There's not much you can do if he serves like that, and backs it up with his volleys. He's gonna be tough to beat."Although both Dent and Arthurs traded services in the region of 125 mph at times, often on the second serve in Dent's case, there was a touch more finesse about the Aussie's play than Dent could summon. Some smart volleys at the net, great back-hands down the line, and the occasional killer-lob, were enough to keep the beefy American at bay.Yet Arthurs has a modest record on the circuit after 12 years as a pro, with only three last-16 appearances to his name at the French Open in 2001, at Wimbledon in 1999 and at Flushing Meadow in 2000. It would also be safe to say that he doesn't have much in the way of buzz or chatter, just a quiet smile and an almost fatalistic demeanour.A journalist from his home country – though Arthurs now lives in the wild suburbs of Pinner – tried to give him what I believe is known Down Under as "the gee-up" by asking: "Is there a bit more of a mongrel in Wayne Arthurs these days?" (Good job he wasn't talking to Anna Kournikova.)"Yeah, and I think I should show it a bit more, as well," Arthurs replied, before going back to Middlesex for a weekend of modest dreaming.
Tomorrow, he'll face another "baby", the gifted Nalbandian, a former junior champion at the US Open in 1998, when he beat Roger Federer in the final.Nalbandian cruised past George Bastl, the Swiss who conquered Sampras, in straight sets. His fellow South American, Lapentti, meanwhile turned in a remarkable effort, coming from two sets down to beat the Romanian 15th seed, Andrei Pavel, out on No 18 Court.Lapentti knows the grass of Wimbledon all too well, having been part of the Ecuador Davis Cup team that won here two years ago. He probably took a chunk of it home with him.Lapentti now faces the man who may be the darkest of these four already shady horses, Clement. Despite an injury to a thigh that required a medical "time-out", Clement was able to see off Safin's nemesis, the diminutive Belgian Olivier Rochus Very weird. Indeed, at one stage on Friday the repetitive conjunction of two names, "Arthurs" and "Dent", suggested an equally exotic journey, the tennis version of The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy.. Sven Groeneveld is a Dutchman with a Swedish first name.
He was, by his own admission, an average player, who never progressed beyond the Satellite tournaments. He first coached Greg Rusedski between 1998 and 2000, before resuming his partnership with the British No 2 in December last year. The reunion seems to be bearing fruit at Wimbledon, as Groeneveld's own diary of the week reveals.. Sven Groeneveld is a Dutchman with a Swedish first name. Minute preparation is the key to success, so I come down to the All England Club to get organised. I pop into the referees' office to show my face and book a practice. Normally, a player will get 30 minutes, but, because Greg is a member here, we are allowed one hour on the main courts.