ANDY Murray has had a remarkable run of opponents at this year’s Wimbledon. To get to the fourth round and only encounter players who play such unpredictable tennis, really is incredible. After Alex Bublik, Dustin Brown and Fabio Fognini in week one, Benoit Paire is the next flamboyant and hugely talented player in his path.

The 28-year-old is typically French in his outlook, very much a flair player and a shot-maker. He has a very loose forehand, which means he can get great angles and flash winners with it, while his backhand is less consistent and really flat. When his forehand is hot it, it is hot. But when it is not, it really can misfire. And so can he mentally. He can entertain, but also have a brittle state of mind, lose concentration and that is what makes him vulnerable.

Everybody in Team GB was aware of what was going on in Rio when he was sent home from the Olympics. We were talking to their team captain and we knew that he wasn’t conforming to some of the team’s policies. And eventually that meant he was kicked off the team. He didn’t make the French Davis Cup team either time we played them recently so maybe that tells you something too. But a bit like Fognini, if he is in a good head space, if he has been training and doing the hard work, then he can be dangerous.

Benoit has done well to get this far. Because on paper, you would have to say that grass isn’t his best surface, he has never actually done too well on it. But he has played better on the surface this year. He didn’t have the best result at Halle, he won only four games when going down to Florian Mayer, but the week before that he did well at Stuttgart, losing to Lucas Pouille in the semi-finals. He has had a pretty good draw here, winning a tight four setter against Brazilian clay courter Rogerio Dutra-Silva, overcoming an injury-affected Pierre-Hugues Herbert, then getting a good win in straight sets against Jerzy Janowicz.

He has good hand skills, good touch and feel at the net. But it is a grass court, the second week at Wimbledon, against Andy Murray, with home support. There will be moments in the match where Benoit will show what a good shotmaker he is but if Andy has his wits about him I think he will win this fairly comfortably in straight sets.

The key, once again, is not to let someone who is a good shot maker have too much time. Make sure you are the one on the baseline, dictating the points more than him. And to always make sure you play with good depth. That can frustrate the hell out of him.

Forget about the quarter finals. I would be surprised if the big four aren’t still standing come Friday for the semi-finals. Grigor Dimitrov has definitely got a shot against Roger Federer on Centre Court but this is a battle of two players with similar game styles, just that one is much better at it. Dimitrov would have to do something exceptional, which he is capable of doing, but I think Federer can just take away his time and stop him playing offensive tennis. Can he get a set? Yes, but I think that is Federer in four.

Gilles Muller is playing at No 16 seed and has loads of grass court pedigree, although unbelievably he has never reached second week here. He will trouble Nadal but the Mallorcan is playing arguably the best tennis of his life. His forehand is absolutely huge and he is physically in great shape. He will get enough balls back from the Muller serve and that forehand is flying through the air in these hot conditions. When it is warm and dry the ball bounces high and it pays dividends for Rafa.

I think Djokovic versus Mannarino looks straightforward but Raonic versus Zverev is an interesting match.The Canadian has still had a decent year - I think he has won 28 matches and lost just five. He might just edge it.

I know Andy said he hadn’t moved well after Fognini, but I think that is mainly because there was a lot more moving from side to side, extended points from the back of the court. It was a good one to get under his belt.