Wimbledon R2 previews and predictions: Zverev vs. Tiafoe, Dimitrov vs. Baghdatis

An intriguing matchup between two of the sport’s rising stars is on the Thursday schedule, as Alexander Zverev is set to face Frances Tiafoe. Grigor Dimitrov and Marcos Baghdatis are also aiming for a place in the third round.

Frances Tiafoe vs. (10) Alexander Zverev

Zverev has already fared better at Wimbledon than he did at the French Open. That is not saying a lot, but the 10th-seeded German at least managed to score a solid 6-4, 7-6(3), 6-3 victory over Evgeny Donskoy on Tuesday. Zverev, who was dealt a tough draw at Roland Garros and lost to Fernando Verdasco right away, is now 34-12 this season with the biggest title of his career in Rome. He is currently fifth in the race to the World Tour Finals and has a basically insurmountable lead on the No. 1 spot in the race to the NextGen ATP Finals in Milan.

Zverev’s Thursday opponent, Tiafoe, could join him at the inaugural 20-and-under festivities. The 19-year-old American is currently sixth in the race to Milan and he boosted his standing by beating Robin Haase 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(5), 7-5 in his Wimbledon opener. That marked Tiafoe’s second career Grand Slam match win and just his fifth on the ATP Tour (compared to 20 losses). The world No. 64 has the talent–and especially the forehand–to eventually approach Zverev’s level, but right now they are in completely different spots.

Pick: Zverev in 3

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(13) Grigor Dimitrov vs. Marcos Baghdatis

Dimitrov and Baghdatis will be squaring off for the ninth time in their careers when they meet again on Thursday. The head-to-head series between the good friends and occasional doubles partners stands at a dominant 7-1 in favor of Dimitrov, but they have not completed a full match since the 2015 Australian Open (Baghdatis retired after one set when they clashed last fall at the Paris Masters). Their only previous grass-court tilt also came in the second round of Wimbledon in 2012, when Dimitrov called it quits while trailing 7-5, 4-1. The Bulgarian has since reeled off six victories in a row at Baghdatis’ expense, including via a 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 decision Down Under two years ago.

It has been an up-and-down 2017 campaign for Dimitrov–but for the most part successful. The world No. 11 captured two titles in the first two months, reached the semifinals of the Australian Open, and showed signs of getting back on track by appearing in the recent Queen’s Club semis (lost to eventual champion Feliciano Lopez). Dimitrov opened on Tuesday by beating Diego Schwartzman 7-6(4), 6-2, 6-2, while Baghdatis dismissed James Ward 6-4, 6-4, 6-3. The 65th-ranked Cypriot is just 8-9 this year and a decent 4-2 on grass. But the fact that his last two grass-court losses have come by retirement does not bode well for Baghdatis’ chances of making it through–and winning–another best-of-five contest.

Pick: Dimitrov in 4

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