Seeds Grigor Dimitrov and Ben Shelton will have no days off following five-setters in the Wimbledon second round. They have blockbuster Friday matchups on their hands with Gael Monfils and Denis Shapovalov, respectively.
(10) Grigor Dimitrov vs. Gael Monfils
Get your popcorn ready for a matchup between two of the tour’s beloved veterans. Dimitrov and Monfils will be squaring off for the sixth time in their careers and for the first time since 2016 when they finally meet again in the Wimbledon third round on Friday afternoon. Monfils is dominating the head-to-head series 4-1, including 2-0 at Grand Slams–both at the U.S. Open (2011 and 2014).
Four years his opponent’s junior, at 33 Dimitrov is playing some of the best tennis of his life. The Bulgarian is 31-10 this season with a title in Brisbane, runner-up showings in Marseille and Miami, and a quarterfinal performance at Roland Garros. So far at the All-England Club he has defeated Dusan Lajovic in straight sets and Jerry Shang from two sets down. Monfils did not have too much trouble with either Adrian Mannarino or Stan Wawrinka, improving to a decent 18-14 for his 2014 campaign. The 33rd-ranked Frenchman has never been great on grass, but his summer swing also includes a runner-up result last weekend in Mallorca. As well as Monfils is playing, Dimitrov is more comfortable on grass and in a best-of-five situation is far more reliable of the two from a physical standpoint.
Pick: Dimitrov in 4
Denis Shapovalov vs. (14) Ben Shelton
Shelton and Shapovalov have taken the circuitous route through the first week of Wimbledon, playing 18 total sets between them. The result is a blockbuster third-round showdown between two fiery left-handers on Friday. Each of Shelton’s first two matches went the distance, as the 14th-ranked American overcame Mattia Bellucci 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 and then battled past Lloyd Harris 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-7(5), 6-3, 7-6(10-7). He is looking to make a run at a third different slam, having reached the Australian Open quarterfinals and U.S. Open semis in 2023.
Shapovalov made quick work of Nicolas Jarry in his opener before holding off Daniel Altmaier 7-6(3), 6-3, 1-6, 6-7(3), 6-4. This is some much-needed success for the 25-year-old Canadian, who is struggling down at No. 121 in the world because of both injuries and general poor play. He is a mere 12-15 on the main tour this season. Grass gives the former Wimbledon semifinalist a chance, but he will have to serve extremely well because Shelton is clearly the superior all-court player right now.
Pick: Shelton in 5