Wimbledon 2024: Men's singles qualifying final round predictions ft. Richard Gasquet, David Goffin & Maxime Cressy
The fight for a coveted main-draw spot at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships has entered its final leg with the last round of qualifiers set to be played out on Thursday, June 27.
Proceedings at the 127th edition of the famed grasscourt championships kicked off on Monday, June 24, with the likes of Richard Gasquet, David Goffin, Maxime Cressy, and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, among others all vying for a spot in the main draw. There have been no big shocks just yet with all the seeds making it safely through.
With plenty of action in store for fans in the lead-up to the real deal, here's a look at the predictions for a few of those matches.
#3 Maxime Cressy vs Felipe Alves
Maxime Cressy of America and Felipe Alves of Brazil will battle it out in the third and final round of qualifying on Thursday, June 27, for a coveted berth in the 2024 Wimbledon Championships main draw.
The towering American kicked off his campaign in SW19 with an epic three-set 6-7 (3), 6-3, 7-5 comeback victory against Marc-Andrea Husler in the opening round. Up against twenty-first seed Thiago AgustÃn Tirante in the second round, Cressy this time wrapped up the match in straight sets 7-6 (9), 6-3.
Alves, on the contrary, has been in scintillating form in the qualifiers and is yet to drop a set. He drubbed Illya Marchenko in his opener in straight sets 6-2, 6-4. Another dominant 7-6 (3), 6-4 victory against Joris De Loore followed in the second round.
Cressy walks into the encounter the favorite to go through despite not being in as good form as his opponent. The American's grass court prowess and dominant serve should see him over the line. However, Alves has been in fine form recently and has scarcely given his opponents any free points. He could pull off another surprise if he continues to attack the same way he has this week.
Pick: Cressy in straight sets.
#2 David Goffin vs Mattia Bellucci
Former World No. 7 David Goffin is set to lock horns with Italian youngster Mattia Bellucci for a spot in the 2024 Wimbledon Championships main draw.
The Belgian veteran has scarcely featured on the men's tour this season. He lost his opening match on the grass in 's-Hertogenbosch to Luca Nardi in straight sets. Choosing to compete at the Ilkley challenger the following week, Goffin played some of his best tennis en route to the title, beating Harold Mayot 6-4, 6-2 in the summit clash.
Heading into SW19 with a 3-9 W/L record this season, Goffin opened with a routine 6-3, 6-1 victory over Marc Polmans in the first round. He then raced past Yasutaka Uchiyama in the second round 7-6(4), 6-4.
Bellucci, meanwhile, kicked off his campaign in the British capital with a hard-fought 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (12) comeback victory against thirty-first seed Duje Ajdukovic in the first round. A more dominant display in the second round against Bernabe Zapata Miralles helped him set up a 7-6 (3) 6-3 win.
Goffin should seal the win against the lesser experienced Belluci in what is the first encounter between the pair. The Belgian's all-round grass court play coupled with his frequent approaches to the net should see him move safely through.
Pick: Goffin in three sets.
#1 Richard Gasquet vs Vit Kopriva
French veteran Richard Gasquet will square off against Vit Kopriva in what is set to be the first meeting between the pair.
Seeded twentieth heading into the qualifiers, Gasquet opened with a 6-2, 7-6 (8) win over local favorite Oliver Crawford in the first round. He played some lights-out tennis in his second-round encounter against Alexis Galarneau, dropping just one game en route to a commanding 6-1, 6-0 win in just 49 minutes.
Kopriva, on the contrary, has been taken to the distance in both his matches so far in the qualifiers. He plowed through his opener against Henri Squire, coming back from a one-set deficit to eventually seal a 4-6, 7-6 (1), 6-4 win. He passed another stern test against Hugo Dellien in the second round, with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 win.
Gasquet enters the contest the firm favorite to go through given his vast experience on the grass and all his exploits on the surface over the years. He has also been in great knick recently and has been incredibly hard to stop on serve. Kopriva will not only have to make early inroads on the Frenchman's serve but will also have to solid on his serve if he is to sneak through with a win.
Pick: Gasquet to win in straight sets.