Wimbledon 2015: Men's Round of 16 preview

It has been a week since the Championships started. After six days of completely enthralling tennis, we now have a condensed draw, where each player nurtures the desire to hold aloft the silverware another week hence. Despite all that the rest do, the top four seeds present a strong picture with the top three being the firm favourites. Here;s a look at the matches that will decide this year’s quarter-finalists.

In the top half, the top two seeded players Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka are still unhurt, youngsters Milos Raonic and Kei Nishikori have bowed out. Now a set of eight players are left standing, ready to battle for the four quarterfinal spots, the two eventual semifinal spot at more importantly the prized final spot.

1. Novak Djokovic vs Kevin Anderson

Novak Djokovic is in fine form and well poised to lift the trophy

Head to Head overall: 4-1

Head to Head on grass: 1-0

Novak Djokovic has had another regular first week at Wimbledon, with no major threat, no drama and without the loss of a set. He will face Kevin Anderson on Monday. The lanky South African could shoot some booming serves, but with the game that Djokovic has, it would not be a difficult match to pull through for the Serb. His fourth round is likely to be akin to his first three rounds where he faced little trouble.

Prediction: Novak Djokovic to win in straight sets

2. Marin Cilic vs Denis Kudla

Marin Cilic looks to emulate his US Open success once again

Head to Head: First meeting

There are many things that make Wimbledon a unique tournament. One among them is the recognition of performers at grass court events. The seeding are skewed in their favour. Lower ranked players who are unable to meet the cut-off rankings, but perform well at the Challenger tournaments leading to Wimbledon are presented with Wildcards. Many such entrants have proven the organisers correct.

The last man standing among them is American Denis Kudla. The 22-year-old downed three higher ranked players, including a seeded one, to reach this stage. He will meet the defending US Open Champion Marin Cilic in the next round. Cilic has shown little of what took him to the podium at Flushing Meadows last year ever since his victory. Yet, he has managed to squeeze through the draw, overcoming tightly fought matches to progress this far.

In fact, his previous match against John Isner was played for two days. It would be a great opportunity for the American to pull an upset over a Grand Slam Champion. For Cilic, a win would give him an opportunity to reach his second consecutive quarterfinals at SW19. Cilic gears up for another marathon match.

Prediction: Marin Cilic to win in five sets.

3. Stan Wawrinka vs David Goffin

Stan Wawrinka looks to continue his good run

Head to Head overall: 2-0

Head to Head on grass: First meeting

The French Open Champion, Stan Wawrinka looks to extend his good run of form at the grass-court major too. Having brushed aside any show of resistance until now, he runs into David Goffin in the round of 16. Goffin is another player who is enjoying the best phase in his career. Given that the Swiss is now a two-time major champion and even otherwise, this match should be one for him to win. Goffin could probably pull away a set or two or stretch the sets into decisive breaks. That said, Wawrinka’s inconsistency is a matter to ponder over. Now that he has reached so far unscathed, it might not be difficult to see him to unleashing some of those dreadful backhands and booking a last eight spot for the second consecutive year.

Prediction: Stan Wawrinka to win in four sets

Richard Gasquet faces a tough task against Nick Kyrgios, who defeated him last year at the Wimbledon

4. Richard Gasquet vs Nick Kyrgios

Richard Gasquet will have his task cut out against Nick Kyrgios of Australia

Head to Head overall: 2-1

Head to Head on grass: 0-1

Two of last year’s semifinalists, Grigor Dimitrov and Milos Raonic were ousted in the third round, and their conquerors now face each other in the fourth round. Richard Gasquet and Nick Kyrgios have both crossed this round and will be eyeing a spot in the quarters when they square off on Monday. This could be one of the most unpredictable matches on Monday. Despite both players being in good form, Gasquet could have the extra edge with his experience helping him trump Kyrgios.

Prediction: Richard Gasquet to win in four sets

The bottom half has also had its share of drama during the course of the week. David Ferrer pulled out while Rafael Nadal lost to an unranked player for the fourth straight year. The likes of Feliciano Lopez and Nicolas Mahut failed to impress while favourites Roger Federer and Andy Murray established their class pronouncedly.

5 Vasek Pospisil vs Viktor Troicki

Viktor Troicki has had a successful outing on grass courts this month

Head to Head: First meeting

When the draw was made, a Spaniard was expected to make it through this section. But one withdrew and the other continued his annual early exit at SW19. In the absence of both David Ferrer and Rafael Nadal, the section became wide open to others. Among the benefactors was James Ward, who made it to the third round for the first time in his career.The match deciding the quarterfinalist will feature Vasek Pospisil and Viktor Troicki.

Pospisil is making his maiden appearance at the second week of a slam. Troicki has been to this stage earlier, but not farther, In the current situation, the likely winner us Viktor Troicki, He has managed a steady comeback after his injury woes. This grass season has also been an eventful one for him. So a quarterfinal appearance will not come as a surprise to many

Prediction: Viktor Troicki to win in four sets

6. Ivo Karlovic vs Andy Murray

Andy Murray on course for a much-awaited semi-final against Roger Federer

Head to Head overall: 5-0

Head to Head on grass: 1-0

As scheduled, the home favourite Andy Murray is on his way to seek another Wimbledon title. He will next face Croat Ivo Karlovic in the last 16 stage. The Croat, at thirty-six years of age, is still a force to reckon.He has manifested himself as a dangerous opponent with good wins over in-form Alexander Dolgopolov and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the last two round.

This only makes Murray’s task more difficult. In the absence of David Ferrer and Rafael Nadal, his path to the semifinals looked clear, and not the Croat offers some resistance. Even then, Murray should manage a win safely make it to the next round

Prediction: Andy Murray to win in five sets

7. Tomas Berdych vs Gilles Simon

Gilles Simon looks to make his maiden quarterfinal at the Wimbledon

Head to Head overall: 4-6

Head to Head on grass: First meeting

Despite it being a battle of non-contenders, the Tomas Berdych-Gilles Simon encounter would be one of the fiercest clashes on Monday. Though they have been seeded to reach this round, there were some uncertainty regarding their meeting as they had to face some dangerous opponents en route. Tomas Berdych is a former finalist while Simon has not progressed beyond this stage in his nine previous appearances.

Will ten be lucky? Probably. Simon is definitely in good form following decent showings at pre-Wimbledon tournaments. Berdych, on the other hand, suffered an early loss to Ivo Karlovic at Halle. One loss might not deter a former finalist trying to retrace his steps. At present, both have the ability to make it through though Simon might have a little advantage. For tennis fans, this is surely going to be a thriller of a contest to look forward to.

Prediction: Gilles Simon to win in five sets

8. Roberto Bautista Agut vs Roger Federer

Roger Federer will look to continue his march for a eighth Wimbledon title

Head to Head overall: 2-0

Head to Head on grass: First meeting

Entering the fray as one of the favourites to lift the title, Roger Federer had an easy first week at SW19. His second and third round opponents, Sam Querrey and Sam Groth, were no pushovers as they displayed some determined tennis in the past few weeks apart from having been comfortable on grass courts for quite some time.Yet, the maestro has faced little resistance in the first three matches, having lost just one set so far. His opponent on Monday will be the 22nd seed Roberto Bautista Agut.

The Spaniard has played some of his best tennis in the last two years and has managed a top 25 rank for most of the time. He even has a grass court title to his credit, having won the Topshelf open last year. Despite career defining achievements, he will find it very hard to defeat Federer. If Federer were to lose, it will have to be of his own making, Given the form that he has shown so far, it would most likely be a fourth win on the trot for Federer

Prediction: Roger Federer to win in straight sets