There is play on Middle Sunday at Wimbledon now, but for all intents and purposes the start of the fourth round is when the prestigious “Week 2” of this tournament begins. Among those taking the court and aiming for spots in the semifinals are Carlos Alcaraz, Taylor Fritz, Andrey Rublev, Aryna Sabalenka, and Amanda Anisimova.
Here are my previews and picks for two of the best fourth-round matchups.
(14) Andrey Rublev vs. (2) Carlos Alcaraz
With upsets abounding at the All-England Club, just one all-seeded matchup is taking place in the bottom half of the men’s draw. It’s Alcaraz and Rublev, who will be facing each other for the fourth time in their careers. The Spaniard has won two of their three previous encounters, with both of his victories coming at the Nitto ATP Finals (2023 and 2024). Rublev’s success came at the 2023 Rome Masters, where he prevailed 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Another upset is unlikely, but Rublev should like his chances of being competitive. It is no surprise that the Russian is in resurgent form at Wimbledon, because he does like this tournament. He reached the quarterfinals in 2023 and also advanced to round four in 2021. So far this fortnight he has ousted Laslo Djere, Lloyd Harris, and Adrian Mannarino–looking especially impressive against Mannarino. Meanwhile, Alcaraz has already lost three sets in his title defense–two at the hands of Fabio Fognini and one to Jan-Lennard Struff. The world No. 2 should advance, but it may not be easy.
Pick: Alcaraz in 4
(5) Taylor Fritz vs. Jordan Thompson
Fritz had one of the most notable first weeks in SW19. The 27-year-old American faced two of the toughest unseeded opponents in rounds one and two in Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard and Gabriel Diallo, respectively. Fritz overcame Mpetshi Perricard 6-7(6), 6-7(8), 6-4, 7-6(6), 6-4 before beating Diallo 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(0), 4-6, 6-3. He then got past Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-4, 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-1. The world No. 5 is on a seven-match winning streak dating back to his fourth Eastbourne crown and he is 11-1 on grass in 2025.
Up next for Fritz is a fourth meeting with Thompson, who the head-to-head series 2-1 (1-1 on the main tour). Fritz won 6-3, 6-3 at the 2023 Washington, D.C. event before Thompson prevailed 6-4, 6-3 last summer on the grass courts of Queen’s Club. Due to both injuries and poor play, expectations were not high for the 31-year-old Aussie coming into this fortnight. However, a favorable draw proved to be just what the doctor ordered. Thompson has defeated Vit Kopriva, Benjamin Bonzi, and Luciano Darderi, but needing 14 total sets against those opponents is not exactly encouraging. Fritz will present a much, much different test.
Pick: Fritz in 3
Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand. You can follow him on Twitter at @Dimonator.