Big day at Wimbledon today as we saw both Williams sisters and women's #1 Caroline Wozniacki all fall. Meanwhile on the men's side, the top four seeds are all still in the mix. Quarterfinals start tomorrow, here's a breakdown of the matchups we'll be looking at.
MEN'S
(1) Rafael Nadal (Spain) vs (10) Mardy Fish (USA)
Wimbledon's defending champion has never lost to the last American standing at Wimbledon in 5 matches. They last met in 2008 at the U.S. Open, but also met at Wimbledon in 2007 where Nadal beat Fish in straight sets. Fish has taken just one set off of Nadal in their encounters thus far. Fish has never made it beyond the Quarterfinals in a Grand Slam event, this being his third try.
(4) Andy Murray (Great Britain) vs Feliciano Lopez (Spain)
Lopez is in the Wimbledon Quarterfinals for the third time, but he'll face a tough opponent in Murray whom he's never beaten in four tries. The two met twice in 2010, but have never met in a Slam and have never played on grass. Murray is trying to become the first Brit to win Wimbledon since Fred Perry back in 1936. He has twice reached the semifinals, in 2009 and 2010.
(12) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) vs (3) Roger Federer (Switzerland)
Tsonga is in the Wimbledon Quarterfinals for the second straight year, but he's taking on Roger Federer who has taken 4 of 5 matches from Tsonga including both of their meetings in 2011. The six-time Wimbledon champion Federer hasn't won a Grand Slam event since last year's Australian Open as he continues his quest for title number 17.
Bernard Tomic (Australia) vs (2) Novak Djokovic (Serbia)
The 18 year old Tomic, ranked 158th in the world is the biggest surprise of the tournament on the men's side. He will now run into his toughest matchup yet though taking on Novak Djokovic who has been absolutely dominant in 2011 winning the Australian Open and losing in the French Open semifinals. Djokovic has dropped one set in his first four matches, but Tomic has also won three of his four matches in straight sets.
WOMEN'S
(24) Dominika Cibulkova (Slovakia) vs (5) Maria Sharapova (Russia)
Sharapova and Cibulkova have split four meetings over their careers, but Cibulkova has won the last two including their one meeting this year in Madrid. All four matchups were on clay though as this will be the first time they meet on grass. Cibulkova is looking to advance beyond the quarters of a Grand Slam for just the second time in her career while Sharapova seeks her first title since 2008 and first Wimbledon Championship since 2004.
Sabine Lisicki (Germany) vs (9) Marion Bartoli (France)
Marion Bartoli knocked off the 2-time reigning champion in straight sets today, but things won't get any easier for her as she continues her quest for her first Grand Slam title. Lisicki, though unseeded, has taken 2 of 3 career meetings including their one match this year in straight sets. Bartoli did defeat Lisicki at Wimbledon back in 2008, the only time the two have met on grass. Bartoli reached the Wimbledon finals in 2007.
Tamira Paszek (Austria) vs (4) Victoria Azarenka (Belarus)
20 year old Paszek and 4th seeded Azarenka have met just once before with Azarenka winning in straight sets in Montreal back in 2008. Azarenka is trying to advance to the semifinals of a Grand Slam for the 1st time in 5 trieds having also reached the Wimbledon quarters in 2009, the French Open Quarters in 2009 and 2011 and the Australian Open quarters in 2010. Paszek is playing in her first Grand Slam quarterfinals.
(8) Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) vs (32) Tsvetana Pironkova (Bulgaria)
Kvitova has won both matches between these two, but they haven't met since 2008. Both players reached the Wimbledon semifinals in 2010, but both came up short as Kvitova lost to Serena Williams in straight sets and Pironkova lost to Vera Zvonareva.
No comments:
Post a Comment