorry Stan, you're not beating Murray if Jesse Levine takes a set off of you.

Murray in three

Juan Carlos Ferrero vs. Giles Simon: Simon is too conistent (Unlike Gonzo) to lose to Ferrero on this surface.

Simon in four

Tommy Haas vs. Igor Andreev: Haas won't lose after that sort of performance.

Haas in three

Novak Djokovic vs. Dudi Sela: The dude is going down. Not without a fight however.

Djokovic in five.

Ivo Karlovic vs. Fernando Verdasco: Verdasco hasn't looked very impressive lately. Karlovic has.

Ivo in five.

Roger Federer vs. Robin Soderling: Soderling said it himself. He has no chance. He'll get a set though.

Federer in four.

Quarters

Andy Roddick vs. Lleyton Hewitt: Hewitt is playing good. Roddick is playing better. Roddick is too good to lose to Hewitt before five sets, and I don't think Hewitt is fit enough to beat Roddick in a fifth set.

Roddick in four

Andy Murray vs. Giles Simon: Is this a match for Murray?

Murray in three

Novak Djokovic vs Tommy Haas: Haas got Djokovic in Halle......and he'll get him again. Haas's reinassance continues.

Haas in five (Maybe Novak pulls out of the match on the last point)

Roger Federer vs. Ivo Karlovic: four tiebreaks but Ivo only wins one of them.

Federer in four

Semis

Andy Roddick (The other Andy) vs. Andy Murray: This match will go down to two decisive factors.

1. Can Murray handle the pressure?

2. How is Roddick serving?

Roddick has been serving excellently so that won't be a problem. And if this was any other slam I would say that Murray could handle the pressure. But this is Wimbledon. I say the Murray will rise to the occasion....but only after he donates the first and a break in the second set. And Roddick's serving will take him through the second set and then a fourth set tiebreak.

Roddick in four.

Federer vs. Haas: Federer isn't under the same pressure as he was in Paris so he will go through comfortably. Haas will take one tight set though.

Federer in four.

Finals

If Roddick wants to win here are things that must fall in place.

1. He MUST win the first set. Beating Fed is hard enough and coming from behind is nearly impossible.

2. The serve must be hotter than Wade was during the last NBA season. At least for three sets. He won't win if Fed gets consistent looks at his second serve.

3. He must put pressure on Fed's serve. Don't let Fed feel as if he can "experiment" on Roddick's serve. Experimentation will be bad for Roddick.

4. He has to bring Federer to net. The one time Fed S&V'd against Roddick, Roddick won. Given that was at Kooyong but that must give Roddick some confidence.

5. He needs to give Fed tough passing shots of the backhand wing. Fed's forehand will kill him.

6. Fed's backhand has to be making some errors, especially on Roddick's serve. Roddick's forehand will probably hold its ground against Fed's but Roddick's backhand won't unless Fed gives him a few gifts.

7. He must believe. He has got to be thinking "Yes you can."

I think most of these ideas will be applied, but not all of them. That's why Federer will win No. 6.

Fed in five. (As much as I hate to say it)

What do you guys think?