Karen Khachanov will be trying to ride his serve-forehand combination to a Wimbledon upset of Rafael Nadal on Friday. Benoit Paire and Jerzy Janowicz are also aiming for a place in the second week.
(4) Rafael Nadal vs. (30) Karen Khachanov
Nadal and Khachanov will be going head-to-head for the first time in their careers when they collide in the Wimbledon third round on Friday. A lot of “firsts” have been coming for Khachanov of late, who is really starting to announce himself as a force to be reckoned with on the ATP Tour. The 21-year-old Russian is into the top 40 for the first time (broke in last month, currently at a career-high 34th), reached the French Open fourth round in his first main-draw appearance at that slam, and now finds himself in the last 32 of his first main-draw showing at the All-England Club. Khachanov fought hard to hold off Andrey Kuznetsov in five sets and Thiago Monteiro in four earlier in the week.
It’s safe to say the competition level ratchets up dramatically in the form of Nadal, who is 45-6 this season with four titles–including his 10th French Open triumph. The second-ranked Spaniard did not play any grass-court warmup events, but it’s also safe to say he knew what he was doing while making that schedule decision. Showing no grass-court rust, Nadal hammered John Millman 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 on Monday before beating Donald Young 6-4, 6-2, 7-5 in round two. Khachanov is more of the prototypical big hitter who can trouble the 15-time major champion on this surface, but grass may be his least favorite court right now because he has less time to set up for his forehand and is frequently forced to hit it out of his strike zone. This is an intriguing matchup on paper, but in reality it should be one-way traffic.
Pick: Nadal in 3 losing 11 games or fewer
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Benoit Paire vs. Jerzy Janowicz
Speaking of intriguing matchups, Paire vs. Janowicz pits two of the game’s most colorful characters against each other–and that is not where the similarities end. When healthy, they unofficially lead the tour in drop-shots attempted. They also possess some of the most ferocious weapons in the game, highlighted by Paire’s backhand and Janowicz’s serve and forehand.
Unfortunately for Janowicz and for tennis, he basically disappeared from the main tour after reaching the Wimbledon semifinals in 2013 and climbing to No. 14 in the world. The 6’8” Pole is finally making his way back from various problems and will be well inside the top 100 if he wins on Friday (currently 141st). So far this fortnight he has picked up four-set victories over Denis Shapovalov and 2016 quarterfinalist Lucas Pouille. Paire punched his ticket to the last 32 by beating Rogerio Dutra Silva in four and fellow Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert in straights. These two veterans recently faced each other in last month’s Stuttgart quarterfinals, with Paire prevailing 6-1, 7-6(4) for his first ATP-level win over Janowicz compared to two losses. The world No. 46 is a decent 8-6 lifetime at this event, but he has only one victory over an opponent ranked better than 52nd in the world. On this surface, a confident Janowicz is arguably a top-10 talent. He just avenged a recent grass-court loss to Shapovalov and may do the same against Paire.
Pick: Janowicz in 4
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Nadal in 3 and he will go on to win the title
Ole!
Del potro losing straight sets to Ernest is proof that everyone here really doesn’t know Jack sometimes. Every single person here had del potro winning straight sets and instead he is about to lose straight sets. Of course ya will get right most of the time choose the huge favorites but how you explain this crazy -800 potro losing first 2 sets to a scrub.
I’ve been a fan of Gulbis’ tennis longer than I have Delpo’s. I picked Delpo in my bracket to play and lose to Novak. I don’t put money on matches anymore —I just sit back watch and appreciate the tennis. Anything can happen om tennis == one of the reasons I love the game. If I had money on Delpo I would be mad as a crackhead hatter!
Yay Gulbis! Novak get ready please…
Im mad as crackhead hatter. Im actually tilted and put big money on berdych and im scared
Ratcliff, I’m a huge Gulbis fan – unfortunately, because it’s probably one of the most frustrating rennis fandoms. But I don’t buy the prevailing narrative of the pampered little rich boy who is unwilling to live up to his talents. That might have been his protective behavior when he was still very young. But for many years nbow he has been dogged by physical problems, and he’s also not a clutch player. He has a penchant to get nervous in tight matches and loses many which he should’ve won. I don’t think that’s the attitude of someone who doesn’t care but of someone who can’t deal with pressure very well. While I normally root for Delpo because of his unfortunate history of one physical problem after another – doesn’t seem fair somehow – I’m delighted that Gulbis won, although I don’t expect him do go very far. Even a 100% fit Delpo isn’t a natural grass player, even if he had some compelling matches here in the past. Gulbis’ style on the other hand is is very suitable for grass. So, I’m not totally surprised by the result. Why is he even in the main draw btw? His ranking is abysmally low these days. Did he qualify or did he get a wild card?
Gulbis has a protected rating of 99, I believe.
Rafa in three losing more than 12 games and Janowicz in 5
I’m sticking to my original assertion that Rafa is going deep this year… When I said this before the tournament started, I wasn’t sure what exactly I meant by “going deep”, but now I have a better idea since seeing him on grass a couple times. I now predict that he will at least make the final. I think he looks great out there. When Rafa looks this confident, I don’t care what the surface is, he is going to be very hard to beat in a best-of-5 set match!
I also recognize that Khachanov has potential to be a tough match-up for anyone on grass. That being said, I think that the potential for Rafa to blow him off the court is higher than the potential for other outcomes, so I expect Rafa to get through this one in straights, maybe four sets if he takes a little walkabout. Maybe I would be a little more concerned for Rafa if this were best-of-3, but I believe it takes more than Karen Khachanov to take down Rafa in this form at a slam. I sure hope I’m right, though, because I would love to see Rafa return to the Wimbledon final!
Nadal in 4. Ive got a feeling he’ll drop a set here. Kahachanov made the semis of Halle and went down 64 76 to Fed. He’s young and an improver and probably learned a lot from his no show against Murray at RG.
Paire v Janowicz is a bit of a lottery because Paire’s style and demeanor can trouble certain players. However, I’ll give Janowicz the benefit of the doubt based in his best record here and ability to raise his game. Pouille is quite a strong form line as well.
Janowicz in 5.
Rafa in 3 — a good learning experience for Kachanov. if he isn’t too tired at this pont.
Jerzy in 5. He’ll fight like crazy to the bitter end. Maybe in 4, if Benoit gives up. Of course this match could also go the other way around. Enjoy it; don’t bet on this match!
Pair is going to be up 2 sets and a break then go into zombie mode and lose the final three sets 6:7, 6:2, 6:0
Everything in my gut was telling me to bet against raonic but it’s hard when you see raonic as a -1500 favorite. Just youzhny winning one set was +280
I think Rafa will be ready for Khachanov. He never takes any opponent for granted. I don’t see Khachanov hanging with Rafa in a Bof5 set match.
Rafa in 3 sets unless he goes walkabout.
JJ/Paire is pretty unpredictable. Maybe JJ is getting back to decent form again.
I think it could go either way, but Paire is notoriously inconsistent and JJ can be temperamental. I think JJ has the edge and should win in 4 sets.
Couldn’t agree with you more about Rafa-Khachanov, NNY. In my opinion, facing a Rafa playing this confidently and aggressively, Karen might as well bring his luggage to the match. 🙂
As Hawkeye would say….
#NID!
am pretty bummed about delpo who is one of my fave players and gulbis certainly isn’t.
if gulbis is playing well again he could give nole a scare imo…nole is still vulnerable and he’s got rattled by gulbis before…
Wimbledon 3 minutes ago:
FRIDAY’S ORDER OF PLAY (Centre Court, from 13:00 BST):
Azarenka v Watson
Nadal v Khachanov
Murray v Fognini
I am amazed Youzhny was able to take a set of Raonic because Youzhny has been so laid back recently like he is semi retired.
Had set point in the 2nd and was a break up in the 4th and that’s why Raonic won’t get a slam ever
Ernest whoops djoker in 4 sets tomorrow
Strangely, even with his good serve, Khachanov has faced 18 break points in his last match against Monteiro. With that kind of stat he will struggle to win games against Rafa. I dont think this match will be competitive at all. Besides, he may be a little tired after playing two very long matches.
Crazy upset day. First del potro, then isner, then pliskova, now Jack sock. All big favorites.
Yeah, who is Sebastian Ofner?
Sock is out? To a qualifier?
Unreal!
I was also surprised to see Isner lose.
well, to a “qualifier” isnt necessarily unreal
to OFNER for sure is unreal
I never heard of Ofner!
Sebastian Ofner is an Austrian player. Interestingly the name of Thomas Muster’s wife is Caroline Ofner. No idea if there’s a connection or if Ofner is just a common Austrian surname. The Austrians are very excited to have – besides Thiem – another player in the third round. But while Thiem’s run might continue I highly doubt that Ofner will go much further…
There must be a mistake in the daily picks section. Someone listed nishkori to lose 2nd day in a row
Rafa dismantles the Russian….Paire in an entertaining 4.
Rafa will win Wimbledon this year.