By Kamakshi Tandon

T. Berdych (CZE) [7] vs. R. Nadal (ESP) [2]Centre Court – 11:00 am

Physically, you’d lean towards Berdych in these circumstances – he hasn’t had to play two five-setters over the last four days, and the grasscourts favor his big-hitting game. Mentally, you’d still give the edge to Nadal, show showed plenty of determination in coming back from two sets against Mikhail Youzhny and looked very good the last three sets. Nadal called the match his best-ever performance on grass.

Berdych has a 3-2 record against Nadal, with the three wins coming on hardcourt and the two losses on clay. It’s the first meeting on grass for these two, who have known each other since juniors. They say a controversial encounter in Madrid last fall is behind them,
so it should just be about the tennis on Friday.

If Berdych is firing, he’ll be tough to stop. But as Youzhny half-joked after his loss, “Today we play three hours, I think. For Nadal, it’s nothing. I think he will be ready before tomorrow for sure.”

Prediction: Berdych

A. Ivanovic (SRB) [6] vs. V. Williams (USA) [23]Centre Court – 3rd match

It’s two Grand Slam semifinals in a row now for Ivanovic, who moved ahead another notch ahead of Nicole Vaidisova in the phenom stakes by saving three match points to defeat her fellow teen.

Ivanovic has improved her serve and movement, which helps to explain her recent rise. But those are Venus’s strengths – when she’s on. If she is, and if she can keep the ball away from Ivanovic’s forehand, she should be able to win most of the rallies. But if Ivanovic comes out without nerves (unlike the French Open final) and Venus is misfiring, she could be looking at a second straight Slam final.

Prediction: Venus Williams

M. Baghdatis (CYP) [10] vs. N. Djokovic (SER) [4]Court 1 – 11:00 am

Two young guns in a quarter of young guns (Nadal and Berdych are the others), they’ve only met once and that was on clay. That doesn’t give us much to go on, but at this point it’s the schedule imposed by the weather that might play the biggest factor. Baghdatis has had a much easier road this week, while Djokovic has had a Nadal-like slog through his last two matches. It’s also not clear how much the fall he took during his match against Lleyton Hewitt on Thursday will affect him in this match.

If Djokovic isn’t paying at full strength, Baghdatis will likely prevail. When the Cypriot is feling good, he plays well, and he’s feeling good at the moment.

Prediction: Baghdatis

Day 11 picks still active:

A. Roddick (USA) [3] vs. R. Gasquet (FRA) [12] Court 1 – 2nd match

The bomber versus the stylist. Given that this is grass, the bomber probably wins. Roddick has taken care of business very well so far, and is mentally tougher than Gasquet right now. But the grass is playing slowly this year, so Gasquet should have a chance to get into the match and hopefully make it a decent contest.

Prediction: Roddick