Roger Federer and Tomas Berdych will continue their Wimbledon campaigns against well-respected veterans on Saturday. Federer is facing Mischa Zverev, while Tomas Berdych is running into familiar foe David Ferrer.
(27) Mischa Zverev vs. (3) Roger Federer
Federer and Zverev will be going head-to-head for the fifth time in their careers and for the third time this season when they meet again during third-round action at Wimbledon on Saturday. All four of their previous encounters have gone Federer’s way and he has never surrendered a single set to the elder Zverev brother. If there is any good news for the underdog, it’s that he has at least managed to avoid getting bageled in 2017–as he did twice in a 6-0, 6-0 humiliation against Federer at the 2013 Halle event. The 29-year-old recently went down 6-1, 7-5, 6-2 in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and 7-6(4), 6-4 a few weeks ago in Halle.
An absolutely resurgent Zverev has been on display throughout 2017. Up to No. 30 in the world after previously having his career derailed by injuries, the German has won 19 ATP-level matches this season and finished runner-up in Geneva (on clay, his worst surface) as a qualifier. Zverev is through to the last 32 at the All-England Club thanks to defeats of Bernard Tomic and Mikhail Kukushkin–the latter in five sets. A recent champion in Halle, Federer has extended his winning streak to seven matches–and 15 consecutive sets–by getting past Alexandr Dolgopolov and Dusan Lajovic. Zverev’s net-charging tactics have never worked against the 35-year-old Swiss and there is no reason to think they will on a grass court that is not playing particularly fast.
Pick: Federer in 3 with no tiebreakers
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David Ferrer vs. (11) Tomas Berdych
Berdych and Ferrer will be squaring off for the 16th time in their careers on Saturday. This matchup gives Berdych a chance to even the head-to-head series for the first time since it stood at two wins apiece back in 2007. The Czech has taken four of their last five encounters dating back to the 2013 World Tour Finals, including both of their contests last season (in straight sets at both the Madrid Masters and the French Open).
At this point in time, a third-round result at Wimbledon must already be considered a stellar result for Ferrer. The 35-year-old Spaniard had been a dreadful 8-13 overall in 2017 (including 0-2 on grass) prior to this fortnight, but he upset Richard Gasquet in four sets before getting a first-set retirement from Steve Darcis. Berdych also appears to be on the way down at 31 years old and at No. 15 in the rankings, but he is through to round three following four-set victories over Jeremy Chardy and Ryan Harrison. Ferrer may have a real chance in this matchup on clay, but he will likely get blasted off the court by the 11th seed and former Wimbledon runner-up on grass.
Pick: Berdych in 4
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Federer in 4. Represents a better value proposition with the bookies. He’s capable of winning a set. Federer started really slow against Lajovic, he ca affon ill afford to do that against a focused competitor in Zverez thats trying to keep pace with his younger sibling. Zverez form and results have been solid leading into this match.
Berdych in 4. There 15th meeting but never on grass. Berdych has to have the advantage on grass and both have been below their best in recent times.
Fed in three with at least a breaker and Berdych in four
Zverev in 4 and Berdych in 4
Fed in three – 6-1, 6-1, 6-1; such is how poor Mischa is vs Fed!
Fed in a routine 3…and Berd in a tough 3.
Not routine after all, maybe in sets 2 and 3?!
Berd ended up with an easier win than Fed’s. Fed not looking sharp this match, just like in Halle.
Damn, Fed looking sharp today.
A bit of gamesmanship from Fed in that game to go 6:5
Can you tell more please?