Rafael Nadal - he's won more titles than his age!
Former British number one and now TV commentator, Andrew Castle is writing a column for VM throughout Wimbledon fortnight this year. Here he gives us his predictions for the latter stages.
Women's predictions
Ivanovic v V.Williams - For all the Williams sisters' histrionics, they have altered women's tennis over the past ten years and when Venus is in full flow she's absolutely amazing. Ivanovic did well to reach the French final, as Tracy Austin said, nerves bit her. I hope she holds her nerve, because she's really exciting. She plays a lot like Jennifer Capriati. It's so tight, but if I had to pick a winner I'd choose Venus. I just think she's ready.
Bartoli v Henin - There can only really be one winner. But as Ferrero says about Federer, he's 'just a guy with a racquet', and Henin is just a woman with a racquet too, and that's what Bartoli will be thinking. She scuttles around the court and chases everything.
The eventual winner? Henin - unless Venus doesn't let her play.
Men's predictions
Djokovic v Baghdatis - The way Djokovic competes is a joy, and you can see what Andy Murray is up against over the next few years, before we start giving him Grand Slams and world number one places. When Djokovic took his shirt off, Tracy Austin gasped - that was sweet! It's a wonderful quarter-final with Baghdatis.
Nadal v Berdych - Tomas has a winning record against Nadal, and beat him in Madrid last year which Rafael didn't like at all. Berdych does what Soderling does better, hits it flat and hard and doesn't give him any time. He could blow Nadal off the court.
Roddick v Gasquet - Gasquet has been absolutely phenomenal so far. He can flash winners from absolutely anywhere. The trouble is, Roddick is always going to hold six serves in a set - at least five, no-one breaks him twice except Federer. Connors has got him playing a percentage game, and has made him a better player. Gasquet is in the best form of any player here, but I just wonder on a grass court.
Federer v Ferrero - It looks like a dirty match for Roger - not easy at all. But I tip Federer to win that one. But as Ferrero says about Federer, he's 'just a guy with a racquet'.
As for the last four - I'm going to pick the top four seeds: when was the last time that happened?
Assuming it's Federer v Roddick; what Federer does it he can read his serve like a book, knocks it back into play and then they start rallying from the baseline. He can nullify Roddick's best weapon - so Federer to win. If Djokovic v Nadal: it depends how long the qfs are.
Nadal the ferocious
He's just phenomenal. He's never lost at the French Open, which is the hardest and most physically demanding of the slams, and he's just come off an 81-match winning run on clay, and he can win on other surfaces too - it's unbelievable. He's won more titles than his age - 22 at 21 years of age. Until you see him play it's hard to get a feel of what he's like. The amount of energy he gives out on court is ferocious. I was at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, and I stood at the startline of the 100m race, and when I see Nadal I'm reminded of the same physicality of Ben Johnson, Linford Christie and Carl Lewis. It's very unusual in a tennis player to be like that.
I don't think Nadal, nor Davydenko and Nalbandian, were right to complain about the scheduling. Because basically, a middle Sunday is not something Wimbledon do. I understand where Nadal was coming from in terms of frustration, but that's just the way it goes- the weather is part of Wimbledon like no other slam. He missed a forehand at match point against Soderling which meant he'd be sticking around for ages, with no downtime, and that's where his frustration came from.
The Serena controversy
I wouldn't even call it gamesmanship - I don't think she even thought about her opponent for a minute. Some people may think of it as disrespect, but I honestly think that both Serena and Venus only think about themselves on court, both in a good way and a bad way. Not everyone in tennis likes it, but they are looking to win and look after themselves.
Did Hantuchova throw it away? I wouldn't call her the strongest personality, and she's had some problems like her weight and her frailty, and it's fantastic that she's come back from that , but… if you've got an opponent who's that poorly down the other end, you hit the ball away from her, go for kill, and she didn't do that.
It's like with Vaidisova - she had the match against Ivanovic in the palm of her hand but you know, she's just a young person growing. Mentally, at the end of grand slams, the ones who win are stronger emotionally.
28 June - Andrew on Sharapova's grunts
28 June - Andrew on Tim Henman
22 June - Andrew previews the tournament
Have you got a question for Andrew? If so, simply email sport@virginmedia.co.uk and we'll put the best questions to Andrew during the Wimbledon fortnight.
Please note that Andrew may not have time to answer all of your questions and only a selection of the best will be published.
Andrew answers VM readers' questions
6th July 2007
