Ricky Dimon of the Grandstand and Steen Kirby of Tennis Atlantic make their picks for four of the best matchups on Tuesday at Wimbledon. Fernando Verdasco is beginning his fortnight against Frances Tiafoe, while Denis Shapovalov faces Jeremy Chardy.
Frances Tiafoe vs. (30) Fernando Verdasco
Ricky: This features two of the biggest forehands on tour. Although Verdasco has never won a grass-court title and only one of his 23 ATP finals has come on the green stuff, he has reached the second week at Wimbledon four times—including a quarterfinal run in 2013. But don’t discount Tiafoe, who ousted Robin Haase in round one last summer at the All-England Club. The American also recently made it to the quarterfinals at Queen’s Club. This will be a fun one. Tiafoe in 5: 6-2, 2-6, 5-7, 6-4, 8-6.
Steen: Historically speaking Verdasco has been solid on grass. While Tiafoe has been rising this year, best of 5 is still a tough task at Wimbledon. I expect a close back-and-forth contest with Verdasco’s experience helping him get over the line. Verdasco in 4: 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6.
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Jeremy Chardy vs. (26) Denis Shapovalov
Ricky: Chardy ran out of time to get seeded for this event, but based on current form and the surface he is without question one of the 32 best players in the draw. The Frenchman’s grass-court swing includes a Surbiton Challeger title, a ‘s-Hertogenbosch runner-up, and a Queen’s Club semifinal. A grass-court lesson may be headed Shapovalov’s way, but this will be a tough one for both men. Chardy in 5: 7-6, 6-4, 2-6, 6-7, 6-3.
Steen: Shapovalov is a solid and sometimes flashy player, but Chardy is tough to face on grass and his form is strong at the moment. The relatively under-the-radar French veteran should be favored and prevail in this match against the big-hitting Canadian–who could be a top 10 standout in the near future. Chardy in 4: 6-4, 3-6, 7-6, 7-5.
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Matthew Ebden vs. (10) David Goffin
Ricky: Goffin missed the grass-court swing last year due to injury, which means he has played just one official match on grass since Wimbledon in 2016 (a Queen’s Club first-round loss to Feliciano Lopez a few weeks ago). Ebden, on the other hand, finished runner-up at the Surbiton Challenger, reached the semifinals in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, and advanced to the Halle quarters before falling to Roger Federer 7-6(2), 7-5. The Aussie’s game works perfectly on grass and should allow him to keep points short against a baseline grinder in Goffin. Sound the upset alert. Ebden in 5: 3-6, 6-1, 4-6, 7-6, 6-2.
Steen: Goffin has never lost to the journeyman Ebden in their previous meetings, but on grass that could change. Goffin lost his only warmup match on grass prior to Wimbledon, while Ebden has been improving greatly–with most of his best results coming on grass this year. I’ll back the upset and have Goffin exiting early. Ebden in 4: 6-2, 5-7, 7-6, 6-2.
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(29) Marco Cecchinato vs. Alex De Minaur
Ricky: Cecchinato had played only one grass-court match of any kind in his entire career prior to this season. The French Open semifinalist somehow won two matches in Eastbourne, but he obviously remains a novice on this surface. De Minaur has played plenty of grass-court Challengers in his young career and he just won one in Nottingham. The Aussie’s aggressive style clearly works well on the green stuff, to the extent that Cecchinato may be lucky to even take set. De Minaur in 4: 6-7, 6-3, 6-4, 6-0.
Steen: Even though he made the semis in Eastbourme, this feels like the wrong surface for the suddenly seeded Cecchinato. De Minaur has been a star on grass and he’s looking set to perhaps serve as a dark horse during this tournament. A win for Cecchinato would surprise me–despite the rankings difference that is in the Italian’s favor. De Minaur in 3: 6-4, 7-6, 6-3.
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