Scott Ferguson previews the action from Wimbledon on Wednesday with two strong fancies picked out.
Guido Pella v Roberto Bautista-Agut
A tough match to pick here between two players you'd never have picked to meet in the second week at Wimbledon.
Guido Pella showed tremendous stamina to overcome Milos Raonic 8-6 in the fifth on Monday from 0-2 down, while Roberto Bautista-Agut continued his domination of Benoit Paire.
Bautista-Agut is the player better suited to any surface while Pella should be limited to clay, but he obviously has not read the script.
With the slate standing at 2-0 to the Spaniard, it's easy to think this will be a walk in the park again. The last time they met in Munich two months ago, the match was interrupted several times by rain and after a tight battle early, the Argentine just lost his patience and collapsed in the final set.
But something has really clicked for Pella this time in London and I think this one can live up to the hopes of it being the closest match of the day.
Best bet: 1pt Over 35.5 games in Pella v Bautista-Agut at 4/5
Kei Nishikori v Roger Federer
Just one set apiece dropped by this pair after four rounds: Roger Federer dropped the very first set of his tournament, while Kei Nishikori needed four sets on Monday against Mikhail Kukushkin.
The h2h stands at 7-3 in favour of Federer, with Nishikori winning two matches back in 2013/14 and their last meeting at the ATP Finals last November.
At 37 years of age, Federer is a marvel. In 13 sets so far he has offered just eight break points and been broken only twice. Naturally, none of his opponents to date have been in the league of Nishikori, the world number seven who bases his strategy around his ground game.
Twenty years of pinpoint accuracy on serve at Wimbledon has delivered 100 match wins for Federer, and his pressure on the opponent's serve this fortnight has ruthlessly converted 60% of break point opportunities.
Nishikori has been broken by each of his opponents so far this event, and in the first three rounds without saving any break points. He cannot afford lapses in concentration like that and against Federer his opportunities will be few and far between. To concede them at the other end soon after will soon put an end to his chances and I fear that is the way the match is likely to go.
Federer only gets beaten by ace machines or absolute champions at Wimbledon. He is just too good on grass, and by enough of a margin here to cover the games handicap line.
Best bet: 1pt Federer -6.5 games v Nishikori at evens
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