Wimbledon 2009 Women's Quarter-finals Preview

Dinara Safina vs. Sabine Lisicki

I have to be honest, I wasn't expecting Safina to reach the quarter-finals at Wimbledon after her performance at the finals of Roland Garros. To her credit, the World No.1 has hung in there in some really uncomfortable matches on a surface that really doesn't suit her game, to make it this far. Her performance against Amelie Mauresmo in the round of 16 was a good boost to the Russian as she had to come back in the match from a set down and subsequently breaks in the following sets.

Sabine Lisicki is a name nobody would have expected to see in the draw for the second week. Yet this talented upcoming German seems to have a natural game for grass. She has a tremendous serve, so far being out-aced only by Serena Williams. In addition she generates power of either side with her ground strokes. The confidence that she showed in defeating Kuznetsova and Wozniaki, two of the most in form seeds was ominous.

Dinara Safina might be no.1 in the world, and she has performed admirably. Nonetheless, Lisicki is on a roll, and after beating two much better players on grass, I think the German will be too strong for Safina who might still be recovering from a tight battle against Mauresmo.

Venus Williams vs. Agnieszka Radwanska

It is almost impossible to believe this, but Venus Williams is actually playing even better tennis at Wimbledon this year than when she won it last year. Known to struggle a bit in the early rounds, Venus has absolutely demolished her opponents so far. Her movement on the grass is peerless in the women's game, and the variety she is currently displaying in her game is simply top-notch.

Agnieszka Radwanska is a teenager with huge potential. In an age, where power seems to be the mantra in the women's game, Radwanska's finesse and strategic play is a refreshing sight. Couple in the fact that she is extremely comfortable at the net, and you have a tricky opponent.

Regardless of the trickery and subtlety of the young Polish girl, the mastery of Venus on this surface should prove too strong. This will arguably be the toughest match for Venus at this year's Wimbledon so far, yet she should progress in straight sets.

Francesca Schiavone vs. Elena Dementieva

Francesca Schiavone is another name that not many would have expected to see at this stage of the tournament. However, the wily Italian veteran certainly has the game that should see her at least in the top twenty. Schiavone is an expert at playing within her limitations, with stable ground strokes and a topspin forehand the basis of her game.

Elena Dementieva has made it this far quietly under the radar. After a promising start to the season, the diminutive Russian suffered a blip in form. However, with her serve coming on unusually well so far at Wimbledon, Dementieva has looked extremely comfortable and commanding in her performances.

Schiavone is a fighter, however the overall game of Dementieva should be too strong for the veteran. In addition Dementieva's experience at this stage of a grand slam, means she should be able to handle any uneasy passages of play that Schiavone throws at her.

Victoria Azarenka vs. Serena Williams

Alongwith Caroline Wozniacki, Victoria Azarenka has laid down a marker as the new challengers to the top tier in women's tennis. The Belorussian has tremendous talent, and the confidence of her impressive season so far has elevated her game to top five level. Apart from an excellent challenge from a resurgent Nadia Petrova, Azarenka has looked at ease on the grass.

Serena Williams seems to be playing a consistent game of one-upmanship against her sibling. She has been almost as dominant as her sister, and her dismantling of Daniela Hantuchova, who has previously troubled Serena was as comprehensive a performance as one can expect from the two-time champ.

Azarenka will be a grand slam champion for sure. However, her time is not now. Similar to Venus, this will be Serena's toughest test. Similarly, she will come through it, as the Williams sisters move smoothly towards another final showdown

French Open Women's Quarter-final Preview

With the exit of her vanquisher in last year's final, Dinara Safina now stands as the firm favourite to win her first Grand slam. However, the experience of Serena Williams, Svetlana Kuznetsova and possibly even Maria Sharapova may still have a say.

Dinara Safina vs. Victoria Azarenka

The joke going around is that once Dinara is on court at the French Open, the players scheduled next are already in the waiting area after half an hour. Such has been the sheer dominance of World No.1, that she is the overwhelming favourite to win. Yet to lose more than 5 games in the tournament, simply no words can do justice to describe her game now.

What is certain though, is that Victoria Azarenka will probably win 5 games against Safina by herself. The Belorussian youngster is the rising star of Women's tennis, and her consistency in the first half of the season would suggest that her beating of the champion in the last round was hardly an upset. An intelligent mind coupled with the ability to string winners consistently makes Azarenka a treat to watch. Its just unfortunate that she is in Safina's half of the draw.

Prediction: Azarenka's time will come very soon at a Grand Slam. However, the current moment belongs to Dinara Safina. It won't be done in 50 minutes, but Safina will win in straight sets.

Dominika Cibulkova vs. Maria Sharapova

One player has confounded expectations by reaching this stage in a Grand Slam for the first time. The other has confounded expectations by reaching this stage in a Grand Slam despite being out of the game for more than a year.

For both, this tournament is already a huge success. Tactics are almost irrelevant in this match. It is the mental aspect, where this game is going to be won. Expect Cibulkova to be a bundle of nerves. Despite going the distance in all her matches so far, Sharapova should have the experience to pull through.

Prediction: Cibulkova seems to be another rising star in the WTA. Yet Maria Sharapova seems to have the mental tenacity and will power to win these matches, along with the momentum. It won't be a classic, but Sharapova to win in 3 again.

Sorana Cirstea vs. Samantha Stosur

Yet another match-up between two players who have done remarkably well just to get to this stage in the tournament. In beating Jelena Jankovic and Elena Dementieva, Cirstea and Stosur respectively have shown that they aren't afraid to play in the big games.

It seems only natural that there will be lots more seen from the Romanian teenager in the future. For the veteran Stosur, this is a phenomenal effort after years of success on the doubles circuit.

Prediction: Cirstea certainly seems to have the better all-round game. However, Stosur has the experience, and fatigue might also be a factor against Cirstea after her marathon against Jankovic. A calm Strosur to win in two tight sets.

Serena Williams vs. Svetlana Kuznetsova

While Dinara Safina has been gathering all the plaudits, Serena Williams has been doing her job quietly and effectively. While she struggled a bit in the early rounds, Serena's demolition of Alexandria Wozniak was an ominous sign for her opponents. Yet one can't help but feel Serena is most vulnerable on clay than on any other surface.

Despite a tricky encounter against Radwanska in the round of 16, Svetlana Kuznetsova has probably played the best tennis on the women's side after Safina. Kuznetsova's forehand remains as formidable as ever, and the ease with which she has moved forward to finish points has been excellent. For Kuznetsova, it really is a matter of holding nerves against Serena.

Prediction: Serena has played just well enough to reach the quarters. There is no doubt that she has to raise the level of her game for this match. However, even that may not be enough, against an opponent who is certainly better on clay. Kuznetsova to win in 2 extremely close sets.

French Open Men's Quarter-finals Preview

With the shock exit of Rafael Nadal, the tag of favourite has now been transferred to Roger Federer. There is no doubt that Federer is the player with the best clay court pedigree. However, the last eight consists of a host of dark horses, and as the exits of Djokovic and Nadal proved, anything is possible this year.

Robin Soderling vs. Nikolay Davydenko

Unless we have a match or performance for the ages in the remaining 6 days at Roland Garros, the 2009 French Open will always be associated with Robin Soderling. The enigmatic Swede did the unthinkable by becoming the first man to beat Rafael Nadal on the clay of Paris.

However, after the euphoria of that victory dawns the reality that there are 3 rounds still to go. In fact, Soderling is as much of an underdog against his next opponent as he was against Nadal. There is no denying the effectiveness of Soderling's serve and powerful groundstrokes.

That being said, Nikolay Davydenko is unlikely to give Soderling the luxury of short balls, and the Russian has the sort of metronomic consistency from the baseline that can easily ruffle Soderling's brittle temperament. Furthermore, Davydenko has the crucial experience in these stages of a Grand Slam, and the unheralded yet extremely consistent veteran may even fancy being the favourite in this section of the draw to make it to the final.

Prediction: Soderling may have the momentum, but ultimately the biggest effect of his shock against Nadal, might actually have been to galvanize the other serious contenders. A fact that won't be lost on Davydenko, as he wins in 4

Andy Murray vs. Fernando Gonzalez

Andy Murray's startling progress over the past year shows no signs of abating. His maturity and intelligence are starting to be seen in greater evidence, as he has the reached the quarters of a grand slam on his least favourite surface. The most impressive facet of his play on clay has been his ability to transform his game to suit the surface, yet still utilize his major weapons, the backhand and serve.

Fernando Gonzalez meanwhile is in brilliant form himself. The Chilean can often have streaks at grand slams, whereby he is in a zone of his own, managing to hit winners consistently from any angle. His baseline game at this year's French, is reminiscent of his breathtaking play at the 2007 Australian Open. If Gonzalez maintains the accuracy of his groundstrokes, he has the ability to negate Murray's game by keeping him completely on the defensive.

Prediction: While there is no denying Murray has made huge strides on clay, the fact remains that he hasn't really played anyone in the tournament with a clay court pedigree. Gonzalez is certainly going to be his toughest opponent, and possibly a bridge too far. Speedy Gonzalez to nick it in 5

Roger Federer vs. Gael Monfils

A repeat of last year's semi-final when Monfils ran the Swiss master really close. As mentioned earlier, the expectation on Federer is now even greater after Nadal's exit. The good news for Roger Federer is that the bad match has already been dealt with in the round of 16 clash against Haas. In fact, Federer's amazing escape when facing a break in the third set, already 2 sets down, seemed to have the air of a seismic moment that can transfer momentum for a whole tournament.

It certainly was an important wake-up call because if Federer would have played the same level of tennis against his next opponent, then Gael Monfils would have decimated Roger Federer. While critics of the young French star quibble about his defensive game, there is no denying that his speed, movement and effective defence make him a genuine threat on the clay of the French Open. Expect the highly partisan crowd to be a big factor in this match.

Prediction: Despite easily dismantling Andy Roddick, Federer on clay is a different prospect. Even the French crowd might not be as vocal against Federer as they were against Roddick. Monfils will certainly give the crowd a lot to cheer, but ultimately lose in 4 close sets.

Juan Martin Del Potro vs. Tommy Robredo

A third successive grand slam quarter-final leaves no doubt that Juan Martin Del Potro is here to stay as a top 10 player. While the top 4 may yet be a bridge too far, Del Potro certainly has the consistency, power and all the right mental attributes to beat the rest of the field. He certainly knows how to use his forehand effectively, and most certainly does not gift his opponents easy points with unforced errors.

On the other side of the net, Spanish veteran Tommy Robredo has played some decent tennis of his own. Always a dangerous opponent on clay, Robredo has displayed many of his positive traits, and even some decent net play which has resulted in many quick points at the expense of confused opponents.

Prediction: On his day, Robredo certainly can cause an upset here, especially if he moves the big Argentine around. However, Del Potro is starting to show signs of maturity in his play and the way he dismantled home favourite Tsonga was quite exceptional. Del Potro's baseline game to carry him through to the semi's in 3 straight but tight sets.