Wimbledon 2011, Day 8: Gentlemen's Singles Fourth Round Preview And Predictions

The second Monday of Wimbledon is the greatest day in the tennis calendar, with all thirty-two remaining singles competitors competing in fourth round action.  Here's a look at the men's side of this annual tennis explosion:

No. 1 Rafael Nadal (Spain) vs. No. 24 Juan Martin del Potro (Argentina) -- Third on Centre Court -- Rafael Nadal hasn't been beaten at Wimbledon since 2007, winning two titles and missing one year due to injury.  But things won't be easy at all for him Monday on Centre Court, taking on resurging Juan Martin del Potro.  del Potro established himself as Nadal's kryptonite in 2009, beating Nadal three times on big stages, including a 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 bloodbath in the semifinals of the US Open.  Del Potro had never made it to the second week of Wimbledon before, but his big serve and bigger forehand should be able to do some damage.  Nadal looked vulnerable against qualifier Gilles Muller in the third round, but I think he'll be far readier for the del Potro arsenal.  Prediction: Nadal in 4.

No. 10 Mardy Fish (United States) vs. No. 6 Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) -- Third on Court No. 2 -- Defending finalist Tomas Berdych hasn't had any results to speak of in the last year (though I suppose you could speak of them derisively). But he seems to have recaptured the magic he had at Wimbledon last year, a run that saw him upset both No. 1 Roger Federer and No. 3 Novak Djokovic.  Mardy Fish is the lone American left in the Gentlemen's Singles draw, and has taken care of business nicely on his way to living up to his seed.  Surprisingly given how long both have been around the upper echelon of the game, Berdych and Fish have never played one another previously.  If Berdych plays his best tennis, he'll win.  Prediction: Berdych in 4.

No. 4 Andy Murray (Great Britain) vs. No. 17 Richard Gasquet (France)  -- First on Centre Court -- These two met famously in the fourth round of Wimbledon 2008, with Murray coming back from two sets down to defeat the notoriously poor closer Gasquet in five.  Though Gasquet has had a few nice wins to his name in 2011, it's unlikely this match will be anywhere near as exciting.  The real surprise is why tournament organizers put Murray on first, as far from primetime as possible.  Prediction: Murray in 4.

Q Lukasz Kubot (Poland) vs. Feliciano Lopez (Spain) -- Second on Court No. 3 -- Qualifier Lukasz Kubot quietly collected a nice set of scalps in the first week of the tournament, knocking out Arnaud Clement, Ivo Karlovic, and No. 9 Gael Monfils to make it into the second week of Wimbledon for the first time. Feliciano Lopez has made the quarterfinals of Wimbledon twice before, in 2005 and 2008, and pulled off one of the loudest wins of the tournament with his straight set defeat of Andy Roddick.  Though I am reluctant to ever agree with Justin Gimelstob on anything, this one will be as much a tennis match as it will be a shampoo commercial.  Prediction: Lopez in 4.

No. 7 David Ferrer (Spain) vs. No. 12 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) -- Third on Court No. 3 -- Despite being the higher seed, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has to be considered an overwhelming favorite against David Ferrer.  Tsonga's big serving, big hitting style should give him every advantage on grass against the counter-punching Ferrer, who himself was lucky to make it past American Lucky Loser Ryan Harrison.  Prediction: Tsonga in 3.

No. 18 Mikhail Youzhny (Russia) vs. No. 3 Roger Federer (Switzerland) -- Third on Court No. 1 -- Playing with more confidence than he has in years, Roger Federer again looks like the man to beat at the All-England Club.  His draw has been cooperative as well, with Mikhail Youzhny presenting one of the less tricky possible tests at this point in the tournament.  Youzhny can serve, and could force a tiebreak or two, but this should be one of those crowd-pleasing Federer exhibitions. Prediction: Federer in 3.

Q Bernard Tomic (Australia) vs. Xavier Malisse (Belgium) -- First on Court No. 18 -- Qualifier Bernard Tomic, 18,  caused the biggest upset on the men's side thus far with his straight set dismantling of No. 5 Robin Soderling, a match that began with Tomic only losing seven points in the first set.  Tomic should be favored to take out veteran Xavier Malisse based on talent, but if the unexperienced Tomic has a letdown after his big win Malisse has a shot. Prediction: Tomic in 4.

No. 19 Michael Llodra (France) vs. No. 2 Novak Djokovic -- Second on Court No.1 -- Novak Djokovic struggled in his third round match against No. 30 Marcos Baghdatis, getting into rallies that were crowd-pleasing but far, far too long.  He won't have nearly as much time to win points against Michael Llodra, who is the closest thing the ATP currently has to a serve-and-volleyer.  Djokovic has the return to disrupt Llodra, though, and he should be able to get through this one with relative ease.  Prediction: Djokovic in 3.