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Wimbledon: Bottom half, Murray quarter analysis

By Geoff Nichols

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Wimbledon: Bottom half, Murray quarter analysis

Andy Murray has an unenviable route to score a second Wimbledon title after seeing the 2015 draw. He faces the prospect of having to beat the rest of the Big Four in consecutive matches if he is to lift the trophy in two weeks time, with Rafael Nadal coming as early as the quarter final.

The saving grace for Murray must be that the draw was similar in 2013, but as the event unfolded, but Nadal and Federer suffered early exits. With the form of Federer coming into Wimbledon this year, granted that does seem less likely.

Selected First Round Matches

Ferrer 8 (SPA) v Ward (GB)

Ward has scored some big wins in front of a home crowd in his career, but this would be his biggest. He is not only playing for a place in the second round, but also a Davis Cup singles berth. Ferrer is as experienced as they get and will test every part of Ward’s game. It ought to be straight sets, but you never know with Ward.

Stepanek (CZE) v Bedene (GB)

Bedene gets to play at Wimbledon as a Briton for the first time and he has been given an opening match that is certainly going to be entertaining. Stepanek is no shrinking violet on court and will be happy to play the villain, although he is certainly not the player he once was. Bedene has a real chance here.

Tsonga 14 (FRA) v Muller (LUX)

Muller was tipped as the most dangerous floater in the draw this year and poor old Tsonga has drawn him in round one. The Frenchman has missed all the build up events on the grass due to injury and this match really spells danger for him.

Dolgopolov (UKR) v Edmund (GB)

Dolgopolov was another dangerous floater, having shown his qualities at Queens, but it could have been a lot worse for Edmund, who is a wild card. Edmund is looking to break the top 1oo and one of the quickest ways to achieve this is through winning at majors. The match is in Dolgopolov’s hands, but boy is he hard to predict.

Possible Second Round Matches

Brown (GER) v Nadal 10 (SPA)

Brown has made it through qualifying and will need to focus on one match at a time, but a second round meeting with Nadal must be on his mind. He crushed Nadal in Halle last year and the Spaniard is arguably even less confident than this time last year. There could be fireworks.

Haase (NED) v Murray 3 (GB)

Haase has given Murray problems before and if her serves will, he may will take a set of the British number one. Sometimes with such a tricky route ahead of them, players can lose focus in the early rounds, so Murray has to remain focussed from the first ball.

Projected Third Round Matches

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Ferrer 8 (SPA) v Fognini 30 (ITA)

I would be amazed if Fognini can keep his temper in check to make it this far, his relaxed stroke play is not suited to the grass. Ferrer on the other hand is so good at beating the players that his seeding suggests he should and I think he is on a collision course with Nadal.

Troicki 22 (SER) v Nadal 10 (SPA)

Troicki is playing some of the best tennis of his career in 2015, but this is a tough draw for the Serbian number two. Nadal has been no stranger to early exits at Wimbledon in recent years, but I think 2015 is the time for that to change.

Tsonga 14 (FRA) v Karlovic 23 (CRO)

If Tsonga makes it this far, which if I was a betting man I would hesitate to commit to, then Karlovic is a significant obstacle. Karlovic has been serving so well of late and on the grass he rarely gets broken. He could be the surprise package and set up a fourth round tie with Murray.

Murray 3 (GBR) v Seppi 25 (ITA)

Seppi has tested some to players at majors before and will be an examination for Murray. It will be a good match for Murray to focus on his game from the back of the court and we will get an idea of the aggression that he is trying to play with.

Quarter Winner: Murray over Nadal

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