Wimbledon Quarterfinals Berths: Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Andy Murray Play On Monday

Manic Monday: Wimbledon Quarterfinals Preview, Picks

By Richard Pagliaro, Tennis.com

All 16 remaining men will play fourth-round matches on Monday. Let's get right to it:

—Head to Head: Djokovic leads 11-1

The world No. 1 has dominated his wing man and Davis Cup teammate, winning 11 in a row, including a comeback in the first round of the 2010 U.S. Open that sparked a run which has seen him reach six of the last seven major finals. Troicki is making his first appearance in the fourth round of Wimbledon, and while his serve and backhand are weapons, Djokovic does everything better and has a distinct edge.

The Pick: Djokovic in four sets

(18) Richard Gasquet vs. (31) Florian Mayer

—Head to Head: Gasquet leads 3-1

Eight years after reaching the quarterfinals in his SW19 debut, Mayer has scored successive five-set wins to reach the fourth round. Gasquet sports a career grass-court winning percentage of .700 and applied his all-court skills in an impressive sweep of 12th-seeded Nicolas Almagro. If the sometime flaky Frenchman keeps his nerve, he should advance to the quarterfinals for the first time since his 2007 semifinal run.

The Pick: Gasquet in four sets

(3) Roger Federer vs. Xavier Malisse

—Head to Head: Federer leads 9-1

The six-time champion survived a scare in dispatching Julien Benneteau in five sets. As for the Belgian shotmaker Malisse, he's hit 30 or more winners in each of his three wins, taking out two seeds in the process—No. 13 Gilles Simon and No. 17 Fernando Verdasco—to reach the fourth round for the second straight year. This has been a comfortable match-up for Federer because he’s better transitioning from defense to offense; he has won nine of the last 10 set he’s played against the 2002 semifinalist and figures to continue that advantage.

The Pick: Federer in four sets

(26) Mikhail Youzhny vs. Denis Istomin

—Head to Head: Tied 1-1

The 39th-ranked Istomin is making his first fourth-round appearance at a major and will try to hit through the versatile Youzhny, whose flat-hitting style and ability to play all-court tennis has carried him to his seventh Wimbledon fourth-round showing. Youzhny has more shots and more experience; if he manages this match accordingly, he is the pick to reach his first quarterfinal at The Championships.

The Pick: Youzhny in four sets

(7) David Ferrer vs. (9) Juan Martin del Potro

—Head to Head: Ferrer leads 4-2

Ferrer fought past Andy Roddick to reach his fourth round of 16 at Wimbledon and will need to stretch Del Potro, who has been bothered by a sore knee. Del Potro is coming off his best win over the tournament—a straight-sets dismissal of Kei Nishikori—and if his knee holds up, his flat strikes and imposing serve give him the slight edge in a potential shoot-out that could go the distance.

The Pick: Del Potro in five sets

(4) Andy Murray vs. (16) Marin Cilic

—Head to Head: Murray leads 5-1

The towering Croatian showed his grit in staving off Sam Querrey in five hours and 31 minutes to win the second-longest match in Wimbledon history. Though he cannot be discounted here, lingering fatigue from his marathon victory could slow him. Murray’s lone loss to Cilic came in the fourth round of the 2009 U.S. Open. He outdueled the Croat on Wimbledon’s grass in a five-set Davis Cup win, and will be very vigilant in his bid to reach his fourth straight SW19 semifinal.

The Pick: Murray in four sets

(5) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs. (10) Mardy Fish

—Head to Head: Tsonga leads 2-0

A rematch from the 2011 U.S. Open fourth round, where Tsonga won in five sets, favors the athletic Frenchman. Fish has the significant edge on the backhand side and needs to use his net skills to force Tsonga into challenging passes. But Tsonga is the healthier, more active player shooting for his third consecutive Wimbledon quarterfinal, and Fish’s frightening heart issues cause concern about his strength over a long, physical match.

The Pick: Tsonga in four sets

(27) Philipp Kohlschreiber vs. Brian Baker

—Head to Head: Never played

The survivor of six surgeries, Baker continues his feel-good comeback story with more than moral victories on his mind. Kohlschreiber owns a brilliant one-handed backhand, serves bigger than his 5’10” frame suggests, has won a grass-court title (2011 Halle), and will be highly motivated to reach his first quarterfinal in his 33rd major appearance. But Baker is sound from all areas of the court, is a bigger and stronger athlete, hits a heavier ball, and has managed his nerve masterfully in just his fifth major. Look for him to make the magic continue.

The Pick: Baker in five sets

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