Analysis for Roddick-Hewitt (ATP Queens)

Head-to-head record 4:7

Two former number ones are going to fight for the quarter final spot at Queens today. Roddick has a better current form and latest results but Hewitt is a player who can hardly be such a big dog. Lleyton is a former Wimbledon winner and his career grass court record of 87-21 shows that he simply can beat anyone. Hewitt is known for his competitiveness and has won most of his matches with fitness, consistency and skilled footwork. He is a defensive baseline counterpuncher. He typically likes to stay back towards the baseline during a rally and will usually approach the net only to catch a short reply or drop shot from his opponent.

Hewitt's tactics typically involve putting difficult service returns in play, consistently chasing down attempted winning shots from his opponent, and waiting for his opponent to make an error. Although he is known primarily as a baseline defender, Hewitt is actually a skilled volleyer and is known for having one of the best overhead smashes in the game. His signature shot, however, is the offensive topspin lob, a shot that he executes efficiently off both wings when his opponent approaches the net. He is 7-4 up against A-Rod and even if he is first up on grass this year, we believe he is able to at least keep the match close against Roddick. It would be wasting of time to praise Roddick´s grass court skills. American bomber is an offensive baseliner, and is known for his powerful first serve. As for his second serve, he usually employs a heavy kick serve, then tries to use a variety of spins, slices, and angles in the rally to throw off his opponent and position himself for a winning shot. He is noted to use heavy topsin on both his serves and his twist serve is probably the highest-kicking serve anyone hits. Roddick will also occasionally use the serve-and-volley tactic on both first and second services to surprise his opponent, though he generally prefers to remain near the baseline after a serve. His playing style is suited well to grass and he is definitely favourite for this match but we expect a tight battle and Hewitt cannot be above 3.5 in our eyes. Try it for the smallest stake.