Thursday's Wimbledon predictions: Basilashvili can follow up big upset win
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Recommended bets:
- Nikoloz Basilashvili to beat Lorenzo Sonego
- Grigor Dimitrov to beat Corentin Moutet
- Pedro Martinez to beat Mariano Navone
- Clara Tauson to beat Anna Kalinskaya
- Elisabetta Cocciaretto to win 2-0 vs Katie Volynets
Day four of Wimbledon sees Britain’s number one male, Jack Draper, taking on 2017 Wimbledon runner-up Marin Cilic, while in the women’s draw, 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina continues her challenge against Greek contender Maria Sakkari.
Draper should have the tools to dismantle Cilic, who turns 37 in September, but there are better value alternative bets to be had as the tournament approaches the second half of week one.
Lorenzo Sonego vs Nikoloz Basilashvili
Nikoloz Basilashvili delivered one of the shocks of day two with a four-set success over seventh seed Lorenzo Musetti and the veteran Georgian can continue his run by defeating another Italian, Lorenzo Sonego, in the second round.
Sonego started with a straight-sets win over Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria but he has not reached Wimbledon’s third round since 2022 and might struggle to get to grips with Basilashvili, who is a dangerous player (formerly a world number 16) who seems to have returned to form.
Grigor Dimitrov vs Corentin Moutet
Grigor Dimitrov is into his mid-thirties but he has reached the fourth round on his last two visits to Wimbledon and can maintain his involvement this year with a victory over inconsistent Frenchman Corentin Moutet.
The Bulgarian number one has a game well suited to grass and was a Wimbledon semi-finalist in 2014.
He should have too much court craft and experience for Moutet, who has never advanced beyond Wimbledon’s second round.
Pedro Martinez vs Mariano Navone
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Pedro Martinez passed a tricky first-round test against big-serving British wild card George Loffhagen — winning 2-6 6-2 6-4 6-2 — and he can go a step further by defeating Mariano Navone.
The markets favour Navone, a surprise first-round winner over Denis Shapovalov, but the value selection is Martinez, who is ranked 39 places higher.
Clara Tauson vs Anna Kalinskaya
Clara Tauson struggled with the heat during her 2-6 6-4 6-3 first-round win over Briton Heather Watson but the big-hitting Dane has scope to improve and can pass a tougher test against Anna Kalinskaya.
Both players have a high quality game, but there are fitness doubts over Kalinskaya, who has struggled with injuries this year.
Katie Volynets vs Elisabetta Cocciaretto
Elisabetta Cocciaretto delivered a superb performance in Tuesday’s 6-2 6-3 triumph over third seed Jessica Pegula and she can stay on the winning trail.
Cocciaretto’s level should be too high for her second-round opponent Katie Volynets, who lost at the first attempt in warm up events at Nottingham and Eastbourne and is likely to suffer a straight-sets setback.
