Wimbledon Day 7 Picks 2013 (July 1st)

Middle Sunday is the day that Wimbledon has traditionally taken off as a rest day and that means the organisers missed what would have been wonderful conditions to play tennis.

Wimbledon remains the only tournament that has a day of rest in the middle of an event, but it does seem the organisers want to hold on to their traditional values. Personally, I think it would be wise to open the doors on a day when the majority of the paying public would not be at work and would relish the opportunity to watch some live tennis.

I would also be ready to create an 'evening session' as they do at the Australian and US Opens and make use of the lights that could be used in Centre Court, but that is another avenue that is not being explored at the moment.

All of this means that the second Monday of the tournament is the day that all of the Fourth Round matches are played and that means there will be a lot of tennis going on throughout the day and very possibly deep into the evening. The weather will be cooler on Monday compared with Sunday, but the sun will be shining as the tournament remains on schedule.

After all of the surprises in the first week of the tournament, it will be interesting to see what we have in store for us in the coming seven days.


David Ferrer - 4.5 games v Ivan Dodig: The grass courts are never going to be the best surface for David Ferrer to play the game that he likes best as the speed allows too many players to be able to hit through him, but he is a former Quarter Finalist here at Wimbledon and I expect him to get back to that stage again this year.

He has had to come through some tough tests in the first week of the tournament and Ivan Dodig is likely to provide another one of those for Ferrer in the Fourth Round. Dodig has a game that is well suited to grass with a decent first serve and also the comfort at the net to shorten points and pressure opponents to pass him.

However, I do feel Dodig has taken advantage of a kind draw to all extents and purposes and this is the toughest challenge he would have faced in the tournament so far. The Croatian will likely be pressured to play the extra ball on enough occasions for Ferrer to be aided by mistakes and I think that will see the Spaniard move through in three or four sets.

I can definitely see Dodig causing problems early, but as Ferrer gets his timing down on the return, it will be more and more difficult for the Croatian and could be a 64, 67, 63, 63 win for Ferrer.


Andy Murray - 7.5 games v Mikhail Youzhny: It has been four years since these two players have last met, but I think there is a real match up problem for Mikhail Youzhny against the home favourite Andy Murray.

There is no doubt that Youzhny is very effective on a grass court as he is very comfortable getting to the net and he has a decent slice in his arsenal that can stay low.

The problem for the Russian is that he is playing an opponent that is also very effective on the surface and will not be deterred by getting involved in a battle of wits on a tennis court. Andy Murray is also going to be able to return serve effectively enough to create chances against Youzhny and it is tough to see him dropping a set in this one after winning his first three matches in straight sets.

A couple of the sets could be close, but I can definitely see Andy Murray winning one set with a double break of serve and a 64, 62, 64 routine win would not surprise me in the slightest.


Sabine Lisicki + 6.5 games v Serena Williams: Recommending someone, even with this many games, against Serena Williams is always a little bit nerve-wracking as the World Number 1 is capable of obliterating anyone on her day.

However, if she is going to have a slip in this tournament, Sabine Lisicki looks just about the best name who will be capable of providing it. Lisicki has reached the Semi Final and the Quarter Final in the last two years at Wimbledon and has the serve that can help her come through games on grass courts.

The German has admitted she loves playing on this surface and has given Maria Sharapova three tough matches on the surface in the last two years. I am not sure she has the mental belief to beat Serena Williams on Centre Court, but I do think getting more than a set headstart looks a little disrespectful to Lisicki.

Lisicki could spring a surprise if Serena is slightly off her game, but I will be happy if she can give the American a battle and that is what I will be expecting... Clearly a lot more than the layers believe at least!


Laura Robson v Kaia Kanepi: Laura Robson is getting a lot of press after reaching the second week at Wimbledon for the first time and I think the match up is one that will give her a real chance of progressing to the Quarter Finals on Tuesday.

Kaia Kanepi is certainly not a player to be under-estimated, but this is only the second time she has really shown signs of success on the grass courts. You will hear a lot about Kanepi being a former Wimbledon Quarter Finalist when she reached that stage in 2010, but outside of that year and this, she hasn't had the best run at SW19.

The Estonian has been beaten in the First Round in four of her previous six appearances at this Grand Slam and she will give Robson plenty of rhythm in this one. Of course there is a lot more pressure on Robson with the crowd being a little expectant of big things for her and Kanepi is battle-hardened after a couple of tough wins in the first three Rounds.

However, Robson came through a match that she should have lost on Saturday and that may ease the pressure in her own mind as she could feel she is playing with 'House Money' in this one.

There will be a lot of big hitting in the contest, but Robson will certainly feel capable of beating a player that hasn't always enjoyed playing on the grass and I think she has to be chanced as the underdog in this one.


Tomas Berdych - 1.5 sets v Bernard Tomic: It has been a very good tournament for the young Australian that made it to the Quarter Final at Wimbledon a couple of years ago, but he could find it tough against a former Wimbledon Finalist.

Bernard Tomic is clearly going to be a force to be reckoned with on the grass courts in the coming years as he is very confident in his slice, but also adds in a big serve and heavy groudstrokes. However, I do think his second serve is not quite up to scratch just yet and that is an area that Tomas Berdych will look to take advantage of.

Berdych wasn't at his very best against Kevin Anderson on Saturday, but he did enough to come through that match and he too has a big serve and heavy groundstrokes that suit the grass courts, even after his disappointments last season.

This match could be very similar to Tomic's against Richard Gasquet in the Third Round where it each set will be decided by a couple of points here and there. I just think Berdych has a bit more mental strength at the critical times and barring any setback to the shoulder issue he was having on Saturday, I would expect the big Czech player to come through in three or four sets.


MY PICKS: David Ferrer - 4.5 Games @ 1.85 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Andy Murray - 7.5 Games @ 2.17 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Sabine Lisicki + 6.5 Games @ 1.92 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Laura Robson @ 2.25 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Tomas Berdych - 1.5 Sets @ 1.73 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Wimbledon Update: 13-7, + 12.24 Units (39 Units Staked, + 31.38% Yield)