Wimbledon 2018: Men's singles draw preview and analysis

FOURTH QUARTER

The World No 1 Rafael Nadal will look to better his records at SW19

Projected quarter-final #2 Rafael Nadal vs #5 Juan Martin Del Potro

The two-time Wimbledon champion Rafael Nadal has not had the best of outings at the All England Club lately. The Spaniard has not made it beyond the fourth round at SW19 in recent years, but The 2018 French Open Champ is certainly riding a wave of confidence and will try going the distance at the championships.

The Spaniard has been handed a fair draw. An easy opening round in the form of Dudi Sela for the World No. 1 should set things rolling for Nadal. Vasek Pospisil could be his second round opponent while Marco Cecchinato, a potential third-round opponent, should be the one to watch out for. The Italian Cecchinato has been mighty impressive this season, making the semis at Roland Garros and Eastbourne. But he needs to tackle Mischa Zverev first who has the credentials to oust the Italian.

Deigo Schwarzman or the dangerous Fabio Fognini will look to pose a threat to the World No 1 in the Round of 16. But Nadal looks hungry at present and will not give up easily. A quarter-final meeting with the Tower of Tandil, the Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro, looks to be the most interesting clash in this quarter.

Del Potro, who is equipped with a lofty serve and a blistering forehand, can challenge the toughest men on tour. But it is surprising that the 2013 semi-finalist has not made it past the fourth round at the Championships in recent years. The Acapulco and Indian Wells champ has also made the semis in Miami and the French Open, and this confidence could help him tide through.

The Argentine begins his campaign at the All England Club against Peter Gojowczyk. A second-round meeting with Feliciano Lopez is also on the cards for Del Potro. Lopez is playing his 66th straight Grand Slam Main draw heading into the championships at the All England Club.

Del Potro could face the unseeded Andy Murray in the third round. Murray is jostling to stage an impactful comeback after staying away for a year with a hip injury. He did play some great tennis at the Queen’s club and Eastbourne, but the fact remains that he has a monumental task at hand if he really wants to make a dent at the Championships.

The Brit, now ranked No 156, opens against the very unpredictable Benoit Paire. The Frenchman made it to the fourth round at Wimbledon in 2017 and managed to scare Roger Federer in Halle last week.

If at all Murray gets past Paire, he could possibly face either Denis Shapovalov or Jeremy Chardy in the second round and meet Del Potro or Lopez in the third. The winner from this section will most probably meet David Goffin in the round of 16. But Goffin opens against Mathew Ebden and has not had much preparation heading into the grass-court Major. He bowed out in the opening round at Queens where he was defeated by Feliciano Lopez.

Rafael Nadal in my opinion looks likely to make the semis from this section despite the strength of the other pla.

Let us sit back and watch the action unfold as the Rolex keeps ticking and taking us into the timeless treat of a tennis extravaganza.