WIMBLEDON 2000

 

REVIEWS BY MARK NEWMAN

 

 

PICK OF THE SECOND ROUND MATCHES

 

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(1) Pete Sampras vs. Karol Kucera

The draw is very open for Sampras this year, and he should comfortably reach the quarter-finals. Kucera is his only real threat. He beat Agassi at the French Open, but don’t expect the King of Wimbledon to be too troubled as he chases a seventh title here.

 

(11) Richard Krajicek vs. Wayne Ferreira

Ferreira is a dangerous player, and added his fourpenneth to the boycott debate by saying that the Spaniards were right to quit. As one of the players who benefited from the rejigging of the rankings to produce the seeds, Krajicek will be looking to prove a point. Could be the match of the second round in the men’s event. Expect it to go the distance, but the 1996 champion should see it through to the third round.

 

(12) Patrick Rafter vs. Todd Woodbridge

The Aussies battle it out in the second round. Rafter seems to have recovered from his dreadful injury problems that have plagued him for so long. The former World #1 won the grasscourt event in ‘s-Hertogenbosch last week, and should feel comfortable against wildcard entry Todd Woodbridge, who even more than usual this year is known for his doubles play.

 

(10) Mark Philippoussis vs. Arnaud Di Pasquale

Not an easy one this for Philippoussis whose confidence and results have seemed fragile since he was forced to withdraw with a knee injury when a set up against Sampras in last year’s quarterfinals, an injury that later required surgery. Philippoussis has reached the last-eight in the last two years here, but I have a nasty feeling that the Frenchman may cause a second round upset.

 

(2) Andre Agassi vs. Todd Martin

Though it was the Spanish players who boycotted the event, it was Todd Martin who should have been seeded above any of them. A grasscourt player of some merit, he is best remembered at Wimbledon for blowing a 5-1 final set lead against Mal Washington in 1996. Agassi looked far from spectacular against teenage American Taylor Dent in the first round, so the chances for a major upset are high. Expect Martin to win in five sets.

 

Mirjana Lucic vs. Silvija Talaja

Lucic reached the semi’s last year with wins over Seles and Tauziat, but has won only two matches this year. Her chances are boosted though by the fact that Talaja has lost in the first round here twice in three visits, and by the fact that she is now being coached by Harold Solomon, who so successfully turned the career of Jennifer Capriati around last year. It will be tough, but if Lucic can keep her fragile confidence intact she can win this one.

 

(5) Venus Williams vs. Ai Sugiyama

On paper it looks like it might be a tough match, but Sugiyama does not like to face the power players as evidenced by her one-sided defeat to Jennifer Capriati in the Australian Open quarter-finals earlier this year. Expect Venus’s confidence to grow as she wins in straight sets.

 

Natasha Zvereva vs. Tamarine Tanasugarn

If you want to see a good grasscourt match at Wimbledon, then watch this one. Both know their stuff on this surface and have good Wimbledon records. The edge is with Tanasugarn who has played more matches on grass coming into Wimbledon and has the greater confidence.

 

(2) Lindsay Davenport vs. Elena Likhovtseva

Davenport should come through this one comfortably, but she has not played a full match yet here, after her first round opponent withdrew midway through their match with injury. Likhovtseva has lost in the first round at more tournaments than she cares to remember this year, and may very well be overwhelmed by the defending champion.