Roger Federer vs Grigor Dimitrov
As the Bulgarian said about to face Federer: “I’m not going to shy away from Centre Court. I’ve played there before, I’ve won [last year]. I know my way now to the Centre Court, which is great, not like the first time I walked out. Just going to embrace it.”
It should be a spectacle contest, as both of them have so many different shots: slicing, over the top, drop shots, down the line, flatting it out. Clearly, Federer has been substantially better, that is why he has won 18 Grand Slams, and Dimitrov has won zero. What will happen tomorrow? It should be very close. It’s all the 5th set, and Federer will rise, heavily, just like he did at the Australian Open, when he leaped way up high and stunned Rafa Nadal.
Dimitrov will want it very badly, and he will push it, but he will make a few mistakes and Federer will win in 5 glorious sets.
Andy Murray vs Benoit Paire
Brit Murray always makes an effort, and while his strokes are on and off, at some point, he will click it again. But this week at Wimbledon? It is hard to say. Regardless, Paire has a lot of variety and he has improved over the past two years, but still, he can let down towards the end. Murray will win in four sets.
Rafa Nadal vs Gilles Muller
The veteran Muller is extremely consistent, and he comes into the net time after time. And that’s fine on grass, but Nadal returns almost better than anyone, and he hits the ball very low, so Muller has to come in quickly, or else, Nadal will pass him dozens of time. The Spaniard will, and win in three sets.
Novak Djokovic vs Adrian Mannarino
Without a doubt, Djokovic is really trying hard to find away why his shots are missing a lot. It’s one thing to take care of the so-so players, it’s another to out-think the excellent opponents. Mannarino is pretty darn smart, but on grass, you have to nail the balls immediately. He cannot and Djokovic will get through in four sets.
Milos Raonis vs Alexandra Zverev
This should be a very fun match. Raonic reached the final last year, and the Canadian came pretty close to winning a major for the first time in London. But he didn’t mix it up enough, and he didn’t return as well as he needed to. Raonic always tries to improve, so mayybe he can finally win it, if he can take a deep breath.
Perhaps he can do that, but he has to face the 20-year-old Alexandra Zverev, who has already reached the top 10, and he is coming up, big time. He can rip it from his forehand, his backhand and his first serve. He can be over anxious though, and he needs to improve his volleys and his second serve. Raonic is very smart and he will out hit Zverev in four sets.
Dominic Thiem vs Tomas Berdych
Good for the young Thiem for playing more aggressively on grass, rather than on clay. Here though, Berdych understands Wimbledon better, and he will bother Thiem, who will get frustrated. Berdych will win in five sets.
Marin Cilic vs Robert Bautista Agut
Cilic has been very consistent this year, and the one-time US Open champion believes he can win Wimbledon. He has a shot, but Bautista Agut really seems to like grass. It will be a marathon, and the Croatian will get through in five sets.
Sam Querrey vs Kevin Anderson
American Querrey is a huge hitter, as is Anderson, who knows how the balls bounce. Anderson can crack his serve, and he can smoke his forehand, but so can Querrey. There will be short points, so it is all in the head. Querrey will win in four sets — in four tiebreaks, by the way.
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