Wimbledon Day 6 expert picks, including Kyrgios vs. Nishikori and Khachanov vs. Tiafoe

Ricky Dimon and Cheryl Murray of the Grandstand make their picks for some of the best matchups on Saturday at Wimbledon. Nick Kyrgios and Juan Martin Del Potro have been in scorching form this week, but they have tough their-round contests on their hands.

(15) Nick Kyrgios vs. (24) Kei Nishikori

Ricky: Grass is perfect for Kyrgios’ game, and he advanced to semifinals in Stuttgart and at Queen’s Club before losing only to Roger Federer in a third-set tiebreaker and Marin Cilic in two tiebreakers. The Aussie did not get broken once by Denis Istomin in four sets on Tuesday and it was his return game (five breaks) that did damage against Robin Haase in a straight-set win on Thursday. Nishikori has never been at his best at Wimbledon and he did not exactly set the world on fire against either Christian Harrison or Bernard Tomic. Kyrgios will be focused against such a tough opponent and if he serves well he can blast Nishikori off the court. Kyrgios in 3: 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.

Cheryl: This is an interesting matchup–or at least it has the makings of one. Nishikori has beaten Kyrgios all three times they’ve played, but the two men have never met on a grass court before. With the way Kyrgios has been serving, he’s a danger to anyone on the other side of the net, and grass isn’t exactly Nishikori’s best surface. Nishikori could win the match, of course, but he’ll need a little help from Kyrgios in the form of a less-effective serving day. day. Kyrgios in 4: 7-6, 6-7, 7-6, 6-4.

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Karen Khachanov vs. Frances Tiafoe

Ricky: Tiafoe has posted two outstanding grass-court wins over tough veterans in Fernando Verdasco and Julien Benneteau. Now he gets a fellow up-and-comer with a similarly huge, whip-like forehand. Khachanov has also advanced by beating two veterans, first David Ferrer in four and then Marcos Baghdatis in five. The 40th-ranked Russian owns more experience, with a third-round appearance at Wimbledon last summer and two trips to the French Open fourth round. That could make the slight difference in what should be a wildly entertaining contest. Khachanov in 5: 6-4, 2-6, 6-2, 6-7(5), 7-5.

Cheryl: This will be the first meeting between Khachanov and Tiafoe. Khachanov had a decent quarterfinal showing in Halle and a week of rest coming into the Championships. The Russian comes into this third round match off a five-set tussle with Baghdatis in round two. Tiafoe is ranked a career-high 52nd in the world–his stock is on the way up. In fact, this third-round spot is the best the American has ever done at a Grand Slam. He dispatched veterans Verdasco and Benneteau in the first two rounds but faces a fellow youngster in Khachanov who has more experience in best-of-five matches. Khachanov in 4: 6-4, 6-2, 5-7, 6-3.

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(5) Juan Martin Del Potro vs. Benoit Paire

Ricky: Aside from the lacking the one Grand Slam title that both Federer and Rafael Nadal own in 2018, Del Potro has been every bit impressive as anyone on tour this season. Will that slam title–which would be the second of his career–come at Wimbledon? It’s not out of the question. The Argentine has always been an all-court player and he is even better on grass post injury because his backhand slice is so effective now. Del Potro is already crushing people this week and that should continue on Saturday. He will dictate play and won’t give Paire the time to set up and bludgeon backhands. Del Potro in 3: 6-4, 6-1, 7-5.

Cheryl: Del Potro has been tidy in his first two matches–particularly in his second-round beatdown of Feliciano Lopez. If talk of a possible Wimbledon title in just over a week is quiet still, it’s not because DelPo doesn’t look good but because Federer is such an overwhelming favorite that the bottom half of the draw is ever-so-slightly superfluous. Paire had an impressive win in the second round over Denis Shapovalov, but it’s hard to imagine the Frenchman having enough firepower to stick with Del Potro. Del Potro in 3: 6-4, 6-3, 7-5.

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Ernests Gulbis vs. (4) Alexander Zverev

Ricky: Amazingly enough, Gulbis is through to the Wimbledon third round for a second consecutive season. It has once again come out of nowhere, as nothing about his current form foretold successful qualification followed by a second-round upset of Antalya champion Damir Dzumhur. The Latvian has survived consecutive five-setters, while Zverev finished off Taylor Fritz in five on Friday. Zverev had been roasted by the media and fans for Grand Slam shortcomings until he reached the French Open quarterfinals a few weeks ago, but he is a solid 8-3 lifetime at Wimbledon and advanced to the fourth round last summer. In a matchup between two players with similar styles, the German does just about everything better. Zverev in 3: 7-5, 6-2, 6-3.

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