As the tournament approaches the halfway mark, there have been some surprises in both the men’s and women’s tournaments. The second week of Wimbledon won’t feature former finalists Andy Roddick and Vera Zvonareva, both players upset on Day 5 of the championships.

Day 5 Recap

The American Roddick had the misfortune to encounter a red-hot Feliciano Lopez on Centre Court, the Spanish lefty producing 57 winners and just 8 unforced errors to take out the former world number one. In that kind of form, it’s unlikely anyone would have stood much of a chance against Lopez.

Andy Murray edged his way past the veteran Ivan Ljubicic in a tight 4-setter, the Scot producing a breathtaking between the legs winner in the fourth set to the delight of the crowd. Spanish warrior David Ferrer came back from 2 sets to 1 down against American Ryan Harrison to record a typically gritty victory, while the big-serving Austrian Jurgen Melzer also advanced, courtesy of a 4 set win over the Russian Tursunov.

Richard Gasquet reminded onlookers of his grass-court credentials with a commanding straight sets victory over Simone Bolelli, but the victory of the day belonged to the young Aussie Bernard Tomic. The youngest player left in the men’s draw at 18, Tomic came back from 2 sets to love down against Igor Andreev, breaking the Russian 3 times in the final set to run away with the match. Tomic will now face Robin Soderling for a spot in the round of 16.

In the women’s tournament, Venus Williams offset her lengthy win over Kimiko Date-Krumm with a lightning-quick thrashing of Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez. Top seed Caroline Wozniacki also progressed with ease, as did Petra Kvitova, while Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova were forced to battle hard to earn a victory. Azarenka took 3 sets to see off Daniela Hantuchova, whereas Sharapova fought back from 4-1 down in the opening set against young Brit Laura Robson to prevail, 7-6(4) 6-3.

The biggest upset of the day was Vera Zvonareva’s straight sets loss to Tsvetana Pironkova. The Bulgarian atoned for her semi-final loss to Zvonareva at Wimbledon last year and, having underlined her grass-court prowess once more, could be a dark horse to go deep into the second week of the tournament again this year. In other results, former finalist Marion Bartoli registered a come-from-behind 3 set win over the Spaniard Dominguez Lino, eleventh seed Andrea Petkovic crashed out of the tournament, and Yanina Wickmayer defeated Svetlana Kuznetsova in a 3 set thriller, the lengthy and dramatic rally on match point a fitting way to end a superb battle.

Other matches, including those involving Rafael Nadal, Juan Martin Del Potro and Francesca Schiavone, will resume today after being delayed by rain on Day 5.

Matches of the Day – Day 6 

1. Caroline Wozniacki vs. Jarmila Gajdosova

World number one Caroline Wozniack has yet to be challenged at Wimbledon this year, but make no mistake: the Dane faces a tough hurdle in the form of Gajdosova. Gajdosova made the fourth round at the All England Club last year, and was unlucky not to push Venus Williams into a deciding set in their round of 16 match.

To my mind, how well Gajdosova fares against Wozniacki depends largely on the Aussie’s frame of mind. Gajdosova has been known to get hot-headed and lose concentration in matches, and she will need to remain composed and focused against such a fabulous competitor in Wozniacki. Gajdosova has the weaponry to beat Wozniacki, mainly in the form of her hard and flat groundstrokes, but she needs to remember that Wozniacki will make her earn every point.

If Gajdosova’s game goes off the boil at any stage, or if she simply doesn’t execute at a high level and commits a lot of unforced errors, then mark down the win to Wozniacki. But if the Aussie’s game is on-song, the Dane could be in trouble. I’ll take Wozniacki in a close one on the basis of her exemplary consistency and big-match experience. Wozniacki in 3.

2. David Nalbandian vs. Roger Federer

David Nalbandian has proved to be something of a nemesis for Roger Federer. Although clearly not in the same category as Rafael Nadal, Nalbandian has a game which matches up well against Federer’s, and that has brought him some success against the Swiss master in previous clashes.

However, I’d give Nalbandian a far greater chance of success in this encounter if the match were on any surface other than grass. The grass-courts of the All England Club are where Federer feels most comfortable and, while Nalbandian is a former Wimbledon finalist, the Argentine would probably agree that he is a better clay or hard-court player.

I’d also be more hopeful of an upset win by Nalbandian if the Argentine had been playing regularly on the ATP Tour in the first half of the year. After a fine 5 set win over Hewitt at Melbourne Park, Nalbandian was forced off-tour yet again to deal with a torn hamstring and a hernia. I also think Federer will be up for this match, as he knows the danger Nalbandian poses. The Argentine might sneak a set off the third seed, but I can’t see his charge gaining any more momentum than that. Federer in 3.

3. Marcos Baghdatis vs. Novak Djokovic

Whereas David Nalbandian is a better clay and hard-court player, I think grass is Marcos Baghdatis’ best surface. At his best, the Cypriot is a superb mover around the court and times the ball incredibly well. A former Wimbledon semi-finalist, Baghdatis seems to relish the fast pace of grass-courts, which brings his natural shot-making flair to the fore.

Unfortunately for Baghdatis, he faces an uphill battle against the world’s best player in 2011, Novak Djokovic. The Serb has barely raised a sweat in arriving at the round of 32, and his seemingly effortless demolition of Kevin Anderson, a very solid grass-court player, should sound an ominous warning to Baghdatis.

Like Baghdatis, Djokovic is a sublime mover on grass-courts, and he clearly has more firepower from the back of the court than the Cypriot. Still, I’ll take Baghdatis to jag a set and slightly slow the speed of the Djokovic juggernaut. But don’t be fooled: that awesome juggernaut will continue to move forward at a rapid pace. Djokovic in 4.

4. Maria Kirilenko vs. Serena Williams

Serena Williams has had to fight all the way to record victories in her first couple of matches at Wimbledon, but look for the 13-time Grand Slam champion to step it up now that the tournament is approaching its second week. Williams has had enough match practice now, having played a pair of 3-setters at Eastbourne and another pair of 3-setters so far at the All England Club.

The glamorous Russian Kirilenko is a very good doubles player and a more than capable singles player. Kirilenko showed no mercy at the 2010 Australian Open, where she took down her compatriot Maria Sharapova, who was returning from a serious shoulder problem. Kirilenko will be looking to cause another upset today, but I sense that Williams will feed off the Russian’s pace and dominate the vast majority of the rallies from the back of the court. Williams in 2.

5. Robin Soderling vs. Bernard Tomic

The teenager Tomic will be looking to avenge his countryman Hewitt’s agonising 5 set loss to Soderling, but I think the teenager will have his work cut out for him in this one. Soderling played very cleverly in the last half of the Hewitt match, and I think the Swede will take a similarly astute approach in this match. Unlike Andreev, who became very frustrated with Tomic’s game plan and subsequently lost his focus, Soderling will no doubt be prepared for Tomic’s awkward style of game and will take his time figuring out the Aussie’s strengths and weaknesses.

I expect Hewitt will have given Tomic some inside tips on how best to play Soderling, but the reality is that not much can be done when the Swede is sending 216km/hr bombs down the tee, or cracking his groundstrokes for winners from any spot on the court. Tomic will be hoping Soderling misses a few shots, as the Swede did early on against Hewitt, and the teenager will need to take every opportunity presented to him. I reckon he can steal a set against Soderling, but nothing more. Soderling in 4.

That’s it for today. Enjoy the tennis and, as tomorrow is the traditional middle Sunday rest day of the tournament, I’ll be back with another serve on Monday.