It should be a thrilling day of quarter-finals at Wimbledon

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There were no surprises yesterday as the top four women’s seeds reached the semis (we thought Azarenka might pull off a shock before remembering she was facing a Williams sister at Wimbledon). The men’s quarter-final draw couldn’t be better though: Federer v Karlovic sees the enduring grass master face the in-form King of Aces, Djokovic v Haas is a repeat of the Halle final, Roddick v Hewitt sees two of the decade’s finest grass court players handed another chance to shine and then there’s Murray v Ferrero, the weakest of the line-up but with huge public interest. Here are three stats on each match:

Tommy Haas (24) v Novak Djokovic (4)
» Djokovic has a 2-1 head-to-head record with Haas but the German beat him in the final at Halle on grass last month.
» This is the furthest Haas has ever got at Wimbledon, continuing a trend where each of the last seven Halle winners have reached the last eight. He has reached three Grand Slam semis but all in Australia.
» Djokovic has won 13 of his last 15 quarter-finals and has reached the last four of six of the last seven tournaments he’s entered.

Lleyton Hewitt v Andy Roddick (6)
» Both men have won 27 career titles, reached four Grand Slam finals and won at Queen’s four times. Therefore it’s no surprise that they are almost inseparable head-to-head, with Hewitt holding a 6-5 advantage.
» Roddick has the advantage on grass though having won their two previous

Posted: July 1st, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 1 Comment

Queen’s finalist James Blake out on day one at Wimbledon

Runner-up’s early exit puts Andy Murray’s triumph into context

It was with a degree of eggshell treading that we suggested last week that Andy Murray’s victory at Queen’s didn’t significantly boost his chances of winning Wimbledon.

Our feeling was that with Novak Djokovic opting to play in Halle and Andy Roddick and Gael Monfils pulling out with injuries, Murray didn’t beat anybody too noteworthy en route to the trophy.

Posted: June 23rd, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Is Andy Murray going to win Wimbledon this year?

chickendinner fans the flames of Murray mania

Our instincts tell us there is no way anyone other than Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal will win Wimbledon - after all they’ve won 16 of the last 17 Grand Slams between them. However, while Andy Murray seems far too short at 2/1, it’s impossible to ignore him. Here are some stats to help you judge the world number three’s chances of ending Britain’s drought:

BAD OMENS

» The third seed hasn’t won Wimbledon since 1990 and has only made the final in one of the last 14 years.

» 15 men have won their first Grand Slam from 1997 onwards but only two of those broke their duck at Wimbledon: Goran Ivanisevic (2001) and Federer (2003).

Posted: June 19th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Murray is now just 5/2 to win Wimbledon with two bookies

Ladbrokes and 888sport cut Murray’s price after Queen’s victory

Andy Murray has been slashed to just 5/2 to win at Wimbledon after sealing his first ever grass court title at Queen’s yesterday.

The world number three triumphed without ever being seriously tested so his price shift may owe just as much to the fact Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer are heading to SW19 without having competed on grass while Novak Djokovic failed to win in Halle.

Posted: June 15th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 1 Comment

Andy Murray odds-on to win at Queen’s after reaching last eight

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World number three Andy Murray has been slashed to just 10/11 to become the first ever Brit to win the singles’ tournament at Queen’s.

The 22-year-old secured a spot in the quarter-finals with victory over Guillermo Garcia-Lopez earlier today and his position as favourite has been strengthened by the withdrawals of Gael Monfils and Marat Safin with injuries and the surprise early exit of Marin Cilic.

Murray’s chances are soon to be further boosted when one of the two most successful Queen’s players on the tour eliminates the other, with Andy Roddick currently a set up against Lleyton Hewitt. Click here for more stats.

Posted: June 11th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 1 Comment

Andy Murray is 6/4 to make history by winning at Queen’s

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Photo Credit: Sean Dempsey, PA Wire

Reigning champion Rafael Nadal is injured and runner-up Novak Djokovic has opted to join Roger Federer in Halle so Paddy Power have made Andy Murray the 6/4 favourite to win the AEGON Championships. Before last year, it was Andy Roddick and Lleyton Hewitt who ruled the roost at Queen’s, sharing the title between them for eight consecutive years and both will be eager to regain it. Here are some stats about the leading contenders:

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Andy Murray (6/4): There’s no such thing as home advantage at Queen’s, with no Brit triumphing in the men’s tournament’s 37-year history. During that time, local heroes have had their dreams crushed in the final six times.

Andy Roddick (4/1): A-Rod is the King of Queen’s, having won four of the last six AEGON Championships, reaching the semis of the other two. The American has won just two tournaments in the last 15 months however.

Posted: June 8th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment