A promising showdown is coming your way on Friday, when former French Open champion Stan Wawrinka goes head-to-head with Juan Martin Del Potro in the second round of the 2016 Wimbledon Championships. This marks the sixth meeting between these two proven stars, and it’ll be interesting to see if Del Potro, who has won the last three bouts with the Swiss, can get the better out of Wawrinka once again.
Read on below for more information about this matchup. And while you’re at it, click here and check out our preview of another second-round duel between Andy Murray and Yen-Hsun Lu.
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Stan Wawrinka’s chances of advancing to the third round are in serious jeopardy. He will not just be facing Juan Martin Del Potro—a man who has bested him in their previous three confrontations—but he is also looking to redeem himself from an unusually poor performance during Tuesday’s opening-round match with Taylor Fritz.
The two-time Grand Slam champion had to use every ounce of his talent and experience to finally dispose of the gutsy 18-year-old American in four hard-fought sets (7-6(4), 6-1, 6-7(2), 6-4). Wawrinka finished that match having won 81 percent of his first serve points and 69 percent of his second serve points, while also blasting in a total of 48 winners and six aces.
Despite being mightily challenged in the first round, it’s fair to say that Wawrinka is still favored to win. The Swiss’ confidence on grass courts has considerably grown ever since adding former Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek into his coaching staff earlier this month.
However, it remains to be seen on how much progress or improvement that the 31-year-old veteran has truly made. Maybe everyone, including Wawrinka himself, can finally find that out later.
Wawrinka is 8-2 in his last 10 matches overall. He is also appealingly priced at +1,400 to win it all in London.
It’s good to see Juan Martin Del Potro back at Wimbledon after a two-year absence. He’s been unfortunately nagged by a bunch of wrist problems throughout his entire career. But during Tuesday’s first-round drubbing of France’s Stephane Robert, it seems like the Argentine is back in full force.
Del Potro took control of the match right from the start through his powerful swings, and he has the stats to prove it. The 2009 U.S. Open champion converted 91 percent of his first serve points and 19 of his 25 net points, while also smashing in a total of 30 winners.
If Del Potro sustains this kind of form and more importantly has his forehands and big serves working for him again, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise to see him pull off an upset over Stan Wawrinka.
Delpo, who is 3-2 all-time versus the Swiss man, has won four of his last six matches on grass this year.
Writer’s Prediction
Delpo (+125) gets the upset after four thrilling sets.
