2012 Wimbledon

[Dr. Philly]

Draw:
http://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/scores/draws/ms/index.html

Quadrant 1:

Favorite:
#1 Novak Djokovic

Closest Contender:
#6 Tomas Berdych

Other Contenders
#12 Nicolas Almagro
#15 Juan Monaco
#18 Richard Gasquet

Dark Horse:
Ryan Harrison

Matchups to look forward to:
Other than the 4th Round this group is a snoozefest.

Prediction

Djokovic can come out of this part of the draw relatively unscathed, depending on which Berdych shows up. I predict Djokovic to advance to the quarters easily then run into a little trouble with Berdych ultimately prevailing.

Advances out of Quadrant 1: Novak Djokovic


Quadrant 2:

Heavy Favorite:
#3 Rodger Federer

Closest Contender:
#8 Janko Tipseravic

Other Contenders:
#11 John Isner
#13 Gilles Simon
#17 Fernando Verdasco

Dark Horse:
David Nalbandian

Matchups to look forward to:
2nd Round Isner vs Mahut
1st Round Young vs Youhzny
1st Round Nalbandian vs Tipseravic
2nd Round Federer vs Llorda

Prediction:
Federer should make it to the Semi's out of this group, it should be easy for him. Isner has yet to find any success on Grass, and personally the only person I can see challenging him is himself, if he doesn't crap out mentally he should advance easily. Verdasco is the only person in my mind that can challenge him. Isner as well could challenge if he can actually find his game here.

Advances out of Quadrant 2: Rodger Federer

Quadrant 3:

Heavy Favorite:
#4 Andy Murray

Closest Contender:
#7 David Ferrer

Other Contenders:
#30 Andy Roddick
#9 Juan Martin Del Potro

Dark Horse:
#21 Milos Raonic

Matchups to look forward to:
3rd Round Baghdatis vs Murray
3rd Round Cilic vs Raonic
1st Round Davydenko vs Murray

Prediction:
Murray, doesn't have an relatively easy draw but its not as hard as it seems. His first test will be in the 4th Round against Raonic/Cilic, even though Baghdatis could take a set away from him. Out of this group I could see a QF of Murray and either Del Potro.

Advancing from Quadrant 3: Andy Murray

Quadrant 4:

Heavy Favorite:
#2 Rafael Nadal

Closest Contender:
#5 Jo Wilfried Tsonga

Other Contenders:
#10 Mardy Fish
#14 Feliciano Lopez
#20 Benard Tomic

Dark Horse:
Brian Baker

Matchups to look forward to:
2nd Round Baker vs Lopez
3rd Round Tomic vs Fish
1st Round Tsonga vs Hewitt
1st Round Bogomolov vs Dolgopolov

Prediction:
Honestly I think Nadal has the trickiest quadrant since he has the combination of guys that are hot (Haas), guys that beat him recently on Grass (Kohlschreiber) and hungry youngsters with immense talent. I still see him reaching the Semi's through this group though, he's too talented and great on the surface to not do so.

Advances from Quadrant 4: Rafael Nadal

My projected QF
#1 Novak Djokovic vs #6 Tomas Berdych
#3 Rodger Federer vs #11 John Isner
#4 Andy Murray vs #9 Juan Martin del Potro
#2 Rafael Nadal vs #5 Jo Wilfried Tsonga

My projected SF
#1 Novak Djokovic vs #3 Rodger Federer

Prediction: #1 Novak Djokvoic mainly because Federer had so many chances to beat Novak at majors, not only blowing match points in their last two US Open Semi's and blew double breaks twice in the 3 set win for Novak at the French. On top of that Fed has been underwhelming as of late at Wimbledon.

Novak in 4


#2 Rafael Nadal vs #4 Andy Murray

Prediction: Andy can beat Nadal, problem is mentally. Lendl seemed to be working on it at Australia as he forced Novak into a marathon 5 setter and then had a dissapointing French performance. That and back concerns has me choosing Nadal to win this but in 4 as well.

Nadal in 4

My projected F
#1 Novak Djokovic vs #2 Rafael Nadal

Prediction: I honestly have no idea who's gonna win between these two here. Both have proven they could win here and do so easily. The fact that Nadal has taken the last few meetings although on Clay has been great to his confidence. If this was hard court or indoors, I'd take Djokovic all the time, but its on Grass which I think is an even surface for both of them. The fact that Novak hasn't played since the FO might hurt him since he will have to get the familiarity of the playing surface.

Prediction: Nadal in 5
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[Dr. Philly]

Donald Young has a lead on Youhzny in the first set, if he can hold on, we can have our first upset.
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[Dr. Philly]

Venus out first round, I think she's almost done career wise.
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[Dr. Philly]

Looks like Berdych and Isner are out in this round. Gulbis always had the talent, but never the mental capacity, maybe now he put it together, as for Isner, the court that probably should suit him, is his downfalll.
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[seminoles1]

[Dr. Philly]

Looks like Almagro could be out as well. 3 Top 15 players out in the first round, means the draws get real easier for the big 3/4.
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[texans_uk]

All that matters is a British woman made it to round 2!

Really thought one of the British guys could have made it through yesterday, especially Golding, who lost 6-1, 6-7, 6-7, 5-7!
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[dbtb135]

As always, I'll be rooting for Rafa. Honestly though, this field seems like a complete toss-up between the top 4. No real surprise there, but it seems like more of a dead-heat than ever. Novak is the top dog by a much smaller margin than last year, but he's still the favorite by a hair. Nadal is one bad (choke, really. Which hurts to say.) shot from taking the first two majors. Federer is seemingly falling almost below Murray in contendership outside of the French. He's really entering the twilight of his career, seemingly. But it is on grass, so Federer cannot be discounted. I think it was McEnroe who said this is Federer's last best chance at a major, and I think that is immensely true. And Murray, on paper, could be the favorite. But as always, his head is in the way. If he couldn't take it from Djokovic in the Aussie, I have a hard time believing he can here. I don't like the stylistic match-up against him for Nadal, but psychologically, Nadal is Murray's worst nightmare. Murray had better tools than Nadal ever will, but Nadal playing every point to a finish and having the mental fortitude of a monster could be more than enough to break Murray into mistakes and his usual self-doubt.

I just hope that we make it to the semis with the top players intact, and they play some great tennis. As usual. And also, that Nadal wins.

[seminoles1]

I'd love for Federer's final Slam title to be at Wimbledon with wins over both Djokovic and Nadal. It would be a great moment.
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To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift-Steve Prefontaine

The future is not set. There is no fate but what we make for ourselves.

[khodder]

Hopefully Erakovic can make it though to the 3rd or 4th round. She is solid on Grass, but nothing world beating.
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[texans_uk]

5 Brits through! Woop!

Now watch the mass exodus.
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[Dr. Philly]

[Blahman88]

[texans_uk]

[Dr. Philly]

I'm honestly glad that they installed the roof over Centre Court, it helps that way the tourney doesn't get shifted into the 3rd Week. Still proponent of all the slams having roofs over the main 2 courts.
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