The second round of Wimbledon is upon us, and it is already looking like we could be in store for another frenzied Grand Slam. Joao Fonseca looks to keep his Grand Slam momentum going as he squares off against Jesper de Jong. As always, we at LWOT offer our roundtable predictions for every match on the slate. But who will advance?
Wimbledon Day 3 Predictions
Hubert Hurkacz vs Sebastian Ofner
Zain
This match will likely be decided by which player has the better serving day, as both players rely heavily on their serves. From the back of the court, while Sebastian Ofner has a forehand that can cause damage to Hubert Hurkacz, Hurkacz’s superior counterpunching and backhand reliability can prove to be the difference. Expect the Pole to reach the third round here.
Prediction: Hurkacz in 4
Manuel
Hurkacz has been struggling all year, but if there is a place where he can have a resurgence, it is Wimbledon, where his serve makes him a very tough nut to crack, even for the top players.
Prediction: Hurkacz in 3
Tommy Paul vs Soonwoo Kwon
Zain
Coming all the way through the qualifying rounds, Kwon Soonwoo put in a solid performance in his first round to make light work of Martin Landaluce on the back of his aggressive baseline play. He will need to produce an even better performance against Tommy Paul, as the American has shown that on grass he is a very capable opponent, using his variety and physicality to win matches. And while Kwon can make this match interesting in stretches, I do not think he has the baseline consistency to trouble the American in this best-of-five format consistently.
Prediction: Paul in 4
Manuel
Paul is a very solid player on this surface and should be able to make another good run here, with Kwon unlikely to be able to stay with him.
Prediction: Paul in 3
Jan-Lennard Struff vs Brandon Nakashima
Zain
This match pairs the contrasting styles of Jan-Lennard Struff, a big-serving, heavy-forehand-hitting player, with Brandon Nakashima, a well-rounded counterpuncher. The outcome of this match will likely hinge on how well Nakashima returns Struff’s serve. And while Struff has the ceiling to win this match, his level in recent years has just not been reliable enough for me to back him against a player who is so solid from the back of the court.
Prediction: Nakashima in 5
Manuel
Struff can be a tough customer on grass, as he showed last year against Alcaraz, but at this point in their respective careers, Nakashima is clearly the better player, and he should pull through here.
Prediction: Nakashima in 4
Joao Fonseca vs Jesper de Jong
Zain
Despite having an injury-plagued grass swing, Joao Fonseca looked at his best in the opening round. His next task will be Jesper de Jong, whose serve might pose some serious questions for the Brazilian. But if Fonseca returns well and plays his aggressive brand of tennis from the baseline, he should win the match.
Prediction: Fonseca in 4
Manuel
Fonseca managed to negotiate a potentially tricky first round against a veteran in Bautista Agut and should be primed for another solid Slam run here.
Prediction: Fonseca in 3
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke – Imagn Images
