Previewing the 3rd Round: Matches to Watch

The second round of the 2011 Wimbledon Championships was much more exciting than expected, and a few matches are left to be decided. However, with the third round beginning tomorrow, here are three matches on both the ladies and gentlemen's sides that are very much worth watching.
Gentlemen's Third Round Matches to Watch
Juan Martin del Potro vs. Gilles Simon
Del Potro is on the comeback trail after a wrist injury that kept him out for an entire year, grass isn't his best surface, he had a hip problem a few weeks back, but yet he still keeps rising. He faces Gilles Simon, the extremely tough Frenchman who's seeded 15 here at the AELTC. This is a huge test to see how far del Potro has come, and both of these players are capable of fantastic baseline rallies. The winner gets either Nadal or Muller (Hint: Nadal), and if del Potro is there, it'll be a blockbuster fourth round.

Andy Murray vs. Ivan Ljubicic
Andy Murray is carrying the hopes of Great Britain, and thus far he hasn't shown any strain of the pressure. He will probably feel some train against Ivan Ljubicic, the huge serving Croatian who has flustered many a top player. Murray will have to be at his best on the return game to defeat Ljubicic, and if the Croatian takes an early set, expect the British faithful, and perhaps Murray himself, to tense up.

Roger Federer vs. David Nalbandian
The 6 time champion has cruised so far, so perhaps it's surprising to see his name here. However, his opponent has had historically some of the biggest success against him. David Nalbandian, a one time finalist here, is one of the few players who has had consistent success against Federer, albeit very early in his career. These two were early rivals in their career, except Federer took off and Nalbandian couldn't quite keep up. Federer is the clear favorite, but Nalbandian has the style of play that could really frustrate Federer. It should be interesting.

Ladies Third Round Matches to Watch

Dominika Cibulkova vs. Julia Georges
Georges has long been touted as a potential major winner, and her game seems suited for grass. However, Cibulkova is a hard hitter herself, and it will be fascinating so see if Georges can live up to the hype and defeat a tough opponent

Serena Williams vs. Maria Kirilenko
Once touted as a hot prospect herself, Kirilenko has struggled a bit, but she remains very difficult to play. Serena is, of course, always a must see player, but especially now because of her injury, many questions swirl around her. She has had two three setters so far, so this will be a good indication of how far she can go. If she wins this, her chances of winning the whole thing should look up.

Victoria Azarenka vs. Daniela Hantuchova
Hantuchova, like many other women's players, once looked like she could rise to the top of the game. Injuries derailed her, but these last few months have been a career resurgence for her. This is her best shot to take out a top player and continue her rise. However, Azarenka is a very hard hitter, and she has been on the steady rise for awhile now, being number 4 in the world, but has been unable to take that last step and win a major.