Wimbledon: day four betting preview & free tips

Second round
BBC1, BBC2, BBC red button, from 11am Thursday

Rafael Nadal and Nick Kyrgios clash at Wimbledon for the second time and if their last-64 rumble is anywhere as exciting as their first was on Centre Court in 2014, then it's a must-see match for tennis fans.

As would be expected for such a key match, the oddsmakers appear to have the vast majority of bases covered.

Even though world number two Nadal, seeded third at Wimble­don, has enjoyed an excellent preparation in London – he arrived their early last week – and is a past master at defeating classy opponents, sometimes in straight sets, it's a long time since he was doing that at Wimbledon.

Going over the games at the 38.5 mark is a definite option, but it may be wiser to side with Kyrgios.

The Canberra maverick, who has the potential to be the best player in the world, has defeated Nadal in three of their previous six meetings – and perhaps tellingly in three of their four fast-court meetings.

The fact that the courts are playing slower than normal for grass could suit Nadal, but at the age of 33 the Majorcan ace could find it tough trying to stick with Kyrgios.

The Aussie was giving the impression of being fatigued and short on fitness in his five-set first-round victory over compatriot and long-time tennis buddy Jordan Thompson.

That could be fake news. It's difficult to know what to believe with Kyrgios. He is just as likely to turn up and play a blinder against Nadal, as was the case when he pipped the Pearl of Manacor on an Acapulco hard court in February.

If Kyrgios progresses watch his outright price tumble, because it's perfectly feasible that there's nobody in his quarter of the draw capable of keeping tabs on the 24-year-old.

Anyone wishing to bet can consider backing Kyrgios with a handicap start of 5.5 games at 8-13, but there looks better value to be had elsewhere.

Siniakova v Konta

British tennis fans have every right to be hopeful for Johanna Konta's Wimbledon chances after her sterling effort in reaching the French Open semi-finals.

Having looked all at sea on clay in many of her previous WTA Tour campaigns, the penny looked to have dropped big-time this season for Konta, who also made the final in Rome in May.

Recent wins on grass for the Eastbourne ace over Anett Kontaveit in Edgbaston and Dayana Yastremska in her home town suggest Konta is definitely capable of mounting an earnest title tilt at Wimbledon, although later in those prep events she succumbed to Jelena Ostapenko and Ons Jabeur.

Of course, it's possible that in losing to Tunisian Jabeur in the last 16 at Devonshire Park, Konta may have been saving some of her energies for the London major.

Konta's opening win at the All England Club this year, a 7-5 6-2 triumph over Ana Bogdan, was achieved smoothly enough but she faces a potentially tougher test against Katerina Siniakova, a Czech who has the ingredients to become a highly successful top-ten performer.

Siniakova lost to Alison van Uytvanck and Margarita Gasparyan in her Majorca and Eastbourne openers, but the world number 38 showed there was not much wrong with her game when fighting back to defeat in-form Ekaterina Alexandrova 2-6-1 6-1 in her Wimbledon curtain-raiser.

Siniakova has looked a bit like a fish out of water in some of her previous visits to the third Grand Slam tournament, but as she matures it's reasonable to expect her performances there to improve.

And if and when that happens, it’s possible that Konta could struggle to dominate a seriously talented opponent.

Punters can consider backing Siniakova to win at least one set, but slight preference is for supporting the outsider with a handicap start of 4.5 games.

Recommendation
K Siniakova +4.5 games
1pt 4-5 Betfred, Paddy Power

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Querrey v Rublev

It's good to see Sam Querrey back winning a higher percentage of matches again, but the American may be made to toil by talented Andrey Rublev in their Wimbledon second-round clash.

Querrey reached the All England Club semi-finals in 2017, but the placid Californian has had a fairly quiet time of things since then.

He's a capable performer who will earn plenty of points with his big serve, as was the case in his 6-7 7-6 6-3 6-0 first-round win over fifth seed Dominic Thiem.

But while there isn't much wrong with his all-round game, Querrey can sometimes look a little wooden on court against decent opponents.

Rublev is a potentially high-class opponent who looks likely to go on to achieve great success.

A back injury slowed his progress considerably in the last 18 months, but things are looking brighter again for the Russian and it was no surprise that he defeated promising Chilean Cristian Garin, winner of clay titles in Houston and Munich in the spring, 4-6 6-4 7-5 6-4 in his Wimbledon opener.

Rublev is still only 21 – the world is his oyster if he can stay fit – and even at that tender age he looks capable of keeping tabs on the 31-year-old Querrey.

The match could well go long, so going over the total games can be considered. However, failing to side with talented individuals can often prove costly for punters and it may be wiser to back Rublev, who looks capable of winning at least a set and quite possibly more, with a handicap start of 5.5 games.

Recommendation
A Rublev +5.5 games
1pt 8-11 Betway

Millman v Djere

Australian players have generally been prospering on the grass in recent weeks and John Millman posted an easy 6-2 6-3 6-4 first-round win over Hugo Dellien, but the Bolivian novice still has a lot to learn about lawn tennis.

In the months leading up to Wimbledon, Millman was making heavy weather of his day job.

Of course, performing at his peak the 30-year-old would have claims of defeating Laslo Djere on grass with something in hand. But that may not be the case right now and improving, proud Serb Djere may be capable of causing the Brisbane battler some problems.

Djere, who is having a decent season and won the 500 Series clay event in Rio de Janeiro in February without dropping a set, looks a handy performer on any terrain.

He has plenty of fight in him, too, and this match has the potential to be closer than many oddsmakers believe.

It could go long and so punters can consider going over the total games, but with Djere enjoying the better season of the pair it could pay to back the outsider with a handicap start of 5.5 games.

Recommendation
L Djere +5.5 games
1pt 4-5 Betfred, Betway

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