With Pete Sampras gone, there are a lot of people in the draw who just got really excited. Who are now kind of foaming at the mouth because the great Pete Sampras is out -- taken down by Roger Federer.
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Mal's Picks |
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| | | Washington |
Former ATP Tour pro MaliVai Washington is providing ESPN.com with in-depth analysis during Wimbledon. Washington, a tennis analyst for ESPN, reached the 1996 Wimbledon final. |
In 1996 when Richard Krajicek ousted Sampras in the quarterfinals, I was on the other side of the draw. A lot of guys got excited because Andre Agassi and Boris Becker fell out early. In a way, it's a similar situation with Sampras being eliminated this year. It's a great opportunity for Federer, Tim Henman or Marat Safin. With the exception of Goran Ivanisevic, someone is going to get in the final who hasn't been there before.
None of them have ever won a major except Safin. For Federer, though, don't look for it to happen. This is a huge win. He made history. Sometimes after winning a big match there's a letdown, if that doesn't happen look for him to win through to the semifinals.
I thought last year was Pete Sampras' Grand Slam. He was one of the guys to beat at Wimbledon because of his past success, but I didn't predict that it would be Roger Federer who would beat him. It was more expected for a guy like Tim Henman to beat him.
But hands down to Roger Federer. At the beginning of the tournament, I said he's going to be one to watch even thought he'd never even won a match at Wimbledon. As a well-rounded player, he has the ability to be successful on any surface.
Roger Federer (15), Switzerland vs. Tim Heman (6), Great Britain
Pick Federer to win. He has a ton of talent and a ton of confidence. Every time a player wins their first Grand Slam, going into the tournament no one was really looking at them to win a major. Then suddenly -- boom -- they are in the quarterfinals. If you think back to 1990, people weren't thinking of Sampras winning the U.S. Open or of Agassi winning his first at Wimbledon in 1992. This might be the beginning of something great. It's definitely one step closer to his first Grand Slam title. He's just over halfway there.
Edge: Federer
Marat Safin (4), Russia, vs. Goran Ivanisevic, Croatia,
Ivanisevic is a guy who is so dangerous on this surface because of his serve. I don't know if I see him getting to the finals. He relies so heavily on his serve. It's a matchup of two very talented players. Two very emotionally expressive players and two of the most fiery personalities going at it. Don't be surprised if a racket gets broken or someone gets a warning or a point penalty. Go with Safin in that matchup.
Edge: Safin
Thomas Enqvist (10), Sweden vs. Patrick Rafter (3), Australia
Rafter over Enqvist. Nine times out of 10 you pick a great serve and volleyer over a baseliner like Enqvist. It's surprising that Enqvist has gotten as far as he has. He's never been past the fourth round and that was just last year. Stick with original pick of Rafter here. He's too good of a player on grass and too good of a serve-and-volleyer to not at some point in his career win Wimbledon. Just to reach the quarterfinals you have to be playing really good tennis. Can't imagine under what circumstances he would lose this match. Expect Rafter to play Agassi in that semifinal.
Edge: Rafter
Nicolas Escude (24), France vs. Andre Agassi (2), United States
This is definitely a case of Escude overachieving at Wimbledon. Never before has he won more than one match in a single year. Though Escude is a guy who will take his chances and come into the net when he needs to. But that's not his game; he's a baseliner. He's not as good a baseliner as Agassi. But you'll see a lot of points played from the baseline. Don't expect anyone to outplay Agassi from the baseline, though. Expect a semifinal between Rafter and Agassi.
Edge: Agassi