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  • ATP Queens day 4 previews

    6/11/08 11:56 PM | David Cox
    - It's an action-packed line up on day 4 with Nadal, Gonzalez, Karlovic and Roddick all in action

    Rafael Nadal vs Kei Nishikori

    2008 has been a big year for Japanese teenager Kei Nishikori. At only 18 the talented left-hander has made the world’s top 100 and won a first ATP title in Delray Beach as a qualifier. His grass court season didn’t have the most auspicious of starts at Surbiton last week when he had to retire in the opening round. However he’s battled through to a prized meeting with Nadal here, beating Columbian Alejandro Falla (a decent grass player) 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 and Olivier Patience 7-6, 6-3. Nadal will be only the second top 10 player he’s faced (he’s 1-1 against James Blake this year) and although Nishikori is a classy shot-maker from the back he’s unlikely to get a set as his serve isn’t big enough yet to push the elite on fast surfaces. It should be a great experience for him though

    Prediction: Nadal in 2

    Fernando Gonzalez vs Ivo Karlovic

    Line judges are advised to bring their crash helmets to court 1 on Thursday. Points in this match are unlikely to last very long, these two being among the most brutal hitters of a tennis ball on tour. Karlovic blasted 19 aces in just 9 service games during a 6-3, 6-2 win over qualifier Sirianni on Tuesday. Ranking-wise he’s the slight favourite for this at 4 places higher than Gonzalez at 21 and he won their only previous matches 3 years ago at this tournament, 6-3, 7-6. Given his game Gonzalez has underachieved on grass in the past and while the same can be said of Karlovic at Wimbledon (amazingly he’s never gone past round 3 there) it definitely can’t at the other grass ATPs (he made the Queens final in 2006 and won Nottingham last June).

    Prediction: Karlovic in 3

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