2011 Wimbledon Mens Predictions

We are all wondering who will win Wimbledon in 2011, I’ve thought long and hard about who going to the final 8 and beyond. I’ve explained my choices in the match ups below.

I have the final 8 selected and they are:

1. Rafael Nadal
2. Robin Soderling [5]
3. Novak Djokovic [2]
4. Tomas Berdych [6]
5. Roger Federer [3]
6. Richard Gasquet [17]
7. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga [12]
8. Andy Roddick [8]

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs. Roger Federer: This is an easy pick, I’m going with Federer as the winner. Roger has long since been the dominant player when it comes to grass. However, Tsonga has had a solid start to the 2011 grass court tennis season, reaching the finals at the Aegon International Open. Tsonga has the firepower to take it to Federer, however; the more experienced Swiss will take it 3 sets to 1. Winner: Federer

Novak Djokovic vs. Robin Soderling: This is one potential match that made me think long and hard about the winner. This has been a spectacular year for Djokovic, winning all but one tennis match, and really playing some exceptional tennis to boot. On the other side is the powerful and extremely talented Swede, Soderling; we all know how big and flat he hits his groundstrokes and we’ve all seen the damage he can do when he’s on. I’m giving the edge to Robin Soderling since his shots are more effective on grass.  Winner: Soderling

Rafael Nadal vs. Tomas Berdych: A rematch of last years final. Nadal dismantled Berdych in the final and this year should be no different. Nadal is my heavy favorite. Winner: Nadal

Richard Gasquet vs. Andy Roddick: This is one of the more tasty tennis matches we could see this tournament. Gasquet has been on fire this year, already beating Roddick (BNP Paribas Open) and having taken Andy out the last time they met at Wimbledon (2007 – Quarterfinals). With that history against the top American seed, you would think I would lean toward to Gasquet for the win, but there’s is something obviously different about Roddick this year. From what I’ve seen, it looks like he’s playing lights out tennis. Literally chasing everything down, hit the snot out of the ball and just playing extremely smart tennis. I am heavily going to favorite Roddick (perhaps all the way??) in this match. Winner: Roddick

Alright, that leaves us with 4; Roddick, Nadal, Federer, and Soderling. This is where it get’s really hard to pick the winners, but I’m pretty sure you know where I’m headed.

Andy Roddick vs. Rafael Nadal: Statistically, Nadal has more wins over Roddick, but at this point in Roddick’s career it’s not a numbers game. Andy has always done extremely well on the grass, though he has lost to Rafa one time on grass (Queens Club 2008). Credit to Nadal, he’s been a Wimbledon Champion twice where as Roddick has yet to claim that title. This is a really hard match to call, both Roddick and Nadal are in great shape, but I believe it’s more than that. Who has more to prove? Who has more on the line? All answers point to Andy Roddick, he’s been a 4 time finalist, he’s nearing the end of his tennis career, and this has been the tournament he should have won many times over. I get the feeling that Roddick is playing with a chip on his shoulder, as if he’s just going for broke, nothing to lose. If he serves big, attacks the net (when appropriate) then he should have it in the bag, baby! Winner: Andy Roddick (by a slim margin)

Roger Federer vs. Robin Soderling: I’m going to call this one early, Federer for sure. Why though? Obviously the former #1 is playing like he used to, nothing but beauty on the tennis court, poetry in motion. Federer will enter this potential match up as the heavy favorite, however; this would be a slug-fest. Soderling’s power and Roger’s fineness will make this exciting to watch, I’m sure there will be some entertaining exchanges, and some rallies that would make your own mother jealous (kidding). This tennis match could go the distance of 5 sets, my heart tells me Federer on top, so I’m going with that. Winner: Roger Federer

We’ve made it to the 2011 Wimbledon Championship Finals, can you believe it? I planned to write out my prediction for the mens final between predicted finalist Roger Federer and Andy Roddick, but I’ve decided to leave that for tomorrow. Only because it’s going to be somewhat lengthy and I’m sure you’re already tired of reading my predictions. I ask that you tell me what you think about the tennis predictions I’ve made in the comments section below.

So come back tomorrow and read my 2011 Wimbledon Mens Final predictions!