Wimbledon 2013: The super six who can wreck Britain's dreams

Guide to the men's quarter-finals which contain enough quality to make the final stages fascinating

David Ferrer has proved his ability on all surfaces (Getty Images)

Djokovic v Berdych

Novak Djokovic is attempting to reach his 13th Grand Slam semi-final in a row. The world No 1 is also playing in his 17th consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final, which is a record beaten in the Open era only by Roger Federer and Jimmy Connors.

The 2011 Wimbledon champion has been in superb form at this year's Championships, where he has yet to drop a set, and has won 13 of his 15 meetings with Tomas Berdych. The Czech, nevertheless, won their most recent encounter, in the quarter-finals of the recent Rome Masters, ending a run of 11 successive defeats.

Berdych's only other victory over the Serb came in their one meeting on grass, in the 2010 Wimbledon semi-finals. Berdych went on to lose to Rafael Nadal in what has been his only appearance in a Grand Slam final. With eight singles titles to his name, the world No 7 is one of the most consistent performers in the men's game. He has been a fixture in the world's top 10 for the last three years.

Although the hard-hitting Berdych has proved he can be a dangerous opponent on grass, Djokovic is the clear favourite given the all-round qualities of his game. The Serb did not play a warm-up tournament in the build-up to Wimbledon but followed a similar programme to 2011 when he won the title.

Head-to-head Djokovic leads 13-2. Grand Slam semi-finals 19-3. Odds: Djokovic 1-9 Berdych 11-2

Ferrer v Del Potro

David Ferrer will complete a set of Grand Slam semi-final appearances if he beats Juan Martin del Potro here this afternoon. Judged on past results the omens are good for the 31-year-old Spaniard. He has won six of his eight meetings with Del Potro, including the last four in a row, and beat him in their only two meetings on grass, in the fourth round here last year and at a tournament in the Netherlands five years ago.

Ferrer was long regarded as a clay-court specialist, but in recent years he has proved his ability on all surfaces. Although this is only his second appearance in the quarter-finals here, he has won a title on grass and is fifth on the all-time list of Spanish grass-court winners behind Manuel Santana, Rafael Nadal, Feliciano Lopez and Andres Gimeno. Ferrer reached his first Grand Slam final last month, losing to Nadal in Paris, and will climb to a career-high No 3 in the world rankings next week.

Del Potro is bidding to become only the second Argentine man, after David Nalbandian, to reach the semi-finals here. The 2009 US Open champion used to struggle on grass, but beat Novak Djokovic at the All England Club in the bronze-medal match at last summer's Olympics, having lost a marathon against Roger Federer in the semi-finals.

Head-to-head Ferrer leads 6-2. Grand Slam semi-finals 6-2. Odds: Ferrer 4-6 Del Potro 6-5

Janowicz v Kubot

Jerzy Janowicz or Lukasz Kubot will make history today as the first Polish male to progress to a Wimbledon semi-final, where the winner will meet either Andy Murray or Fernando Verdasco.

Already they are the first players from their country to contest a quarter-final here since Poznan-born Wojtek Fibak 33 years ago. The pedigree is with the towering 22-year-old Janowicz, who at 6ft 8in must limbo dance in and out of the Wimbledon locker room or risk decapitation.

His evisceration of 18-year-old Brit Kyle Edmund in the first round was almost abuse, and demonstrated the scale of the threat facing anyone if he is on his game.

His appearance here a year ago was his first at a Grand Slam and triggered a ranking rise of more than 100 places to 23 in the world over the ensuing 12 months.

He alerted the tennis community to his talent by beating Olympic and US Open champion Andy Murray indoors in Paris at the end of last year en route to a final he lost to David Ferrer.

Kubot, 31, is a more accidental traveller to this stage of the tournament having never progressed beyond the fourth round at a Grand Slam. He is best known for his version of the can-can, which he first unveiled at Roland Garros last year.

Head-to-head Never met. Grand Slam semi-finals 0-0. Odds: Janowicz 2-11 Kubot 7-2