Wimbledon Day 7 Preview and Picks
By Ricky Dimon
(3) NOVAK DJOKOVIC (-135) VS. (15) LLEYTON HEWITT (+105)
This was the fourth-round match everyone was pointing to when the draw was revealed and now it is a reality. Djokovic looks like a considerable favorite on paper, but obviously that is far from the case. Never comfortable on grass, the Serb has never been to the Wimbledon final and has reached the semis just once. He cruised in Rounds 2 and 3, but let’s not forget that Djokovic went to five sets against Olivier Rochus in Round 1.
Hewitt is a much different beast than anyone Djokovic has faced so far. The veteran Aussie is not your typical grass-court wizard, but a grass-court wizard he is. A former Wimbledon champion, Hewitt just recently upset Roger Federer in the Halle final. He is coming off an impressive straight-set disposal of Gael Monfils, and it just might take someone like Federer or Rafael Nadal to oust him from this tournament.
Pick: Hewitt in four sets.
(5) ANDY RODDICK VS. YEN-HSUN LU (OVER/UNDER 33.5 GAMES)
Prior to this Wimbledon, Lu had never been to the fourth round of a Grand Slam. He had lost in the first round of his last five majors. Take nothing away from Chinese Taipei’s top player because this a huge accomplishment for him, but he has taken advantage of a friendly draw (Horacio Zeballos, Michal Przysiezny, and Florian Mayer).
It won’t be so friendly Monday. Roddick has already dispatched Michael Llodra and Philipp Kohlschreiber, both of whom are far more dangerous than Lu (especially on grass). The fifth-ranked American is 3-0 lifetime against Lu (including 2-0 already this year) and has not dropped a set. On grass, it should be an even bigger rout.
Pick: Under 33.5 games.
(2) RAFAEL NADAL VS. PAUL-HENRI MATHIEU (OVER/UNDER 32.5 GAMES)
Nadal dominated the clay-court swing and he raced through his Wimbledon opener while Federer struggled in Round 1. A title for Nadal seemed possible, if not even probable. Now, however, the world No. 1 is coming off two consecutive five-setters and he took multiple injury timeouts for knee issues Saturday.
If Nadal is going in the wrong direction (we don’t know that for sure), Mathieu went from zero to hero last week. The Frenchman had missed most of the 2010 season due to physical problems, but so far at Wimbledon he has taken out Marc Gicquel, Mikhail Youzhny, and Thiemo De Bakker. PHM should be competitive from start to finish against Nadal and you have to think it will go at least four sets.
Pick: Over 32.5 games.
(8) KIM CLIJSTERS (EVEN) VS. (17) JUSTINE HENIN (-140)
Henin, of course, has never won Wimbledon. She clearly has a chance to do it in 2010, but grass simply does not suit her game. The Belgian has been to the final twice and she did not drop a set during the first week, so there is reason for hope.
Clijsters, though, has been beating people even worse than Henin has. The higher-ranked but not quite as accomplished Belgian has dropped only 14 games in three matches and no set has been closer than 6-3. Clijsters is 2-0 against Henin this season (both in third-set tiebreakers) and if she can win two straight on hard courts, she can definitely win another one against Henin on grass.
Pick: Clijsters in three sets.