Roger Federer will continue his bid for a ninth Wimbledon title when he goes up against Lukas Lacko in his second match on Wednesday. Potential fourth-round opponent Adrian Mannarino is facing Ryan Harrison.
(1) Roger Federer vs. Lukas Lacko
Federer and Lacko will be going head-to-head for the third time in their careers and for the third time at a Grand Slam when they clash in the Wimbledon second round on Wednesday. Both of their previous encounters have gone Federer’s way in convincing fashion; 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 at the 2011 Australian Open and 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 three years later at Roland Garros. More of the same can be expected at the All-England Club, because the 36-year-old Swiss has won this tournament eight times–including last summer–and boasts a 93-11 lifetime record. A recent champion in Stuttgart and runner-up in Halle, Federer improved to 26-3 this season by hammering Dusan Lajovic 6-1, 6-3, 6-4 on Monday.
Quite capable on grass, himself, Lacko has successfully qualified at Wimbledon three times in his career and he has twice reached the last 32. The 73rd-ranked Slovak is coming off a runner-up performance in Eastbourne and he made a quick turnaround to beat Benjamin Bonzi 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-4 on Monday. A massive step up in competition and a matchup in which Lacko has never been even remotely competitive will undoubtedly see an end to the underdog’s fortnight.
Pick: Federer in 3 losing 8-10 games
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(22) Adrian Mannarino vs. Ryan Harrison
Like Lacko, Mannarino also played–and lost–a match last Saturday before getting right back in gear for opening-day action at the All-England Club. The 26th-ranked Frenchman fell to 0-5 lifetime in ATP finals by succumbing 6-1, 1-6, 6-1 to Damir Dzumhur in Antalya, but he rebounded to defeat qualifier Christian Garin 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(4), 6-2 on Monday. Always at his best on the green stuff, Mannarino has twice advanced to the Wimbledon fourth round and has never reached the second week at any other Grand Slam.
Up next for the No. 22 seed on Wednesday is a third career contests against Harrison, with the head-to-head series tied 1-1 at the ATP level and Mannarino leading 2-1 overall. He cruised at the 2011 Australian Open and at the 2014 Knoxville Challenger, while Harrison got the job done 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-3 in round one of the 2016 U.S. Open. The 59th-ranked American improved to an even 14-14 this year by beating Roberto Carballes Baena 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 on Monday, but he has been to the last 64 in SW19 on three previous occasions and has never progressed farther. Facing Mannarino on this surface likely means Harrison will fall to 0-4 in the second round.
Pick: Mannarino in 4
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