By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday July 6, 2023

 

After three days of rain interruptions, Wimbledon is getting back on track. See what's on tap for Day 5.

Photo Source: Getty

The draws are still a bit behind schedule after three days of rain to start the tournament, but things are looking a lot better after a busy Thursday.

Here’s a look at how things shape up for Friday at Wimbledon, and some notes on what we’ll be watching…



Here’s the Day 5 Order of Play

Stan v Nole, Episode 27

Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka have played their share of drama-filled contests at the Grand Slams, but until this week, the pair had never met at Wimbledon. That changes on Friday as 38-year-old Wawrinka, the oldest man remaining in the draw, faces the seven-time champion for the 27th time.

Djokovic has won 20 of those contests, but of the nine matches they have contested at the majors, he has only won five. In fact, Wawrinka has won the pair’s last three Grand Slam meetings, at the final of Roland-Garros in 2015, the final of the US Open in 2016, and then again in the round of 16 at Flushing Meadows in 2019.

All that said, the Swiss doesn’t think he is in there with a fighting chance: “There’s zero opportunity to win Wimbledon for me, I think,” the Swiss said after beating Tomas Martin Etcheverry. “I’m happy to have won today again. I think it was great match. I’m playing better each match, and as I say, I think it’s an honour to play Novak here.”

Iga rides momentum into round three

It has been an eye opening tournament thus far for Iga Swiatek. Considered to be way behind the power curve on the grass, she has reeled off five consecutive matches on the surface, and dropped just six games through two rounds at Wimbledon.

Extra time and preparation have served the World No.1 well on the grass, and she has closed the “perception gap” between herself and her two biggest rivals – Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina – considerably during week one. It will be interesting to see if she can keep it up against Croatia’s Petra Martic on Centre Court on Friday.

Sinner the third fave?

Jannik Sinner has vacated the place left by Nick Kyrgios (withdrawn) and Matteo Berrettini (still alive but as an afterthought due to undercooked status and injury) and emerged as a player with the potential to work his way into a showdown with Novak Djokovic in the semis.

The Italian has dropped 14 games through two rounds and looks forward to more domination against France’s Quentin Halys on Day 5.

It’s a golden opportunity for Sinner to get through to his first Grand Slam semifinal, as the only seeded player between himself and the last four is No.26-seeded Denis Shapovalov.

Petra Power?

We remember sitting courtside in 2018, when Aliaksandra Sasnovich handed Petra Kvitova a third-set bagel in the first round on No.1 Court at Wimbledon. It was yet another head-scratching performance from one of the best grass-court players of her generation at Wimbledon. Since 2014, when she won her second title at SW19, Kvitova has yet to return to a quarterfinal. She’s been to the round of 16 once. How? She’s too good on grass to put up those types of results for seven years running… perhaps this year will be the year it tilts back in her favor – if so she’ll need to take her revenge on Sasnovich tomorrow.

Match of the Day

Elina Svitolina vs Sofia Kenin is a third-round tilt that features to of the scrappiest women in tennis history. And both are on the comeback trail, with Svitolina finding her way as a mother, and Kenin finally clicking after a few years in the injury wilderness. Svitolina leads the head-to-head 3-2 but the pair have not met since 2019.



Stat of the Day

Madison Keys has reached the round of 16 at the majors 17 times in her career. That’s from 41 major appearances – a more than solid strike rate for the American, who will try to make it 18 against Viktorija Golubic on Friday.

You probably don’t want to miss

Denis Shapovalov vs. Liam Broady on No.2 Court – something tells us that match is going to be absolutely crazy. But you can’t go wrong with any of the singles tilts on tap for Friday. It’s going to be a beautiful day at Wimbledon – enjoy.