By Chris Oddo | Tuesday July 3, 2018

 

Roger Federer and his Uniqlo gear are back in action on Day 3 of Wimbledon--here's what we'll be watching.

Photo Source: Camera Sport

Welcome to Wimbledon, where every day is a popcorn day. Here’s what we’ll be watching on Day 3 of the Championships.

[7] Karolina Pliskova vs. Victoria Azarenka

The sixth career meeting between Victoria Azarenka and Karolina Pliskova will be their first at a major, and it’s a difficult one to call. Azarenka has the far better record at Wimbledon (29-10), but Pliskova has been better on grass overall over the last two seasons (if you don’t count Wimbledon). Pliskova won the Eastbourne title in 2017 and reached the final in 2016, so she can clearly play on grass, but what gives at Wimbledon, where she is 5-6 and has never moved beyond the second round.

This will be a tremendous opportunity for both women, as this is for a third-round slot in perhaps the softest quarter of the ladies singles draw.

[31] Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. Jared Donaldson

Greek sensation Stefanos Tsitsipas has proven to be a quick study on the grass. He won his first main draw match at Wimbledon on Day 1 when he defeated Gregoire Barrere of France, and he can reach the third round of a major for the first time if he can get past American Jared Donaldson.

Donaldson was in the third round at Wimbledon last year, and he plays well on the grass. The American defeated Tsitsipas in their only previous meeting at Chengdu, in three sets last year.

Tsitsipas has been improving so rapidly that it’s difficult to say that he’s even the same player that he was last Autumn. Winner faces the Fabbiano-Wawrinka winner.

[1] Roger Federer vs. Lukas Lacko

The Uniqlo-clas Swiss Maestro will take on Slovakia’s Lukas Lacko for the third time on Day 3, with Federer bidding for his 174th career grass-court win, which would tie him with Jimmy Connors on the ATP’s Open Era grass-court win list.

Federer is 27-3 on the season and 92-11 lifetime at Wimbledon. He has only failed to get out of the second round once in his 19 Wimbledon appearances.

Lacko is 5-8 lifetime at Wimbledon and 15-31 lifetime at majors. This doesn’t promise to be a close match, but hey, it’s Roger Federer at Wimbledon—as must-see as it gets at Wimbledon.



Other Popcorn Encounters

Aga Radwanska takes on Lucie Safarova in an old-school battle on No.2 Court. Radwanska saved six match points in the first round against Elena-Gabriela Ruse and has saved 11 match points en route to victories in each of her last three Wimbledons…. Serena Williams continues her quest for title No.8 at Wimbledon when she faces Viktoriya Tomova on Centre Court…. Italy’s serve-and-volleying Paolo Lorenzi takes on the always entertaining Gael Monfils on No.3 Court. Could be fun.