Wimbledon R4 previews and predictions: Federer vs. Mannarino, Raonic vs. McDonald

With Marin Cilic out of the tournament, Milos Raonic has arguably become the favorite to meet Roger Federer in the semifinals. They will continue their respective campaigns during fourth-round action on Monday against Adrian Mannarino and Mackenzie McDonald.

(1) Roger Federer vs. (22) Adrian Mannarino

Federer and Mannarino will be going head-to-head for the sixth time in their careers and for the second time at Wimbledon when they collide during fourth-round action on the prestigious second Monday. Their first-ever meeting also came at the All-England Club, where Federer cruised 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 in 2011. The 36-year-old Swiss is now a perfect 5-0 lifetime at Mannarino’s expense and 12-1 in total sets. They most recently faced each other on the indoor hard courts of Basel last fall, when the Frenchman snagged a set for the first time but fell 4-6, 6-1, 6-3.

Borna Coric may have been tipped by many to be Federer’s fourth-round opponent in a rematch of the recent Halle final that the Croat won, but it should come as no surprise to see Mannarino participating in this one. The world No. 26 is through to round four in SW19 for the third time in his career and he has never advanced this far at any other major. A borderline grass-court specialist, Mannarino is coming off a runner-up performance in Antalya and he has advanced this fortnight with wins over Christian Garin, Ryan Harrison, and Daniil Medvedev. Federer has coasted past Dusan Lajovic, Lukas Lacko, and Jan-Lennard Struff, improving to 95-11 for his career at Wimbledon while searching for his ninth title. Mannarino is the kind of consistent, savvy counter-puncher who will force Federer to raise his game, and that is likely what the defending champion will do as the competition level ratchets up in week two.

Pick: Federer in 3 losing 11-14 games

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Mackenzie McDonald vs. (13) Milos Raonic

Raonic has been plagued by bad luck–injuries, to be more specific–since finishing runner-up at Wimbledon to Andy Murray in 2016. This season has been more of the same for the Canadian, but it may all be turning around for him at the All-England Club. Raonic appears to be armed with a clean bill of health after pulling out prior to the Queen’s Club second round due to a shoulder injury and his draw has been extremely kind. The world No. 32 has improved to 23-7 lifetime at Wimbledon following victories over wild card Liam Broady, John Millman, and qualifier Dennis Novak.

Now a shocking fourth-round opponent awaits Raonic on the second Monday. McDonald owned three career ATP-level match wins prior to this fortnight and from out of nowhere he has doubled that total. The 103rd-ranked American beat Ricardas Berankis and Nicolas Jarry before facing Guido Pella instead of Marin Cilic, and he capitalized on that opportunity by hammering the Argentine 6-4, 6-4, 7-6(6) on Friday. Based on experience (McDonald had won just a single Grand Slam match in his career before this tournament) and the surface, this should be mostly one-way traffic for Raonic as long as he is still 100 percent.

Pick: Raonic in 3

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