It’s third-round matches on the schedule at the Championships and it looks like we’ll have some entertaining matches, here’s our preview and betting predictions for two of the best ones: Grigor Dimitrov vs. Matteo Berrettini and Frances Tiafoe vs. Alexander Bublik.
Grigor Dimitrov vs Matteo Berrettini
The standout match of the third round. Both of these players have had their share of significant injury setbacks lately and are currently ranked quite low compared to how good we know they can be.
This is the first time these two will face each other on grass, and they are currently locked at 1–1 in their career head-to-head. Their last meeting was 7 years ago so it’s not much to go on.
Berrettini, a former Wimbledon finalist, brings a massive serve that remains one of the hardest to break on these courts. The last round victory over Fils was impressive and he will be hard to stop. The serve will once again be important as both are great overall grass court players and in fine form. He’s a on a great 47-13 lifetime record on grass and we know he can go deep also in Slams.
The 35 year old Dimitrov finally seem to have find his best game following the heart-breaking injury here last year and he will be a threat to anyone on this surface. He reached this round from an impressive performance over Mensik in four sets. He’s also a great returner and has shown before he can deal with power-hitters by attacking their second serves.
Predictions: This will be a fun battle to watch and hard to predict. I think the Italians massive serve can once again be the edge and he finally looks more reliable physically. Berrettini to win in 4 or 5 sets.
Frances Tiafoe vs Alexander Bublik
This will be the fifth meeting between these two and they are deadlocked at 2–2 in their career series, with a 1–1 split specifically on grass. This meeting also looks very tight looking at the odds and their recent form.
Neither player has looked entirely comfortable in the opening rounds and they are quite unpredictable at times.
For Tiafoe, success will hinge on his ability to sustain intensity and not get drawn into Bublik’s chaotic rhythm. Bublik thrives when the game becomes unpredictable; he will use drop shots and erratic pace to keep the American off-balance. If Tiafoe can keep his first-serve percentage high he should have the baseline consistency for a slight edge.
Predictions: I predict they will win a lot of their service games and we will probably see at least one tie-break. Tiafoe has been in a great form under big parts of the grass season and I think he will grind out the win over five sets eventually.
