Israel’s unseeded Dudi Sela is still playing. Ivo Karlovioc had too much for Jo-Willy. Soderling is for real. Tommy Haas came through. Lleyton Hewiit put a continent on his shoulders and is carrying it forward. Stanislaus Wawrinka came back against young Jesses Levine. Unseeded Juian Carlos Ferrero is in the final 16.

Even if they say they don’t, Andy Roddick (6), Gilles Simon (9), Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray have one eye on that Swiss gentleman, the winner of 14 Grand Slam championships.

This just may be the greatest Wimbledon ever. Everywhere you look, the unexpected is happening. And, there is just enough superstar charisma left to keep it very interesting.

Of the final 16 gentlemen combatants, there is a 23 seed (Stepanek), a 20 seed (Berdych), a 19 seed (Wawrinka), a 29 seed (Andreev), a 24 seed (Haas), a 22 seed (Karlovic) and 3 unseeded (Hewiitt, Sela, Ferrero), players left. 9 never-should- have lost to that guy winners!

Purists might say, the draw was poorly seeded. Experts shake their head, looking for answers that are not there on paper. Wimbledon is not about those past performances. What you did in Paris or Melbourne does not matter. At the All England Club, all that matters is how you perform on grass for two weeks. Your next return matters. Your next serve matters. The next slip on the grass, the next bad bounce, the next missed volley can make or break your year. It is that time of this tournament.

Week two begins now. Sunday at Wimbledon will be one of the great days of tennis. The hot players will be in form. Luck of the draw is gone. This is money time.

This is the way we see the gentlemen’s draw unfolding.

Hewitt – Stepanek - Hewitt has momentum and is splaying with purpose. A former Wimbledon Champ, this 29-year old still has some bounce in his game. 31-year old Radek Stepanek knocked off Ferrer in five but it had to take a toll. We like Hewitt convincingly.

Berdych – Roddick – Roddick sounds confident and it is not all about his serve anymore. Berdych was impressive against Davydenko winning in three decisive sets. Roddick in a close one, but don’t bet the milk money.

Murray – Wawrinka – Wawrinka had trouble with Levine. He has not seen anything like Murray will throw at him. For Queen and Country. Bet the farm on Murray.

Ferrero – Simon – A surprising five set win over Gonzalez gives Ferrero all the credibility he needs. Simon is yet to be tested. This one is a toss up but the upset could happen. No bet.

Andreev – Haas – Andreev must have dreamt this draw, but he struggled with Seppi. Haas is playing with confidence and we like his girlfriend… a lot! Like to see more of her. Haas in five.

Sela – Djokovic – How did this happen? Talk about David and Goliath. Not going to happen this time around, sling shot or not. Novak has not lost a set. Djokovic is the play of the day. Softest match out there.

Verdasco – Karlovic – Karlovic played with confidence against an outmanned Tsonga. The blazing serve was working. Fernando better be home sleeping and not playing footsy with Ana. We like Verdasco, but this is a tough one. No play.

Soderling – Federer – Soderling is no fluke and has a score to settle. Federer dropped surprising set to Kohlschreiber before finishing at 6-1. Impossible to bet against the man. Federer wins.

Well, write them down. Let us know how you see it. As crazy as this draw is, when you break it down, Federer has the toughest roads to the finals. Roddick and Hewitt should meet. Murray walks to semis. Djokovic in semis unless he beats himself… again! Tomorrow has it all. How will we watch all that tennis?

1. Rafael Nadal – 7/2

Will he or won’t he? That is the question. The 7/2 odds were posted before the Spaniard lost an exhibition match to Lleyton Hewitt on Thursday. Rafa’s knees have kept tournament organizers on edge and the defending champion is reserving his final decision until the last minute. Despite his number one seed and his glorious 2008 win over Federer in the greatest Wimbledon Final ever played, grass is not Nadal’s surface of choice. The bookmakers have taken that into account and marked him the third choice. It is not easy to overlook his 44-5 2009 won-lost record or career 379-82 record or more than $25 million in earnings.

One way or another Rafa will have an impact on the draw and the seeding. Rafa still seems wounded after falling to Soderling on his favorite surface at Roland Garros.

2. Roger Federer – 11/10

A 15th Grand Slam would unquestionably qualify the Swiss wonder-man as the greatest player of all time. Winning at Wimbledon, where he has already won 5 championships, would add special meaning to the record 15th title.

The bookmakers have installed Roger as a prohibitive favorite and who can argue with a man that has played in 22 consecutive Grand Slam semi-finals. Roger Federer knows how to win. He is a champion’s champion and his 650 – 155 career won-lost record tells the story.

3. Andy Murray – 5/2

Fresh off his dominating Queen’s Championship, Andy Murray has sets the presses abuzz. The talented Scot became the first Brit in 71 years to win the Wimbledon prelim, but his Grand Slam record is spotty.

With two quarterfinals and a Runner-up to his credit, Murray has been unable to register a signature win. While the talent is there, many lingering questions about his ability to play on the center stage still remain. His 2008 quarterfinal appearance at Wimbledon was his best showing on the home court. Perhaps this year he will live up to expectations.

4. Novak Djokovic – 10/1

Unlike Murray, the big Serb has won a Grand Slam, the 2008 Australian Open, and was a semifinalist here last year. Somehow, his big game disappears against the two biggest names. Grass is not Djokovic’s favorite surface but he has the game for it.

After being eliminated in the quarters at Melbourne and in the 3rd round at Roland Garros, the bookmakers are pulling back a bit. Djokovic will be awaiting word on Nadal’s decision.

5. Juan Martin del Porto – 25/1

He reached the semis in Paris but still must be disappointed with his season. One of the tour’s most popular players, del Porto needs to be a little less popular and a bit more focused. With one of the biggest games on the circuit, the lanky Argentine must make a Grand Slam move.

Del Porto is fast becoming the player other players want to see in a big match. His 31-9 record has moved him up the ladder but he remains a fifth seed in a search of a big upset.

6. Andy Roddick – 25/1

Roddick has performed beyond expectations. A semi-finalist at Melbourne and a fourth round surprise on the red clay in Paris, the two-time Wimbledon Runner-up has the game for the grass.

Roddick’s new conditioning and more disciplined approach make the sixth seed a dangerous opponent. Roddick’s ability to hold serve puts pressure on opponents. At 25/1 the American is a decent longshot.

7. Fernando Verdasco – 25/1

Verdasco was a disappointment in Paris. Since his semi-final match against Nadal in Melbourne, the Spaniard has moved quickly up in the rankings. Verdasco reached the 4th round here last year and is in much better form this time around.

Verdasco should make the quarters and if he plays with his new intensity, he has the game to pull an upset. He simply needs to believe it.

8. Gilles Simon – 125/1 –

After another quiet performance in Paris, Simon can only be regarded as a weak 8 seed. The tiring Frenchman is only 21-18 this season and is moving down in the rankings.

Simon has only reached the quarters in one Grand Slam in his career and grass has never been his strength. The 8 seed lost in the third round last year and he will be tested before that this time.

9. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga – 16/1

With Tsonga, it is all about expectations. An imposing force, his fourth round performance in Paris was lackluster. Best described as a moody player, Tsonga needs to come out, grab the momentum and run with it. In his only Wimbledon, he reached the fourth round, but the bookmakers must see something we do not. Look for an early upset.

10. Fernando Gonzalez – 66/1

Fernando does not beat himself. A passionate, experienced competitor, Gonzalez plays to the crowd. He goes after the umpire, the linespeople and anyone else who will listen. With a 4th round showing in Melbourne and a semi at Paris, Gonzalez will not be an easy out. With a 22-6 record this year, Gonzalez has steadily moved ahead. Look for at least a quarterfinal appearance.

11. Robin Soderling – 33/1

Soderling still has his Roland Garros glow. Wherever that showing came from, it made an impression. Soderling has jumped up in the rankings and caught the eyes of the bookmakers. He has the serve and the forehand to pull more surprises. Now that he has tasted success, he may be hard to stop.