Ward to play Baghdatis in Queens first round

The Tennis Centre’s James Ward will play Marcos Baghdatis in the first round at the AEGON Championships.

Baghdatis was handed a wildcard after Japanese teenager Kei Nishikori pulled out.

The Cypriot has been hampered by injury since the end of last year and he has yet to find his best form in 2009.

I think Ward has a chance of causing an upset in this match and I sure he will deliver a great performance in front of a home crowd.

See the full draw.

Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the tournament citing a knee injury and this proves I was right when I said he was physically battered when he lost to Soderling at the French Open.

I said: “My immediate thought is that Nadal’s schedule has been too rigorous this year considering he has been to the final of every tournament he has played coming into the French.

“However he shot down this type of suggestion from journalists in his press conference but I reckon deep down he knows he is physically and mentally tired.”

Read the full post.