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Breaking down the Wimbledon draw Posted: Thursday June 20, 2002 11:54 AM
Sports Illustrated senior writer Jon Wertheim peers into his crystal ball to reveal the fate of the top 16 men's and women's seeds for Wimbledon. Scroll down to see the first-round matches you shouldn't miss, some darkhorse candidates to advance to Week 2, and his championship predictions. MEN'S REPORT | Women's Report 1. Lleyton Hewitt: His play in tuneups bodes well, but his draw is brutal. Just to reach the semis, directly or indirectly he'll have to go through Jonas Bjorkman, the underrated Jarkko Nieminen, Mikhail Youzhny, his old nemesis Nicolas Escudé, and Roger Federer. I don't see it happening. 2. Marat Safin: Provided he keeps his head -- which is hardly a given -- the path to semis is reasonably uncluttered. 3. Andre Agassi: Has reached semis three years running. If he can find a way to persevere on the inevitable off-day -- something he failed to do against Juan Carlos Ferrero in Paris -- he has a chance to replicate feat of a decade ago.
5.Yevgeny Kafelnikov: Showing signs of life recently, but will get a first-round test from the streaky Dominik Hrbaty. 6. Pete Sampras: Will grass of SW19 reinvigorate his atrophying game? In a Barry Cowan kind of way, Martin Lee could give him trouble in Round 1. But if Sampras can "play himself into Week 2," as he's fond of saying, look out. 7. Roger Federer: Due for a breakout, particularly after French Open flop. His quarterfinal match against Hewitt may well be the de facto final. 8. Thomas Johansson: Australian Open champ has been in the Scandinavian equivalent of the Witness Protection Program since Melbourne. Should re-emerge on a slick surface well-suited to his game. 9. Juan Carlos Ferrero: Not his preferred surface, but he's not the typical clay-courter. His slapshot strokes and early hitting make him dangerous, particularly with a benign draw. 10. Guillermo Cañas: Like Ferrero, he has the game to do well on grass. Made a surprising run to the fourth round last year. Should do at least as well this time around. 11. Andy Roddick: Due for a run at a Slam. After French faux pas and a loss to Jonas Bjorkman in a tuneup, confidence level is a question mark. But if he gets in a groove, it could get interesting. 12. Jiri Novak: Perma-grinner has never been past Round 2 at Wimby. Besides, he's in the same octet as Max Mirnyi, Taylor Dent, Jan-Michael Gambill and Wayne Arthurs. 13. Younes El Aynaoui: Will look for some success after disappointing French. Tough first match against flashy Irakli (The Freak) Labadze, but if he survives that he could some noise. 14. Thomas Enqvist: The Barbara Schett of the men. Pleasant, inoffensive game and personality, but seems content with middling results. May well get his hat handed to him by Mark Philippoussis in Round 2. 15. Andrei Pavel: Papa Pavel's mind may be elsewhere. Says here he falls to lefty Ken Carlsen in Round 1. 16. Nicolas Escudé: Quarterfinalist last year has major darkhorse potential. LOWER SEEDS WORTH WATCHING 18. Sjeng Schalken: Not the grittiest competitor, but plays well on grass. 21. Max Mirnyi: Big serve makes him a threat. 23. Greg Rusedski: See above. 26. Todd Martin: Has a knack for quietly going about his business and then showing up in Week 2. 29. James Blake: Athleticism can shine on grass. Plus, Mama's provenance could make him a crowd fave. DARKHORSE STABLE Wayne Arthurs: Lefty servers have done well here recently. Mikhail Youzhny: Has had a rough go of it in 2002, but hard-serving Russian teen is a player to watch. Jan-Michael Gambill: Quarterfinalist two years ago is due for a good run. Rochus: Guaranteed to reach Round 2. FIRST-ROUND MATCHES TO WATCH Taylor Dent vs. Max Mirnyi: There may actually be a rally or two. Hewitt vs. Jonas Bjorkman: If No. 1 seed isn't sharp, potential for a monumental upset. Kristian Pless vs. Schalken: Two of the better players one seldom hears about. Christophe Rochus vs. Olivier Rochus: Has Richard Williams already orchestrated the outcome? PREDICTIONS Semifinals: Federer vs. Henman; Agassi vs. Safin
Click here to send a question to Jon Wertheim's Tennis Mailbag.
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