ESPN.com - Australian Open 2003 - Roddick has an incredible shot
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Friday, July 18
Roddick has an incredible shot
By MaliVai Washington

Mal's Picks
MaliVai Washington
Washington
Former ATP Tour pro MaliVai Washington is providing ESPN.com with analysis during the Australian Open.

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Two days ago, the Australian Open was going along fairly predictably and then Monday it was as if someone just ripped up the draw in Melbourne. The top half of the men's draw has completely changed.

Once again Roger Federer disappointed me. Every major he plays in he's always one of my top picks to do well. Once again he goes down earlier than he should have. And Lleyton Hewitt played maybe not the tennis of a No. 1 player in the world, but Younes El Aynaoui certainly played as if he was No. 1. It's funny how on any given day in men's tennis someone can take out the No. 1 player in the world. The trick in sports is how do you continue to produce that tennis. I don't see El Aynaoui continuing to produce that tennis to win this tournament.

Quarterfinals
Younes El Aynaoui (18), Morocco, vs. Andy Roddick (9), United States
Andy Roddick has the opportunity of a lifetime. For as long as he is on the tour he might not ever have another opportunity like this to get through the final of a major. To play El Aynaoui in the quarterfinal for a chance to play either Rainer Schuettler or David Nalbandian, one can't ask for more.

Roddick's up to the task. Expect him to beat El Aynaoui in four sets because I don't think El Aynaoui will play as well as he did against Hewitt. The tennis El Aynaoui played in that match is the kind of tennis you play to get to No. 1 in the world. There are players who have that potential in them, but it doesn't show up that often. The player who can do that the most through the year is the player who will end up No. 1
Pick: Roddick

Semifinals
Wayne Ferreira, South Africa, vs. Andre Agassi (2), United States
I can't remember the last time a player has gone through a tournament as decisively as Agassi has. And there is not a single ounce of me that believes Wayne Ferreira is going to beat Agassi. Agassi is 10-0 against Ferreira. Barring Ferreira playing like El Aynaoui did on Monday, Agassi is going to be in the final for sure.
Pick: Agassi

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