Collision Course

Just eight remain in this years men's singles event at Wimbledon and for the third year in a row we are getting ready for another Federer-Nadal final. Both men have been simmering in the past week, knowing that they are almost certain to meet in Sunday's final. I'm going to look forward to tomorrows quarter finals and see if there is any chance of a different final on Sunday.

Roger Federer vs Mario Ancic: The last man to beat Federer on grass, Ancic is no stranger to this environment. In 2004 he met Andy Roddick in the semi-final before going down in four sets. However Federer has come on hugely since there 2002 meeting. He is now a five time Wimbledon Champion and a four time US Open champion. Ancic however has dipped in his form and this years championship has been the first chance he has had to break back onto the tour after a injury hit last few years. The two men form has been slightly contrasting. Federer not dropping a set on his way to the quarters. Ancic however has not. Three five set matches combined with a 9.15pm finish against David Ferrer, his most notable upset. Even if the match times were similar you can't see past the reigning champion. he simply has to much in his armoury for the Croat. It's been nice seeing Ancic's recovery but it has to end somewhere.

Marit Safin vs Feliciano Lopez: Probably the most open of the quarter finals with two men who have different paths to this stage of the competition. Safin, another man making his resurgence in the sport knocked of Novak Djokovic in round 2 and has gone from strength to strength in this tournament. Lopez up until round 4 hadn't had to many problems. He met Marcos Baghdatis the 10th seed and scrapped though in five sets, a big coup for the Spainard. If anything his mission this time round is slightly easier but Safin won't be giving away the match much like Baghdatis did. I think Safin will Prevale in this one, Lopez may well be tired after an enduring match against the Greek and the fact he is fighting a second battle in the men's doubles, something that could well be the downfall of this talented player.

Rainer Schuettler vs Arnaud Clement: The only quarter-final without a seeded player in and npthing could be more refreshing. Of the two Schuettler has had the more difficult draw knocking out James Blake and Janko Tipsarevic, Blake being dispatched in 5 sets after being 2 sets to 1 down. Clement for me has been one of the most impressive players at the championship. He has destroyed any opponent that has taken him on only dropping 2 sets the whole way through, something you would expect of a potential champion. So impressed I am with Clement I'm going to back the Frenchman to get through to his first ever grand slam semi-final but possible in five sets against a battling German opponent

Andy Murray vs Rafael Nadal: The tie of the round by a long way. The Brit hope against the best player in the world right now. Murray was simply magical in beating Richard Gasquet last night. Gasquet was so good in the opening two and half sets that we all thought he would give Nadal a fine match. However he lost concentration when it mattered and Murray came in to make it through. If Gasquet looked good enough to contend with Nadal, then Murray in the last two sets look good enough to beat him. The Spaniard will be wary not only of the new endurance based Murray, but also of the home crowd which surely gave Murray a set in all, that alone showing there influence. He will have to repeat this feat however to keep up with Nadal and his best chance will be to win in straight sets, in any more and Nadal will hold the advantage. For me Nadal will prevail, but only in four sets to let him know he's not the only young tennis star on the block