Home > Sports > News > Reuters > Report

Young pretenders seek Wimbledon glory

June 27, 2003 15:22 IST

Young pretenders to the Wimbledon men's title slug it out in the third round on the show courts on Friday, with no former Grand Slam champion standing in their way.

Bookmakers' favourite Andy Roddick, 20, having survived the powerful serve and acid tongue of Britain's Greg Rusedski in the second round, meets 21-year-old Spaniard Tommy Rebredo.

Roddick is on a roll having won the prestigious Stella Artois grasscourt tournament at Queen's earlier this mRoger Federeronth.

He is fifth seed but his odds are shorter than world number one Andre Agassi's. Agassi plays his third-round match on Saturday.

Robredo, a claycourt specialist in the true Spanish mould and seeded 25 here, could have a rough ride on Centre Court.

Roger Federer, 21, is also a champion in waiting.

The Swiss fourth seed has yet to live up to his promise in Grand Slams having got as far as quarter-finals, but he won the pre-Wimbledon grasscourt tournament at Halle earlier this month and looks in fine form.

Rafael Nadal Federer meets American Mardy Fish.

Spanish teenager Rafael Nadal is the youngest men's player in the third round since Boris Becker in 1984. The 17-year-old takes on Thailand's 12th seed Paradorn Srichaphan, who has survived two five-set matches in his scramble towards the weekend.

Becker was 16 in 1984 and went on to win the title the following year. He remains the youngest men's singles champion.

The women's line-up on Friday is rather more experienced. Twice former champion Venus Williams takes on Russia's Nadia Petrova and 1999 winner Lindsay Davenport faces Cara Black of Zimbabwe.


Article Tools

Email this Article

Printer-Friendly Format

Letter to the Editor



Related Stories


Wimbledon: Hewitt seeded no one

Tough to predict men's winner

Roddick wins Stella title



People Who Read This Also Read


Agassi aiming to break record

The tale of two captains

I just had to bat: Flower




© Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.







Copyright © 2003 rediff.com India Limited. All Rights Reserved.