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5/26/08 4:47 AM | Ricky Dimon
Mario Ancic vs. (31) Andreas Seppi
On grass out hard courts this would most likely be a no-contest in Ancic’s favor, but Seppi is dangerous on clay and has been showing that recently. The Italian reached the semifinals at the Masters Series Hamburg and the quarterfinals in Poertschach during this clay-court stretch. Ancic, at 6’5’’ and armed with a power game, prefers fasters surfaces but has shown that he is no pushover on dirt. The Croat is a former French Open quarterfinalist and in four appearances he has never lost in the first round. Ancic also has a winning record on clay so far this season, although he is coming off a loss to Robby Ginepri in Poertschach in which he squandered two match points. The head-to-head series between Seppi and Ancic is split 1-1, but this is their first clash on clay. Ancic has the Grand Slam experience advantage, so if he can serve well and take Seppi out of a baseline rhythm, he should be able to take this in four long sets.
(9) Stanislas Wawrinka vs. Philipp Kohlschreiber
This is simply a brutal first-round matchup. Kohlschreiber is ranked 36th in the world and just a few spots better would have garnered him a seed in Roland Garros. That would have prevented him from playing any other seeded player until at least the third round, but instead he has to go up against 10th-ranked Stanislas Wawrinka, one of the hottest players on tour, right away. The Swiss made it to the semifinals in Barcelona and finished runner-up to Novak Djokovic at the Masters Series Rome. Kohlschreiber really made a name for himself earlier this season with his epic five-set upset win over Andy Roddick at the Australian Open. The German has not been as on fire since then, but his campaign at last weekend’s World Team Cup in Dusseldorf featured a 6-1, 6-0 drubbing of David Ferrer. This will be the first-ever head-to-head meeting between Wawrinka and Kohlschreiber. The one-handed backhand exchanges are going to be outstanding, but in the end Wawrinka should show too much variety and outlast Kohlschreiber in a long four-set grind.
Marin Cilic vs. Robin Haase
The future is now. 19-year-old Marin Cilic and 21-year-old Robin Haase have officially arrived on the ATP level, as Cilic is ranked 53rd in the world and Haase is up to No. 58. Both are tall and wiry (Cilic is 6’5’’, 174 pounds and Haase is 6’3’’, 158 pounds) and both can produce a ton of power. This is a showdown better-suited for a faster court, but these two youngsters are so talented that they can be dangerous on any surface and in any setting. This is the third head-to-head battle between Cilic and Haase, but only the second at the ATP level. Cilic won at a Futures event in Zagreb two years ago and defeated Haase again earlier this season in three sets in the Chennai quarterfinals. Having reached the fourth round of this year’s Australian Open, Cilic has the Grand Slam confidence to survive Haase in a five-set thriller.
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Did you know that... Roger Federer and golf superstar Tiger Woods are good friends.
RafaNadalGirl20, Aug 29, 2008 7:35 PM
RickyDimon, Aug 29, 2008 3:08 PM
agf25agf, Aug 28, 2008 1:21 PM
cherylmurray, Aug 27, 2008 3:10 PM
BernieEliza, Aug 27, 2008 9:19 AM
Allez, Aug 29, 2008 9:07 PM
elle, Aug 29, 2008 7:27 PM
elle, Aug 29, 2008 7:25 PM
Did you know that... Nicolas Massu won a gold medal in both singles and doubles at the 2004 Olympic games.
RafaNadalGirl20, Aug 29, 2008 7:35 PM
RickyDimon, Aug 29, 2008 3:08 PM
agf25agf, Aug 28, 2008 1:21 PM
cherylmurray, Aug 27, 2008 3:10 PM
BernieEliza, Aug 27, 2008 9:19 AM
Allez, Aug 29, 2008 9:07 PM
elle, Aug 29, 2008 7:27 PM
elle, Aug 29, 2008 7:25 PM
