Wimbledon now moves into the third round. The top seeds have smoothly moved along, but some intrigue has developed in some of the other sections of the draw. Will the third round bring a level of drama which the early rounds have lacked? The top seeds hope things stay quiet at the All England Club. Here is a look at our tennis picks on the men’s side for Friday.
Andy Murray vs. Fabio Fognini
It is very difficult to make an accurate prognosis in tennis, especially when it’s played on grass and involves Fabio Fognini. Before the tournament started, Andy Murray was not the favorite to make the final weekend. Murray had not played enough matches on grass prior to Wimbledon and his hip didn’t look any good. However, to the delight of the Wimbledon crowd, he has played pain-free tennis so far.
On a warm Wednesday afternoon, the defending champion routed out and out entertainer Dustin Brown in just under 100 minutes and advanced to the third round. Murray’s next assignment is against Fognini–a man who demolished him in the Rome Masters this year.
Fognini took just under two hours to beat the talented young Czech, Jiri Vesely, on Court 12 at Wimbledon earlier this week. The mercurial Italian looks in supreme form but will now have to play to his highest potential to top Murray on grass. Fognini has also won three of their six encounters but is untested on the lawns in the head-to-head matchup. If it would’ve been on clay, no one would have hesitated to pick Fognini, but since it’s on grass, most would – and should – think that Murray will be able to come through.
Pick: Murray in four sets
Benoit Paire vs. Jerzy Janowicz
Jerzy Janowicz at his killer best can be unstoppable, but he didn’t feel the need to go berserk against World No. 16 Lucas Pouille. Still, Janowicz managed to upset the highly rated Frenchman. The giant Pole didn’t play the lights-out tennis that he is known to play on select occasions but was surprisingly rock solid in the moments that mattered. Every point he won saw him scream and roar ferociously. Fans and pundits could see the focus in his eyes and passionate determination in his voice. Onlookers saw a different Jerzy Janowicz in that match. An audience saw someone who cared for himself, who cared for tennis.
With his win, Janowicz has climbed to 109 in the world. His newly found focus has earned him a place in the third round, where he will play Benoit Paire. Can he carry his blistering form into the second week of Wimbledon?
Paire has never looked more comfortable on grass then he has at this Wimbledon. The talented Frenchman dismantled young compatriot Pierre Hugues Herbert in the second round. He knows the draw has opened up for him after Lucas Pouille’s unexpectedly early exit. This is a huge opportunity but can he make full use of it?
This match-up is highly unexpected. Both Paire and Janowicz are supremely talented individuals but both are known for their on-court outbursts, racquet throwing and breaking. They are equally temperamental but are capable of producing great tennis. It promises to be a scintillating contest but it could also turn lopsided. If pressed to pick a winner, go with Janowicz, who is riding a wave of confidence and has been a former semifinalist at SW 19.
Pick: Janowicz in four sets
Jo-Wilfred Tsonga vs. Sam Querrey
During his second-round match, bugs annoyed Jo-Wilfred Tsonga but didn’t dent his focus. The insects irritated him throughout the match but he remained calm as he completed his straight-set victory over Simone Bolleli.
Sam Querrey, who stunned Novak Djokovic in the third round at Wimbledon last year, will have to play out of his skins if he dreams of beating Tsonga. Querrey is defending quarterfinal points from last year and he knows if he beats Tsonga, he’ll get there. To beat the 10th-ranked Frenchman, Querrey will have to play his best tennis. If he fails to bring his A game, he has no chance.
Pick: Tsonga in four sets
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