Expect plenty of exciting tennis on day three at Wimbledon with 16 intriguing second-round matches on the slate in SW19. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match, including Tallon Griekspoor vs Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic vs Thanasi Kokkinakis and Jannik Sinner vs Mikael Ymer. But who will secure a coveted spot in the third round at the All England Club?
Wimbledon Day 3 Men’s Predictions
Casper Ruud vs Ugo Humbert
Jim: Casper Ruud bounced back from the disappointment of his first-round loss at Queen’s to beat Albert Ramos Vinolas in relatively straightforward fashion. He will likely face more opposition up against Ugo Humbert, however. But the Frenchman has not been at his best this season and if Ruud’s record on grass is not exceptional it is hardly terrible either.
Prediction: Ruud in 4
Damian: It’s really tough to know what to expect here. Ruud’s grass-court game is obviously not where he wants it to be, while Humbert is just extremely low on confidence at the moment but can always catch fire on a faster court. The Frenchman has every tool needed to win this one, but whether or not he’s going to perform is just a total mystery.
Prediction: Humbert in 5
Jakub: Ruud’s straight-sets win over Albert Ramos-Vinolas was tougher than the scoreline suggest. The Spaniard had set points in the second-set tiebreak and Ruud just about winning it 11-9 to take the wind out of Ramos-Vinolas’ sails in the third set. The Frenchman looked good in his fourth-round run here in 2019, but Humbert has been struggling. The 24-year-old is 7-17 in 2022 lost to Thiago Monteiro in Eastbourne and barely beating Tomas Martin Etcheverry. Ruud does not have a good record on this surface but is definitely good enough to beat Humbert based on what he has been showing.
Prediction: Ruud in 3
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Andy Murray vs John Isner
Jim: John Isner’s big serve and a semifinal showing at Wimbledon in 2018 might suggest that he is well-suited to the grass, but the reality is quite different. If the courts are baked as dry as they were four years ago then SW19 is indeed likely to be a happy hunting ground for the American, but usually the low and variable bounce is difficult for Isner to handle. Andy Murray, on the other hand, has twice won Wimbledon and for a reason.
Prediction: Murray in 4
Damian: Something that’s impossible to ignore is how awesome Murray’s record against big servers is. He’s never lost to Isner in eight attempts, winning twenty sets and losing just three. Does that still hold up six years after their last meeting? Murray’s defensive skills might have declined, but it’s not like Isner is at his peak. Chipped returns will still hurt the American and force him to bend the knees low.
Prediction: Murray in 4
Jakub: The two-time champion beat James Duckworth in four sets under the Centre Court roof to set up one of his most favorable match-ups. Murray has an 8-0 head-to-head with Isner though the two have not faced each other since the 2016 Paris-Bercy final. The American had to fight from two sets to one down against qualifier Enzo Couacaud. Murray should be winning here again.
Prediction: Murray in 4
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Frances Tiafoe vs Maximillian Marterer
Jim: Maximillian Marterer is having a fine Wimbledon. The German came through the qualifying before beating Aljaz Bedene from a set down in the first round. But he faces a real step up in the quality of opposition against Frances Tiafoe. The American dismissed Andrea Vavassori in the first round and, if this may be less routine, Tiafoe should still have enough to reach the third round.
Prediction: Tiafoe in 3
Damian: Marterer hadn’t done well on grass before, but with the lefty serve he was able to take out three clay-courters in the qualifying and then Bedene in the main draw. He’s got potential and probably won’t be an easy out for Tiafoe, but the American has so much more variety and can use his creativity to expose the simplicity of the German’s game.
Prediction: Tiafoe in 4
Jakub: Tiafoe broke his three-match losing streak by beating qualifier Andrea Vavassori in straight sets. The American will now play another qualifier in Marterer, who took out Aljaz Bedene in straight sets. Tiafoe beat the German in straight sets in previous two meetings, so I expect him to win out again.
Prediction: Tiafoe in 4
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Oscar Otte vs Christian Harrison
Jim: Oscar Otte looks at home on the grass. The German contested a memorable five-setter with Andy Murray last season and arrived at Wimbledon in good form this season after back-to-back semifinals in Stuttgart and Halle, before dismantling Peter Gojowyczk in the first round at the All England Club. Christian Harrison has had a fine run, but it is hard to see him getting past Otte.
Prediction: Otte in 3
Damian: Harrison capitalized on his phenomenal draw by defeating Clarke in the opening round. The American qualifier is still one of the weakest players in this year’s event though and he’s facing a much tougher challenge here. Otte is a late-bloomer, but he’s fully broken through to the main tour now and could be eyeing a deep run here.
Prediction: Otte in 3
Jakub: Otte came in with solid form, semifinalist in both Stuttgart and Halle, and absolutely destroyed Gojowczyk, allowing him just four games. Harrison finally got the first Grand Slam win in his career, beating Jay Clarke in straight sets. The American has the groundstrokes to make this interesting but I see Otte coming through.
Prediction: Otte in 4
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