Alex Mann is back with his daily Wimbledon writings. Here are his Wimbledon 2023 Day 3 Predictions. Who do think will win today?
WIMBLEDON 2023 DAY 3 PREDICTIONS
The only winner on Day 2 of The Championships was the rain. SW19 had to use the roofs on Centre and Court 1 as a mere eight matches were completed.
Day 3 looks to be a busy day as the tournament organizers look to juggle first and second-round matches. Here’s what’s in store today at SW19. You can check out some tennis betting sites here or the Wimbledon live scores.
Centre Court
Daria Kasatkina (11) vs Jodie Burrage
Jodie Burrage’s first-round match at last year’s tournament was remembered for her generous act, when she gave her Percy Pig sweets to an ill ball boy. This year, however, her first-round match will be remembered as her first win at the All England Club. The Brit performed excellently to beat tricky American, Caty McNally, 6-1, 6-3. With the win, Burrage will join fellow Brit inside the world’s top 100. The home crowd will be right behind Burrage as she looks to continue her run against Daria Kasatkina. The world number 10 is in fine form, having reached the Eastbourne final last week and is a former Wimbledon quarter-finalist. Kasatkina will look to use her heavy topspin forehand and craftiness to keep the Brit off balance and out of her hitting zone. Burrage won’t make this easy for Kasatkina, but I expect the Russian to prevail.
Prediction – Kasatkina to win in 2 sets
Iga Swiatek (1) vs Sara Sorribes Tormo
The world number 1 faces Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo in the second round. Swiatek looked impeccable in her first-round match against Lin Zhu, dropping only four games. Sorribes Tormo matched Swiatek, losing only four games as well, but will need to play her best tennis to challenge the Pole. This should be a relatively easy win for Swiatek.
Prediction – Swiatek to win in 2 sets
Novak Djokovic (2) vs Jordan Thompson
There were no signs of rust from the defending champion as he convincingly took apart Pedro Cachin in the first round. Jordan Thompson’s first-round victory couldn’t have been any different. The Australian came back from two sets down to beat youngster Brandon Nakashima in five sets. Thompson is an experienced grasscourt player and is a great mover on the surface. If he were up against almost anyone else in the draw, I would say he would give them a run for their money. However, his opponent is arguably one of the best movers we have ever seen in the sport and is undoubtedly the current best on this surface.
Prediction – Djokovic to win in 3 sets
Court 1
Daniil Medvedev (3) vs Arthur Fery
The former world number 1 will square off against wildcard Arthur Fery in the first-round. Medvedev will be looking for a deep run this fortnight after two early exits at the Australian Open and Roland Garros. The Russian has had success on grass, having won one title on the surface and reached the fourth round of the Wimbledon in 2021. Ferry, ranked 386, is making his major debut and this will be a good experience for him in front of a home crowd. Medvedev’s game is world-class, so it will be just too good for the Brit.
Prediction – Medvedev in 3 sets
Barbora Krejcikova (10) vs Heather Watson
The defending Wimbledon doubles champion Krejcikova faces Brit Heather Watson in the first-round after their match was delayed due to yesterday’s rain. Krejcikova reached the final of Birmingham two weeks later, losing out to Ostapenko so is in very good form. She’s also won the doubles title at SW19 on two occasions, so knows how to play well on the grass. Watson made a super run at last year’s tournament reaching the fourth-round, her best ever major result. The Brit won’t make it easy for the Czech and will use the home crowd to her advantage. However, Krejcikova’s silky game will be too strong for Watson.
Prediction – Krejcikova in 2 sets
Jannik Sinner (8) vs Diego Schwartzman
Sinner cleaned the floor with Juan Manuel Cerundolo, losing only six games. The number 1 Italian now faces former world number 8 Diego Schwartzman. Schwartzman has had an inconsistent year and struggled for match wins but had an impressive first-round win over Miomir Kecmanovic. Sinner’s groundstrokes are effective on the grass and will use them to good effect against the Argentine.
Prediction – Sinner to win in 3 sets
Matches to watch
Maria Sakkari (8) vs Marta Kostyuk
Due to yesterday’s rain delay, this mouth-watering first-round encounter has been rescheduled and will now be played today. Sakkari reached the semi-final of the grass-court tournament in Berlin, so has form leading into this match. Kostyuk, now 21, has struggled for consistency after her breakthrough at the 2018 Australian Open as a 15-year-old. However, the Ukrainian is a solid grass-court player and has the game to upset the Greek. I’m going with Kostyuk to cause the upset.
Prediction – Kostyuk to win in 3 sets
Karolina Muchova (16) vs Jule Niemeier
Another match which has been rescheduled due to yesterday’s rain delay.
The recent French Open finalist and two-time Wimbledon quarter-finalist, Karolina Muchova goes up against last year’s semi-finalist, Jule Niemeier. Muchova will need to use her variety and exquisite volleys to keep Niemeier off balance. If not, the German has the game to overpower the Czech.
Prediction – Muchova to win in two sets
Mirra Andreeva vs Xiyu Wang
The sixteen-year-old sensation Mirra Andreeva is taking the tennis world by storm. She qualified for last month’s Roland Garros and made the third round. Barely outside the world’s top 100, Andreeva has continued her impressive wins, qualifying for this year’s Wimbledon. She now faces 22-year-old Xiyu Wang who has yet to win a match at The All England Club. I expect the Russian to excel this fortnight.
Prediction – Andreeva to win in 2 sets
Elise Mertens (28) vs Elina Svitolina
The 28th seed, Elise Mertens, faces Elina Svitolina. Svitolina dispatched Venus Williams in the first-round while Mertens defeated Viktoria Kuzmova. Both players have grass-court pedigree with Mertens reaching the fourth-round of the tournament in 2019 and 2022 while Svitolina reached the semi-final stage in 2019. This will be an intriguing match and could go either way.
Prediction – Svitolina to win in 3 sets
Donna Vekic (20) vs Shuai Zhang
Having been on tour since 2012, the 27-year-old Vekic is arguably having her best season yet. She reached the quarter-final of this year’s Australian Open and lost out in the final of the grass-court event in Berlin to Kvitova two weeks ago. Although Vekic faces an early test against Shuai Zhang who reached the quarter-final stage of Wimbledon in 2019. I think the Croat’s game will be too strong.
Prediction – Vekic to win in 2 sets
