Wimbledon Day 6 expert picks, including Nishikori vs. Johnson and Berrettini vs. Schwartzman

The first week of Wimbledon wraps up on Saturday, when some surprising spots in the fourth round are sure to be handed out. Ricky Dimon and Cheryl Murray of The Grandstand preview and pick what should be four competitive contests.

(8) Kei Nishikori vs. Steve Johnson

Ricky: I suppose facing Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, or Roger Federer would be a much worse third-round draw, but this is still nightmarish for Johnson. Nishikori is sweeping the head-to-head series 4-0, 9-1 in total sets. The Japanese world No. 7 completely dominated his first two opponents, which is critical for his chances later in the tournament since his body is prone to break down and spending any unnecessary amount of time on court can prove to be disastrous. Johnson, on the other hand, needed five sets to get past Alex de Minaur on Thursday. Nothing suggests this one will be close. Nishikori in 3: 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.

Cheryl: Johnson has done well to get to the third round of Wimbledon. He had a solid win over de Minaur in the second round, though it took him five sets to get past the Australian. Meanwhile, the tour’s typical five-set warrior Nishikori has uncharacteristically breezed through his first two opponents in straight sets. To make matters worse for Johnson, he has yet to get a win over Nishikori. In fact, the American has snagged one set in four matches. Nishikori isn’t exactly a grass-court specialist, but he reached the quarterfinals last year so he certainly knows what he’s doing on the surface. Nishikori in 4: 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6.

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(17) Matteo Berrettini vs. (24) Diego Schwartzman

Ricky: By their respective standards, both players are in the midst of outstanding grass-court seasons. But those two things are not equal. Schwartzman actually won a match on grass this year! And another! And another one! And another after that one. Previously a hopeless 1-8 lifetime on the green stuff, the Argentine reached the Queen’s Club quarterfinals and has defeated Matthew Ebden and Dominik Koepfer at Wimbledon. His dream draw ends in a big way with Berrettini. The 20th-ranked Italian an incredible 10-1 on grass this summer, including a title in Stuttgart. He is simply going to hit Schwartzman right off the court. Berrettini in 3: 6-2, 7-6(4), 6-3.

Cheryl: Berrettini has been positively tearing the grass-court season up this year. He won the event in Stuttgart and followed that up with a semifinal showing in Halle. Schwartzman, who has never been past the second round at Wimbledon, had an encouraging quarterfinal showing at Queen’s Club. It’s hard to imagine this match not going Berrettini’s way. The Italian’s game is clicking on what is clearly his best surface. Berrettini in 3: 6-4, 6-4, 6-3.

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Joao Sousa vs. Dan Evans

Ricky: This should be one of the most competitive third-round matches. It’s hard to see this as anything other than a 50-50 proposition. Evans has been red hot on grass this summer and will have the British crowd behind him, but Sousa is coming off a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 demolition of former Wimbledon finalist Marin Cilic. A slight edge goes to Evans, who did not drop a set in his first two matches. He has lost on grass this season to players who–when playing well–can overpower him (Stan Wawrinka and Kyle Edmund). In what will be more of a grind with Sousa, the crowd will help pull Evans through a thriller. Evans in 5: 7-5, 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-3.

Cheryl: In a tournament known for surprise losses and unexpected mid-tournament matchups, I think this particular third round match is especially surprising. First, Sousa took out Cilic in routine straight sets in the second round. And Evans, who is ranked 61st in the world, dispatched No. 18 Basilashvili. This is an excellent opportunity for either player to get to the round of 16 at what is undoubtedly the most prestigious event of the year. It would seem that Evans, a Brit playing in front of the home crowd, has the advantage. But Sousa is a fierce competitor and could well make a match of it. Evans in 4: 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, 7-5.

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Sam Querrey vs. John Millman

Ricky: Querrey is something of a Wimbledon specialist. The 6’6” American has reached the quarterfinals and semifinals in two of the past three seasons. He has basically been hopeless everywhere else. Up to his usual All-England Club tricks, he erased No. 5 seed Dominic Thiem in round one and followed up by easing past Andrey Rublev. Millman is another baseliner against whom Querrey will dictate play and completely control the outcome of the match. The Aussie always makes opponents work, but Querrey is too good at Wimbledon and hits too big on grass. Querrey in 4: 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Cheryl: These two men have never met in a tour-level match, but their two meetings on the Challenger circuit (back in 2014) both went Querrey’s way. The American, as he sometimes does at the All-England Club, took out a big name. He dispatched the fourth-ranked Thiem in the first round before easily handling Rublev in the second round. With Querrey’s height and booming first serve make his game well-suited to grass court tennis. Millman, who hasn’t had much success at the slams (except a QF showing at the U.S. Open last year), has sailed through his first two matches. Querrey in 4: 7-6, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.

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