Wimbledon 2023 preview: The best potential matches

Wimbledon Round of 16

Carlos Alcaraz versus Alex de Minaur

De Minaur proved how dangerous he could be on grass when he made it to the Queen’s Club final last week before falling to Alcaraz 6-4 6-4. But the match was well-played and not much separated the plays except for a couple of breaks by Alcaraz. De Minaur moves well enough and serves well enough to beat Alcaraz, or nearly anyone else, on grass.

Frances Tiafoe versus Holger Rune

Tiafoe is on a relative hot streak and while he did crash out in the second round of the Queen’s Club, he had just won a grass court tournament at Stuttgart a couple of days before. He has the athleticism to give anyone fits. Rune has played just seven matches on grass at the tour level, but he is one of the young stars of the game.

Wimbledon quarterfinals

Iga Swiatek versus Coco Gauff

Isn’t it difficult to believe that Coco Gauff is still only 19 years old? Heck, Swiatek is only 22 years old. Basically, ladies’ tennis is in great shape for years. And Gauff has moved up to 7th in the rankings and has the movement it takes to win on grass. Meanwhile, Swiatek is still learning how to win on grass herself.

Elena Rybakina versus Ons Jabeur

This should be a great battle. Both players have steely nerves and never give up. This might be a three-set match that lasts four hours. This would also be a matchup of last year’s finals which Rybakina won 3-6 6-2 6-2.

Alcaraz versus Rune

See above for this one for the fact that two of the younger and greater talents of men’s tennis will meet too early at Wimbledon. In a few years, this might be the matchup in the finals. And for several more after that.

Jannik Sinner versus Casper Ruud

Sinner has the game to be a multi-major champion, but he struggles with consistency. Casper Rudd has been to three major finals in the last year but hasn’t won one yet. One of these guys is going to win a Grand Slam soon so it’ll be good to see this matchup at Wimbledon.