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  • Stellar field set for Queens 2008

    3/13/08 11:05 PM | David Cox
    - There's an all-star line-up entered for the Stella Artois Championships at Queens club this year. Being the first grass-court ATP of the season and the main warm-up for Wimbledon Queens (which begins the day after Roland Garros on June 9th) always attracts a high calibre of competitor.

    Since it began in 1979 most of the game's legends have secured their name on the prestigious trophy, the likes of McEnroe, Edberg, Lendl, Becker and more recently Sampras.

    However this year looks set to be one of the strongest fields yet, headed by world no 2 Rafael Nadal who'll be making his 3rd appearance in the event. Undeterred by having played gruelling French Open final just days before, Nadal always turns up at Queens looking in stunning form and it's something of a surprise that he's yet to go past the quarters.

    Maybe he can pick up his first title in 2008, Bjorn Borg is certainly convinced, “Nadal can play on any surface,” said the legendary Swede. “If I would pick a winner for Wimbledon in 2008 I would pick Nadal. He knows he can play on grass now and he knows he can win on it. He's a great player and a great person.”

    World no 3 and Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic will be making his first appearance this year as will reigning champion Andy Roddick. It's easily one of Roddick's favourite events of the year, having won the title no less than 4 times and equalling the serve speed record for the first time back in 2003.

    Britain's Andy Murray will also be there, returning to the tournament which catapulted him into the big time just 3 years ago. Then just having turned 18 and with a ranking down in the 300s, Murray stunned Taylor Dent before pushing Thomas Johansson to the wire in a dramatic 3rd round match

    Another 4-time winner Lleyton Hewitt will also be there. He always seems to find his best form at Queens, having conquered Sampras, Henman (twice) and Blake to win his titles

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