How much of a favorite is Stefanos Tsitsipas over Andy Murray?
The two will tangle in Thursday's marquee match, third on Centre Court.
WATCH: Andy Murray, Made in Scotland
Our last Three to See featured a trio of must-see matches on Wednesday—none of which actually took place, due to rain. Read those previews here, before taking in our lookahead to Thursday's marquee match, Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. Andy Murray, on Centre Court.
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. Andy Murray
Third on Centre, right in time for afternoon tea: That has always been the favored place and time for Murray at Wimbledon over the years, and it will be again on Thursday. This time, the 36-year-old will need as much help as he can get, from every countryman and woman within earshot.
Tsitsipas is the fifth seed, he’s been to a Grand Slam final this season, and he’s 12 years younger than Murray. For those reasons, he’s the solid favorite. For other reasons, though, he’s not the overwhelming favorite.
Grass is Tsitsipas’ worst surface. He’s never past the fourth round at Wimbledon, and he won just one match in three grass tune-ups in June. Murray also beat him on it last year in Stuttgart. Perhaps worse for Tsitsipas, he’ll be coming in having just survived an intense five-set match against Dominic Thiem on Wednesday, while Murray will have had a full day’s rest. How much that will hurt a 24-year-old pro athlete is hard to say.
Murray knows where to go with the ball: Toward the Tsitsipas backhand. He knows that if he can build some early momentum and get the crowd as involved as possible, he can take a lead. And then he can hang on for dear life. Winner: Murray