Wimbledon Day 3 Preview: Jannik Sinner vs. Matteo Berrettini, Naomi Osaka vs. Emma Navarro, Gael Monfils vs. Stan Wawrinka

Naomi Osaka vs. Emma Navarro

Centre Court isn’t often the site of a match between two players who are (a) ranked outside the Top 15, and (b) have never done much at Wimbledon before. But credit the schedulers, because this is a potentially intriguing first meeting between two talented and very different players.

Osaka, 26, will bring the power, while Navarro, 23, will bring everything else—the touch, the slice, the speed, the point construction. Who will be aided or hurt more by the grass? The player with the pace, or the player with the quickness, both of which are typically prerequisites for success on the surface?

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The match will likely rest on Osaka’s racquet; she can win or lose it with her own swings alone. But Navarro has shown this year that she can handle big hitters—including Aryna Sabalenka—and find ways to disrupt them and make them uncomfortable. She’s not above a moon ball or two when necessary.

Osaka is improving, and she may be more comfortable on a stage like Centre Court. But Navarro has had the better season, and has made a habit of surprising us. Winner: Navarro

Jannik Sinner vs. Matteo Berrettini

The mast match in Centre will be the marquee contest of the second round: Italian vs. Italian, teammate vs. teammate, Wimbledon title contender vs. Wimbledon title contender. When Berrettini’s name came up in Sinner’s post-match interview on Monday, an “Oooooohhhhh” went across the stadium. Anticipation is high.

They’ve played once before, last summer on hard courts in Canada, and Sinner won 6-4, 6-3. Since then, he has only left his countryman farther behind, rising to No. 1 in the world while Berrettini has been felled by injury after injury. But this may be the one surface where the older man has a decent chance. Berrettini was a Wimbledon finalist in 2021, and, despite his injuries, he seems to pick up right where left off on the surface each summer.

The return of serve will be key. Both guys have strong serves, and breaks will be at a premium. We know Sinner is superior once a point starts, but he’ll need his return to be sharp to get those rallies going. Judging by how well he’s played, and how well he’s handled every pressure situation he’s face over the last eight months, I’ll pick him to handle this one, too. Winner: Sinner

Gael Monfils vs. Stan Wawrinka

One for the aged, and a late hurrah for two colorful figures from the Big 3 era. Wawrinka-Monfils are a combined 76 years old (Stan is 39, Gael 37): they both made their Wimbledon debuts in 2005; and they have 572 and 557 wins, respectively. Curiously, though, they’ve only faced each other six times in their two decades on tour together. They’re 3-3.

Monfils has always been known for his acrobatic play, and Wawrinka for his one-handed backhand hammer blow. Neither wins as much as he once did, and both of their bodies have been surgically repaired in multiple places. But they can be as spectacular as ever on the right day.

Monfils is (slightly) younger and has retained more of his athleticism. Wawrinka is the better competitor. One thing they’ve never done in their long careers is play a five-set match against each other. Seems about time, right? Winner: Wawrinka