Juan Martin Del Potro vs. Ernests Gulbis has never developed into a marquee rivalry, but the two big hitters will meet for a sixth time on Thursday at Wimbledon. Dominic Thiem and Gilles Simon are also on the schedule.
(29) Juan Martin Del Potro vs. Ernests Gulbis
The clock will be turned back when Del Potro and Gulbis collide for the sixth time in their careers as second-round action at Wimbledon continues on Thursday. For various reasons, these two former top 10 players have never been able to sustain success and they have taken turns disappearing off the tennis radar screen. As such, it is hardly surprising that they have not faced each other since early in the 2014 campaign. That’s when Gulbis prevailed 6-3, 6-4 in the Rotterdam quarterfinals, but he still trails the head-to-head series 3-2.
In fact, the 28-year-old Latvian trails just about anyone in everything these days. He has plunged to No. 589 in the world due to physical problems, an incurable forehand, and general poor play. Gulbis picked up his first ATP-level victory since the 2016 French Open when he shellacked Victor Estrella Burgos 6-1, 6-1, 6-2 on Tuesday. Del Potro had a tougher opener against more difficult competition, beating Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(2), 6-4. The 32nd-ranked Argentine is 14-7 this year and coming off a clay-court swing that included a quarterfinal run in Rome and a third-round showing at the French Open (lost to Andy Murray). Del Potro remains under-ranked due to relative inactivity so his draw will get tougher in a hurry (potential third-rounder against Novak Djokovic), but for a now a date with Gulbis is just about as favorable as it gets.
Pick: Del Potro in 3
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(8) Dominic Thiem vs. Gilles Simon
At just 23 years old, Thiem has already faced Simon seven times in his career–an especially huge number given that Simon has not advanced very far in many draws since Thiem has become a force at the top of the sport. They will now square off for eighth time on Thursday at the All-England Club. The Austrian’s place in the second round was never a sure thing given his relative woes on grass compared to his prowess on clay, but he impressively routed Vasek Pospisil 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 on Tuesday. A two-time French Open semifinalist, Thiem had previously lost to Robin Haase (Halle second round) and Ramkumar Ramanathan (Antalya second round).
The world No. 8 is 5-2 lifetime against Simon, including 4-0 in their last four matches, 2-0 in 2017, and 6-0 in their last six total sets. Thiem recently came out on top 6-4, 7-6(4) on the indoor hard courts of Rotterdam and 7-6(7), 6-3 shortly thereafter in Acapulco. At No. 36 in the world, Simon has a current 11-14 record this season to blame for just barely missing out on a seed at Wimbledon. Although the 32-year-old Frenchman dropped his opening contests in Stuttgart (to Feliciano Lopez) and Halle (to Karen Khachanov), he had no trouble dismissing qualifier Nicolas Jarry in straight sets on Tuesday. Based on their past history against each other, the relative slow-playing grass courts, and Thiem’s level against Pospisil, this could be another tough day at the office for Simon.
Pick: Thiem in 4
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Nadal should reach the final from this half. His overall level of play is better than Murray’s. Besides, Murray is 0-3 (1-9 in total sets) vs. Nadal at Wimbledon. I dont see that pattern changing this time as well.
Gulbis is the biggest combination of high talent/low work ethic on the tour. After the match, del Potro pointed out that Gulbis at his best can beat anyone. The guy is super talented. If he had worked hard and been taught to hit an actual forehand, he would have definitely been a multi-slam winner, imo. He played incredibly in beating Roger at RG a few years ago; Federer didnt’ play at all badly in that match.
I wouldn’t be too surprised to see Gulbis take out Novak this time. As he said, “I had nothing to lose today and i’ll have even less to lose tomorrow. Who knows, maybe I’ll play better.”