With eight matches on the schedule, there should be no shortage of entertaining tennis on day six at Wimbledon. As ever, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match, including Grigor Dimitrov vs Matteo Berrettini, but who will secure their spot in the second week at the Championships?
Wimbledon Day 6 Predictions
Frances Tiafoe vs Alexander Bublik
Tope: Frances Tiafoe heads into the third round on a seven-match winning streak, albeit he did have to rally from a set down in the second round, and now faces Alexander Bublik in a rematch of their 2022 classic. Bublik’s booming serve makes him a live threat, but Tiafoe’s legs and momentum give him the edge in a five-setter. Expect fireworks.
Prediction: Tiafoe in 5
Jordan: Tiafoe’s return is a significant issue for him against Bublik on grass. The American is among the ATP’s weakest returners, and faces one of the Tour’s best servers. Tiafoe will likely win most of his service games, but I think the pressure from Bublik’s serve will prove too much.
Prediction: Bublik in 4
Andreas: Both players are unpredictable on any given day, but Tiafoe is playing some of his best career tennis. Bublik has been vulnerable to some surprising losses as of late, and the Halle Open champion should feel confident in the big moments — as Bublik has lately committed mistakes when the pressure rises. This could go either way, but Tiafoe should like his chances.
Prediction: Tiafoe in 5
Jaume Munar vs Jiri Lehecka
Tope: Jiri Lehecka’s cannon serve meets Jaume Munar’s clutch-gene grit in a first-ever grass clash between these two. Both are unbeaten on sets so far, but Wimbledon’s quick courts favor the Czech’s firepower over the Spaniard’s grinding baseline game. Edge belongs to Lehecka, if he keeps the free points coming.
Prediction: Lehecka in 4
Jordan: Lehecka is the more naturally talented player. Yet, I feel there will be an upset here. Munar is a plucky opponent who can perform well on any surfaces, and Lehecka has become frustrated against opponents with a similar style to Munar in the past.
Prediction: Munar in 4
Andreas: Lehecka is yet to drop a set at Wimbledon. He defeated Munar quite easily in the pair’s previous two meetings, and the Czech has a brutal serve that won’t match up against Munar, who tends to thrive in long rallies. The Spaniard similarly hasn’t lost a set this week, however, and his stamina can keep him in any best-of-5 match.
Prediction: Lehecka in 4
Zizou Bergs vs Arthur Fery
Tope: Zizou Bergs has won seven matches on the bounce heading into the third round, and after grinding past Jamie Faria in four sets, he looks the sturdier of the two. Arthur Fery has the crowd and the comeback pedigree to lean on but surviving a tiebreak specialist in career-best form might be too much to ask.
Prediction: Bergs in 4
Jordan: There is more attention on Fery than he might have expected because of how many British players have exited. The support from his home fans will give him some hope against Bergs. Overall, I still expect the man who played so well against Ugo Humbert in the opening round to get over the line.
Prediction: Bergs in 5
Andreas: Fery is the sole British male player remaining at this tournament, and he’ll likely have lots of support here. However, Bergs is on a six-match win streak, and his confidence has been growing. Fery’s first serve was on fire in his second round win over Otto Virtanen, winning more than 80% of his first serve points. He’ll have to make lots of serves against a solid returner like Bergs.
Prediction: Bergs in 4
Karen Khachanov vs Flavio Cobolli
Tope: Karen Khachanov cruised past Yannick Hanfmann to book his third-round spot, firing at 78% first-serve accuracy and barely sweating through two break points all match. Waiting for him is FlavioCobolli, fresh off a gritty four-set escape against James Duckworth where his 59 winners did the heavy lifting despite a shaky first serve. Khachanov owns the head-to-head from their Madrid clash two years back, but with both grass-comfortable and quarter-final-tested from last year, this one’s set up to go the distance.
Prediction: Khachanov in 5
Jordan: Both men will try to dominate in the rallies with their forehands. Khachanov possesses a better serve, while Cobolli is a superior athlete. On balance, I favor the Italian’s game slightly more.
Prediction: Cobolli in 4
Andreas: Cobolli has dropped two sets en route to this stage, as the Italian is a bit inexperienced on grass. Khachanov was clinical in a second round win over Yannick Hanfmann, and he’s a two-time Wimbledon quarterfinalist. Cobolli’s flashy movement and strong groundstrokes makes him a threat on any surface, but I can see the No. 19 seed outlasting the French Open finalist.
Prediction: Khachanov in 5
Main photo credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
