After an entertaining first two days at the All England Club, the second round gets underway with 16 matches on the day three. As ever, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match, including Novak Djokovic vs Thanasi Kokkinakis, Andy Murray vs John Isner and Jannik Sinner vs Mikael Ymer. But who will reach the third round at Wimbledon?
Wimbledon Day 3 Predictions
Alejandro Tabilo vs Miomir Kecmanovic
Jim: Alejandro Tabilo came through a nail-biter to beat Laslo Djere 13-11 in a fifth-set tiebreak in his opener. That begs the question: how much will he have left in the tank when he takes on Miomir Kecmanovic, who enjoyed a comparatively straightforward win over John Millman. The answer is probably not enough.
Prediction: Kecmanovic in 3
Damian: Kecmanovic’s game isn’t well-suited to grass, but his draw is kind enough that the Serbian might easily progress here. Tabilo isn’t a pushover though and contrary to popular belief, he can handle himself on grass too. If the Chilean finds his rhythm and uses the touch and creativity to confuse Kecmanovic, he can take this.
Prediction: Tabilo in 5
Jakub: Tabilo won a very close match over Laslo Djere in the first round, saving a match point in the fifth set tiebreak to win it 13-11, having to redo the match point after a successful challenge by the Serb. Kecmanovic will look to avenge his countryman, advancing after he got his first grass win of the year over John Millman. I see this one going long as well and I will predict Tabilo to win out again.
Prediction: Tabilo in 5
Embed from Getty Images
Tallon Griekspoor vs Carlos Alcaraz
Jim: Carlos Alcaraz did not get his Wimbledon campaign off to a particularly inspiring start, but Jan-Lennard Struff was a first tough first-round draw. The Spaniard has shown enough so far this season to suggest that he will be able to recover from that five-setter and, although Tallon Griekspoor shouldn’t be underestimated, reach the third round without encountering too many issues.
Prediction: Alcaraz in 4
Damian: Alcaraz barely survived Struff and while he’s hardly the tournament favourite here, his level should progressively get better. Griekspoor should be a pretty similar matchup, although with a slightly less dangerous serve and not that much potential in the forecourt. Perhaps Alcaraz can prevail in another tough battle.
Prediction: Alcaraz in 4
Jakub: Alcaraz was certainly made to work in his first round, coming back from two sets to one down to beat Struff after more than four hours. Griekspoor beat Fabio Fognini in four sets to set up this match and has actually split with Alcaraz in previous meetings, defeating him in Montpellier qualifying last year. I can’t quite see Griekspoor getting the win here but Alcaraz will have to fight for it again.
Prediction: Alcaraz in 4
Embed from Getty Images
Cameron Norrie vs Jaume Munar
Jim: Jaume Munar is a very solid baseliner and that has generally served him well, but it is hard to see him grinding Cameron Norrie down on a grass court. The Briton impressed in his first-round win over Pablo Andujar and, if he can maintain that level, this should be similarly straightforward.
Prediction: Norrie in 3
Damian: Munar won his first match on grass in the opening round, but this is going to be a huge step up in the level of competition. If the Spaniard maintains his level from Monday, Norrie won’t have it as easy as against Andujar, but should still pull through quite comfortably.
Prediction: Norrie in 3
Jakub: Norrie did not have the ideal warm-ups to Wimbledon, going 1-2 with losses to Grigor Dimitrov and Maxime Cressy. The Brit was not threatened by Pablo Andujar in the first round though, bagelling the Spaniard in a straight-set win. Munar is a very pleasant opponent to draw as well, as he only got his first career grass win in the first round here over Thiago Monteiro. Norrie should be advancing without a problem.
Prediction: Norrie in 3
Embed from Getty Images
Jiri Vesely vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
Jim: Alejandro Davidovich Fokina scored probably the biggest upset of the Championships so far by beating Hubert Hurkacz in the first round, even if he ended up making hard work of it. But he is up against another grass-court specialist in Jiri Vesely and the Czech will likely be more engaged than the out-of-sorts Hurkacz.
Prediction: Vesely in 5
Damian: Davidovich Fokina was involved in one of the craziest matches we’ve seen all year against Hurkacz. The quality of play wasn’t that high in their clash and Vesely should have a very decent shot here. The Czech is still capable of great tennis on faster surfaces (see Dubai this year) and the lefty serve should stand strong.
Prediction: Vesely in 4
Jakub: Davidovich Fokina pulled off the upset over Hurkacz in the most ADF way possible, going two sets to love up, 5-3 40-0 with three match points on his serve only to somehow find himself in a fifth-set tiebreak. The Pole even had a 7-4 lead then but Davidovich Fokina came back to win it 10-8. Vesely has pulled off big upsets at Wimbledon before did not have to do so in the first round, dismissing clay specialist Federico Coria in straight sets. This should definitely be an exciting match with many twists and turns but I see the Spaniard finding a way to win again.
Prediction: Davidovich Fokina in 5
Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images
