Third round singles action commences on Friday.
In the last round, Emma Raducanu took out 2023 champion Marketa Vondrousova in straight sets on Centre Court. In the third round, Emma returns to the sport’s greatest court to face another fellow Major champion, in World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka. Can the Brit pull off an even bigger win on Friday?
Day 5 also offers some compelling matchups in gentlemen’s singles. Two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz plays Jan-Lennard Struff, in what has been quite an epic rivalry between the two. Taylor Fritz faces a third consecutive tricky draw in Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who has a winning record against the American. And in a battle between two of the sport’s best South Americans, Brazil’s Joao Fonseca takes on Chile’s Nicolas Jarry.
Plus, Major champs Madison Keys and Naomi Osaka will also be in action.
Throughout the tournament, this preview will analyze the day’s four most prominent matches, while highlighting the other notable matches on the schedule. Thursday’s play begins at 11:00am local time.
Taylor Fritz (5) vs. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (26) – 1:30pm on Centre Court
Fritz has already endured a pair of five-setters, over two big-serving threats in Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard and Gabriel Diallo. And just last week, Taylor contested a trio of three-setters on his way to winning the final in Eastbourne for the fourth time. So he surely enjoyed a day of rest on Thursday after playing six out of the previous seven days. The 27-year-old is a two-time Wimbledon quarterfinalist, but has his sights set on advancing further this year in an open quarter of the draw.
One of those three-setters Fritz played in Eastbourne was against Davidovich Fokina, which saw Taylor prevail 6-1 in the third during the semifinals. That was Alejandro’s first event since getting married after Roland Garros, and after withdrawing from Queen’s Club to seemingly extend his honeymoon when he drew Alcaraz in the opening round. Like Fritz, Davidovich Fokina already played a match extended across two days, as he returned to court on Thursday to complete a four-set victory over Botic van de Zandschulp.
Ale leads their head-to-head 3-2, with two of those wins coming on clay, and the other on a hard court. Taylor’s win from last week is their only prior encounter on their surface. With Fritz’s serve being the biggest weapon on the court, and having already claimed two grass court titles this past month, Taylor should be favored to advance.
Carlos Alcaraz (2) vs. Jan-Lennard Struff – Not Before 3:00pm on Centre Court
Following a tumultuous first round on Day 1 against Fabio Fognini, Alcaraz recovered nicely to win in straights on Day 3, though he was also facing a player ranked 733rd in the world. That extended Carlitos’ win streak to 20 matches, the longest of his career, and it was his tour-leading 44th win of the season. Alcaraz has not lost in nearly three months, when he injured himself during the final of Barcelona.
Struff upset the 25th seed, Felix Auger-Aliassime, in another match that was brought back to be completed on Thursday. This equals the 35-year-old German’s best result at The Championships, a round in which he is 0-3 lifetime. And Jan-Lennard arrived at The All England Club with little form, and a tour-level record of just 7-15 this year.
However, he’s always played well against Alcaraz. Struff defeated him in their first meeting, four years ago at Roland Garros. And even though he’s lost their last three contests, all three went the distance. That includes a five-setter at this same event back in 2022, as well as the championship match in Madrid back in 2023. So while Alcaraz is of course the favorite, their shared history tells us this could be another complicated round for the reigning Wimbledon and Roland Garros champ.
Nicolas Jarry (Q) vs. Joao Fonseca – Third on No.2 Court
Despite a definitive lack of experience on this surface, Fonseca has already earned two impressive victories this week, over Jacob Fearnley and Jenson Brooksby. He’s now 28-11 on the year at all levels, and 15-10 at tour level. In just his third Major appearance, the 18-year-old is vying to reach the fourth round of a Slam for the first time.
Jarry was a hugely surprising finalist a year ago in Rome, but he’s struggled to win matches ever since, with a record of 11-25. However, he scored a significant upset in the first round over eighth-seeded Holger Rune, and backed that up with a straight-set win over Learner Tien. Similar to Joao, Nico owns an aggressive serve and forehand, though his movement around the court is not as swift as the teenager’s.
In their first career meeting, Jarry will need to serve well and keep the rallies shorter, as the longer the point goes, the more that favors Fonseca. And after betting against Joao in his first two matches, and watching him defeat more experienced grass court players, I’m not betting against Fonseca again on Friday. I like the young phenom to make his debut in the round of 16 at a Major.
Aryna Sabalenka (1) vs. Emma Raducanu – Last on Centre Court
Just like Alcaraz, Sabalenka leads the tour with 44 match wins this year. She won both of her first two rounds in straights, and now focuses on reaching the fourth round at her 11th consecutive Major.
Raducanu returned serve extremely well in the last round against Vondrousova, and her deep groundstrokes drew many errors off the 2023 champion. She’s now 18-13 this season, and 9-3 at Wimbledon, where the 22-year-old has advanced to the round of 16 in two of her three prior appearances. However, as per Tennis Abstract, Emma is 0-7 lifetime against the top four.
One of those losses came against Sabalenka, who defeated her in straights last March at Indian Wells. And while the Centre Court audience will surely be vociferous in their support for the Brit, it would be most surprising if Raducanu could pull off the upset over the World No.1. Aryna should be able to overpower Emma and dictate play rather comfortably.
Other Notable Matches on Friday:
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova vs. Naomi Osaka – Osaka is yet to drop a set, as she’s advanced to the third round of Wimbledon for the first time in seven years. Pavlyuchenkova eliminated the 31st seed, Ashlyn Krueger, in the last round. Naomi leads their head-to-head 2-1, though they haven’t played in over four years, and they’ve never played on grass.
Laura Siegemund vs. Madison Keys (6) – Keys survived a tough first round before defeating Olga Danilovic in straights on Wednesday, bringing her 2025 record to 32-9, and 13-1 at the Majors. Siegemund is the second-oldest woman in the Open Era to make her third round debut at The Championships, thanks to beating Peyton Stearns and Leylah Fernandez. These players split two previous meetings, all the way back in 2016, with Madison prevailing at this same event 6-3, 6-1.
Elise Mertens (24) vs. Elina Svitolina (14) – Svitolina has advanced to the quarterfinals or better in three of her last four appearances at SW19. She is 5-3 against Mertens, which includes a three-set victory two years ago at this same tournament.
Friday’s full Order of Play is here.
