The first week of Wimbledon wraps up on Saturday, Day 6 of the Championships. The rest of the Manic Monday competitors will be determined. Who will advance to compete on the best day in tennis? Who will fall short? Our writers predict all eight of the matches on Day 6 of Wimbledon. We look at four in this article, and four in a second article. Predicting this set of matches are Andrew Watson, Jack Edward, and Damian Kust.
Wimbledon Day 6 Men’s Predictions
Alexander Zverev vs Taylor Fritz
Andrew:
The German is slowly turning around that flaky reputation earned with continual departures in the opening rounds of a Grand Slam. He has found a way to become quite consistent to go fairly deep now and though I am expecting at least one tiebreak set here I think the German has enough to get through here.
Prediction: Zverev in 3
Jack:
Fritz injured himself at the French Open, went through surgery and rehabilitation and has rocked up to Wimbledon as though nothing happened! He is very lucky to be playing this week and will be ecstatic to be winning matches on top of that. His next opponent, Zverev, will probably be asking too much of his comeback–Zverev’s second serve is finally looking a weapon rather than a liability. At the same time, the German survived his first two rounds without going to a fifth set so he is overdue some of his usual Grand Slam drama.
Prediction: Zverev in 4
Damian:
It’s a brilliant story as Fritz had undergone surgery just three weeks ago and is now collecting marathon wins at Wimbledon. But this is very likely when it ends, he was limping towards the end of the match against Johnson, and an opponent like Zverev should mercilessly expose his physical ailings. Fritz must be running on fumes at this point.
Prediction: Zverev in 3
Alexander Bublik vs Hubert Hurkacz
Andrew:
I really like the way that Bublik is approaching Wimbledon this year. He is being aggressive and fully immersed in the game, which isn’t always the case. Hurkacz is improving on grass and his game is well suited to it and this will be a good battle. However, I like the Kazakh to progress here.
Prediction: Bublik in 4
Jack:
Just like he did in Miami, Hurkacz is sneaking under the radar without being paid too much attention, notching his first two wins without any fuss. Bublik is continuing his brilliant 2021 with straight sets wins of his own, including a win over former semifinalist Grigor Dimitrov. Bublik could take the racket out of Hurkacz’s hands for a set but the Pole is an amazing grass court player who is due a break at the Slams.
Prediction: Hurkacz in 4
Damian:
Hurkacz is suddenly playing really well, but this is a really tough matchup if Bublik makes it all about the serves. The Pole should be winning most of the rallies though and with his opponent’s questionable returning, he should be able to match him in easily winning his own service games. Bublik’s bag of tricks might get emptied too soon here.
Prediction: Hurkacz in 4
Matteo Berrettini vs Aljaz Bedene
Andrew:
The Italian is my pick to reach the final on this side so you know I’m picking him here. However, I don’t know that it’ll be easy. Bedene plays a high percentage of tiebreaks and with the difficulty of breaking the Italian’s serve I expect there to be at least one breaker here.
Prediction: Berrettini in 4
Jack:
Bedene is one of the more predictable players on tour, a 40-to-60-ranked player with a solid game but possessing no outstanding shots. His record at the Slams is testament to this having never made it passed the third round. Fifth third round lucky? Unlikely, as Berrettini continues to detonate serving bombs–it will be too much firepower for the journeyman to handle.
Prediction: Berrettini in 3
Damian:
Berrettini isn’t looking quite as good as expected so far but his power should still easily see him through this one. Bedene’s been barely dropping games, but he had to face an imploding Corentin Moutet and Yoshihito Nishioka, who was absolutely knackered after his marathon against Isner. Berrettini should keep cruising as this will be quite the step up for the Slovenian.
Prediction: Berrettini in 3
Roger Federer vs Cameron Norrie
Andrew:
The Swiss is going to have a fight on here. Norrie is having his best ever season, and the way that Federer struggled initially against Adrian Mannarino suggests there could be a problem against Norrie, another leftie. Add to this that Norrie has the winning habit and there is a possible shock on the table. I will back the Brit to win this in 5 sets.
Prediction: Norrie in 5
Jack:
Cam Norrie is in the form of his life. He has the third-most wins this year and is turning into a nuisance for most opponents on any surface with his tricky game. If there’s one man built for unpicking a tricky game-style, however, it’s Roger Federer. There’s still rust to be shaken off, but I don’t see Federer dropping more than a set.
Prediction: Federer in 4
Damian:
One could make a case that Norrie shares a lot of the dynamics with Federer’s first-round opponent, both being lefty and having flat strokes. The Brit is in amazing form but his arsenal of weapons isn’t too great and the serve difference will be huge. Federer’s ground game must be at the level it was against Gasquet, but if is, he should be making the fourth round here.
Prediction: Federer in 4
Main Photo from Getty.
