Comeback kid Jan-Lennard Struff’s reward for consecutive escapes from two sets down is a Friday showdown with Roger Federer at Wimbledon. The third-round schedule will also see Sam Querrey go up against Gael Monfils.
(1) Roger Federer vs. Jan-Lennard Struff
There are a couple of players in the Wimbledon field who are looking like they could potentially pose a threat to Federer later in the tournament, but nothing suggests the eight-time champion will have any trouble prior to the quarterfinals or even the semis. Beating up on lesser competition, Federer disposed of Dusan Lajovic and Eastbourne runner-up Lukas Lacko without facing a single break point or dropping more than four games in any set. The 36-year-old Swiss is now 94-11 lifetime at Wimbledon and 27-3 for his 2018 campaign.
Up next for Federer on Friday is a third career contest against Struff, another massive underdog who unsurprisingly trails the head-to-head series 2-0. The 64th-ranked German fell 6-4, 7-6(3) two years ago on the grass courts of Halle and 6-4, 6-4, 7-6(4) earlier this season at the Australian Open. Struff has done incredibly well to reach the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career, becoming the third player in Wimbledon history to make two comebacks from two sets down in the same event–and first to do so in the first two rounds. He overcame Leonardo Mayer 3-6, 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 7-6(5), 6-1 and outlasted Ivo Karlovic 6-7(5), 3-6, 7-6(4), 7-6(4), 13-11. Running on fumes and surely up against the wall in this matchup even at 100 percent, Struff should be in for a long–or more like short–day at the office.
Pick: Federer in 3 losing 8-10 games
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(11) Sam Querrey vs. Gael Monfils
Querrey and Monfils will be going head-to-head for the third time in their careers on Friday. Both of their previous encounters have gone Monfils’ way; 6-4, 7-5 on the red clay of Poertschach in 2007 and 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 at the 2016 Washington, D.C. event. Grass, of course, will give Querrey a much better chance. The 13th-ranked American is 19-10 lifetime at Wimbledon with back-to-back runs to the quarterfinals and semifinals and two wins over world No. 1s (Novak Djokovic in 2016 and Andy Murray in 2017). Querrey’s 2018 campaign has not been the best, but he is up to his usual tricks at the All-England Club with routine defeats of Jordan Thompson and Sergiy Stakhovsky.
Monfils’ appearance in the third round has to be considered a success, especially because he had to face fellow Frenchman Richard Gasquet in the opening round. Moreover, the world No. 44 had done next to nothing since beginning the year with a title in Doha. Nonetheless, Monfils ousted Gasquet 7-6(6), 7-5, 6-4 before beating Paolo Lorenzi 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(5), 7-6(3) on Wednesday. In a matchup in which he may not be able to afford even a single mental hiccup on serve, Monfils may not be able to go toe to toe with Querrey in a best-of-five haul.
Pick: Querrey in 4
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Ricky, you meant Monfils,not Mannarino. Agree with both picks.
Mannarino in 4 , lol
Fed in three Sam in four
Fed in 3; Querry in 4.
Sam in 4
Fed in 3
Hard to believe no one has commented on this match, whereas there are a ton of comments on Nadal-deMinaur preview; just goes to show how Rafa crazy this site is.
Federer wasn’t quite at the level he displayed against Lacko, but still very good. He’s yet to face a break point in three matches, against three quite good early round opponents. The key game was 5-5 in the second set, where Fed played an outrageous point and then a merely excellent one to break.
Struff played a good match and has surprising touch for such a big guy. He was tough off the ground, and if he could have hit more 1st serves he would have made the match closer. But another nice win for Fed.
It’s hard to judge whether it was Federer who wasn’t at the level he was against Lacko or maybe it was just Struff being better than Lacko?
Anyway great serving, I also think the groundstrokes were not exactly at the same level, he was also visibly frustrated at times.
His passing shots and return in general were excellent though.
Also, it’s crazy that no one took Fed to deuce yet.
As I’m writing this, Raonic is having a tough time against Dennis Novak, it’s gonna be a tie-break in the third set. Should Raonic lose, the second quarter would be a complete disaster with Isner or Tsitsipas in the semis. The draw is getting so open for Fed, he might not face a break point till the final.
Struff of course is a better player than Lacko. It’s a shame he had to get past two big servers Leo Mayer and Ivo Karlovic in five sets each spending nine hours on court. A fresher Struff would be able to push Fed around a bit and maybe get a set if not more.
The guy has a great serve, hits well too and not a bad mover for his size. He has a game that suits the grass surface.
Joe, I was watching the match. Maybe others were as well. Either way, it’s okay that this site has more Rafans than not. No need to mention or take such offense to the fact that there was less discussion about this than De Minaur vs Nadal. Besides, Nadal v De Minaur is a really interesting matchup as it is. That and Nishikori/Kyrgios are probably the matches of the day tomorrow.
I’m certainly not taking offense, Benny. Just surprised. Often when I comment extensively on a Nadal match there are others who take offense; kind of like when I post anything mildly critical on the Nadal page.
I never thought Struff was a foregone conclusion against Fed, although I thought it was less likely given that he had just played two 5 setters. But when a guy like that gets in the zone, he would be hard to beat. And at Fed’s age, anything can happen, especially if he gets tired.
Agree that Nadal de Minaur is an interesting match-up. I’m actually looking forward to a Nadal Fognini match if they can both get through this round.
Agree that Brazil-Belgium was more interesting than the tennis today. Not sorry to see Brazil out, but am sorry for Uruguay, and South America.
Joe…I think it’s normal Rafans didn’t commenting much when Roger is playing…When Novak or Andy was playing we’re not commenting much as well…I think it’s bcoz ‘the excitement when watching Rafa playing is far more greater than watching Fed or Novak…coz we’re Rafans…For me,i always watching other Big 3 matches…But i don’t know why i didn’t commenting much on it?hehe…
I also curious why there’s not many Fedfans come here?…But,i gotta say[for me okay?] all regular Fedfans who’s commenting here are very very nice,very civilized when give their opinion & have a good manners & i really really appreciate that guys!…U guys r awesome!!…And Benny!..Your post r awesome too!!…Thank u guys for always give your thoughts about Rafa & his match!
It’s because it’s almost a foregone conclusion, that Fed would win and most likely in straight sets. I switched to watching Brazil vs Belgium World Cup match after Struff lost the second set; the football match proved to be more interesting, and exciting nearing the end.
I did watch the Fed vs Struff match up to the second set, was hoping Struff could get a set, switched channel to watch the WC football match knowing Struff would lose in straight sets after he lost the second.
Thanks, Mira. Obviously, it would be better if all posters had your virtues…but we don’t!
I do also wonder why there aren’t more Fed fans here. Maybe if there were, when Augusta gives examples of obnoxious Fedfans, she wouldn’t always have to refer to fans on other sites!
Grats to Monfils! Nothing against Long Sam, but Gael is a much more interesting player.
For sure. That was really shocking to me to be honest. Monfils is into the second week of Wimbledon for the FIRST TIME and same with Isner!! Two guys I would’ve expected to have had just a little bit more success here in the past.
I am glad to see Monfils with a good result here. He did not look good at all at RG. I find him very entertaining to watch. Sorry for Querrey, but happy for Gael.
Me too!
Yeah, I am very surprised by Monfils beating Querrey, as he has always been very open about how he sucks on grass and has never understood how to play on it haha. Clearly he’s figured something out! Because Querrey beat the World #1/defending champion in each of the last two Wimbledons. To do it once could be considered a fluke, but to do it back-to-back years, making the QF and SF, respectively, is impressive. So good win for Monfils!
I predicted Monfils would win but was busy travelling. Monfils is arguably the higher class player and is in form and fresh after a break. Bookies were riding on Querrey’s form last year but there’s no evidence of Querrey backing up year after year or that he was in similar form to last year. he lost 6 and 2 to Cilic. One of the bets of the week that one.
ah the classic “i was busy traveling” excuse LOLOLOLOL