The usual suspects headed by Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer lead the charge into the second week of Wimbledon with a modest “heatwave” promised for Monday after a run of wet, chilly days.
British forecasters are already warning to beware of temperatures which might reach 32 degrees celsius. But for the players, hot and dry means faster grass and balls which fly that slight bit quicker. The big three, along with local hero and fourth seed Andy Murray, are all acclimatised to the pressure thrown up by the second week of a major. All have something to prove and will begin after Sunday’s traditional rest day at the event.
Nadal seeks his third title at the All England Club while Djokovic would love to win his first — as would Murray, to break a British men’s singles trophy drought stretching back three-quarters of a century.
A title next Sunday for Federer would give the Swiss player his 17th overall and seventh at Wimbledon, to go level with Pete Sampras
Nadal faces del Potro
Nadal faces a big ask in his fourth-round contest with former U.S. Open winner Juan Del Potro, coming back from a 2010 wrist injury and already a huge threat.
The Argentine trails the Spanish world number one 3-5 in their series but has won three of their last four meetings. “It’s always a big challenge to play against him, he’s a very, very tough opponent,” said the top seed and holder. “His ranking for sure is much better than what the ranking says today (21st). “He’s at a top five, when he’s healthy. I’m not lucky to play him, but that’s what it is, and I have to be playing my best tennis to try to win.” Djokovic, who credited a racquet smashing the second set with getting his game back into focus against Marcos Baghdatis at the weekend, takes on French left-hander Michael Llodra.
Third seed Federer faces Mikhail Youzhny, holding a 10-0 record over the Russian. But Federer is far from complacent. “I think with the success I’ve had here, obviously I always come in with some pressure,” he said. “But this is where I’m able to shift up a couple gears on grass because it works to my strengths the way I can play here.
“I’m very happy if I keep playing this way,” said the player who has not dropped a set all week. “It’s a matter of keeping it up and then adjusting to what’s coming from the opponents.” Murray seeded fourth, brings a 2-2 record with Frenchman Richard Gasquet into their match including a fourth-round Wimbledon win three years ago.
The Scot will play after two days off instead of one for his opponent. “I don’t know how much of an advantage it is. Most of the time on the grass, the matches aren’t too physical, you know. So one day off is normally good.
It’s important to keep the intensity up, make sure you keep focused, do all the right things the next couple of days.” Gasquet has yet to lose a set. “He’s won all his matches pretty comfortably so far. He plays very well on grass,” said Murray. “He’s comfortable on the surface, it’s going to be tough.”
Wozniacki takes on Cibulkova
On the women’s side, top seed Caroline Wozniacki continues the quest for her first Grand Slam crown, facing Dominika Cibulkova while fourth seed Victoria Azarenka plays Russian Nadia Petrova.
2004 Wimbledon winner Maria Sharapova gets the last Chinese in contention, Peng Shuai, with the Russian already earning a win in that series this season on Indian Wells hardcourt.
Both the Williams sisters are still in the mix, with seventh seeded defending champion Serena Williams continuing her injury and illness comeback against 2007 finalist Marion Bartoli of France. Older sister Venus, a five-time champion, plays Tsvetana Pironkova, who put her out at the event a year ago.
