TENNIS NEWS FROM LONDON – EVEN A REAL-LIFE DAVID VS. GOLIATH STORY AS MARCUS WILLIS TAKES ON ROGER FEDERER AT WIMBLEDON

Written by: Staff on 28th June 2016

TENNIS NEWS FROM LONDON - EVEN A REAL-LIFE DAVID VS. GOLIATH STORY AS MARCUS WILLIS TAKES ON ROGER FEDERER AT WIMBLEDON

epa05396708 Spectators during a rain break on the second day of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 28 June 2016 EPA/HANNAH MCKAY EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO COMMERCIAL SALES |

By Ricky Dimon

Roger Federer will be back in action at Wimbledon on Wednesday and his opponent is perhaps the unlikeliest of all in Marcus Willis, who registers outside the top 700 of the world rankings. Among those also in second-round action are Steve Johnson, Jeremy Chardy, David Ferrer and Nicolas Mahut.

Ricky previews and makes his predictions for three of the best men’s singles matches on Wednesday:

(3) Roger Federer vs. (Q) Marcus Willis

It will be one of Wimbledon’s greatest champions versus one of its most improbable underdogs when Federer and Willis clash in the second round on Wednesday. Prior to his arrival at the All-England Club, Willis had never played a match in the main draw of an ATP-level event. The 25-year-old Brit certainly was not expected to do that here and now, as he had to go through pre-qualifying just to get a wild card into the qualifying bracket. Willis accomplished that first mission, and the rest is history. The world No. 772, who has been pleasantly forced to rearrange his schedule teaching tennis lessons at a local club, reeled off three qualifying wins and then shocked Ricardas Berankis 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 on Monday.

Magic from Marcus Willis! The World No. 772 Brit @willbomb90 beats #Berankis to reach the @wimbledon R2! #ATP #tennis #Wimbledon #Willis – Photo by @atpworldtour via Instagram.

Federer began his fornight with a 7-6(5), 7-6(3), 6-3 victory over Guido Pella in which the Swiss did not face a single break point. He is looking to right the ship following consecutive semifinal defeats in Stuttgart (to Dominic Thiem) and Halle (to Alexander Zverev). If Willis was going to feel pressure, that would have happened either in the final round of qualifying or in the first round against Berankis. He has nothing to lose now–other than the match–and will likely entertain the fans with another good account of himself, but taking a set off the seven-time Wimbledon champion may be too much to ask.

Pick: Federer To Win in 3 [ dropping Only 11-14 games in all ]

Jeremy Chardy vs. Stevie Johnson

Johnson was in dire need of a hot streak when the 2016 calendar turned from May to June and it has come at exactly the right time, with Wimbledon now on the schedule and the U.S. Open Series on the horizon. Prior to Queen’s Club, the former University of Southern California standout had been a disastrous 6-14 at the ATP level this year. But he reached the quarters of that event and then captured his first career ATP title in Nottingham. Johnson had the misfortune of landing in the top half of the Wimbledon bracket so he enjoyed only one day of rest after Nottingham, but he got right back in gear to beat Malek Jaziri 7-5, 7-6(2), 6-4. He is not overly experienced on grass, but the world No. 29 possesses a big serve and forehand and he uses a wicked slice backhand that stays especially low on the lawn.

Up next for Johnson is a second career meeting with Chardy. They previously collided in Cincinnati qualifying five years ago, when the American won 7-6(9), 6-4. Johnson has only improved since then, whereas Chardy has plateaued at his typical ranking between 30th and 40th. Currently No. 34, the Frenchman took advantage of a rusty Gael Monfils to score a 6-7(4), 6-0, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory in the first round on Monday. Chardy, whose grass-court preparation included only an opening Queen’s Club setback against Jiri Vesely, is a mediocre10-8 lifetime at the All-England Club.

Pick: Johnson in 4

(10sBalls Pick Chardy in 5)

Nicolas Mahut vs. (13) David Ferrer

Ferrer and Mahut will be squaring off for the second time in their careers on Wednesday. Their only previous meeting came five years ago on the indoor hard courts of the Paris Masters, where Ferrer prevailed 6-4, 6-4. Mahut does not have home-court advantage this time, but he certainly has the benefit of a grass-court surface. All six of his ATP finals and all four of his titles have come on the slick stuff, including three titles in ‘s-Hertogenbosch–all within the last four seasons. Mahut, of course, is also famous for playing the longest match in the history of tennis against John Isner six years ago at the All-England Club.

David Ferrer of Spain returns to Dudi Sela of Israel during their first round match of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 27 June 2016. EPA/FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA

The 34-year-old opened on Monday with a 7-6(0), 6-4, 6-4 win over British wild card Brydan Klein, while Ferrer also got a favorable draw against grass-court novice Dudi Sela and rolled 6-2, 6-1, 6-1. Ferrer needs all the help he can get at the moment, as the Spaniard is just 23-13 this season and has dipped to No. 14 in the rankings. Following a routine fourth-round French Open exit at the hands of Tomas Berdych, Ferrer lost in the ‘s-Hertogenbosch quarterfinals to Gilles Muller and in the Halle opening round to Andreas Seppi. This is a prime opportunity for Mahut to issue a free grass-court lesson and pick up a big win over a top 15 opponent at a Grand Slam for the first time in his career.

Pick: Mahut in 4