| Top Contenders Survive Into Week Two | |
Continued from Page One.
Up next for Kuerten in the top quarter of the draw is Albert Costa, then, if he gets through, the winner of Arnaud Clement and Yevgeny Kafelnikov. I expect Kuerten to win his quarter.
In the second quarter, I expect Andy Roddick to defeat first Tommy Robredo, then the winner of Lleyton Hewitt and Tommy Haas. Roddick has the most firepower of the four, and he's been exceptionally sharp. He overwhelmed the very capable Alex Corretja 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 on Sunday.
Marat Safin has the best chance in the third quarter. Thomas Johannson could take him out, but I think he'll advance, then defeat the winner of Mariano Zabaleta and Xavier Malisse.
The bottom quarter is the most loaded, with Andre Agassi already through the fourth round, having defeated Roger Federer with surprising ease, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4. Pete Sampras and Patrick Rafter are battling to face Agassi, but I don't think either will get past Agassi.
If my predictions hold up, Kuerten will defeat Roddick, and Agassi will defeat Safin in the semis. The winner of Kuerten versus Agassi is a tough pick, but I'll go with Kuerten.
Martina Hingis faces Daja Bedanova in the top quarterfinal. Hingis is especially smart about finding weaknesses, and she should find something in Bedanova's inexperience that will give her a ticket to victory.
The second quarterfinal will be a slugfest between Lindsay Davenport and Serena Williams. Serena made quick work, 7-5, 6-0, of the talented rising star, Justine Henin in the fourth round, while Lindsay had to work much harder against Elena Likhovtseva, 6-3, 0-6, 6-3. This one could go either way, since both Serena and Lindsay tend to vary greatly in their level of performance. Lindsay, at her best, hits harder and deeper, but Serena is much faster and almost as powerful. I'll pick Serena.
In the third quarter, I expect Venus Williams to defeat first Sandrine Testud, then Kim Clijsters, who has already made the quarterfinals by outlasting Elena Dementieva.
In the bottom quarter, Jennifer Capriati has defeated Barbara Schett and should also defeat the winner of Amelie Mauresmo and Nathalie Tauziat.
If the semis line up as I expect, Serena will face Hingis and Venus will face Capriati. This should make for a pretty exciting (and probably somehow controversial) final: Venus versus Serena.
I expect Venus to take the title.
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