Sports · Wimbledon 2026 · Men's Singles · Round of 32
Grigor Dimitrovvs
Matteo Berrettini
Saturday, July 4, 2026 · Round of 32
Watch: ESPN · ESPN+
My pick: Matteo Berrettini to advance · locked 2026-07-03 13:30 UTCPrediction
Berrettini, but only just. This is the tie of the round for the connoisseur: a 2021 Wimbledon finalist against a 2014 semi-finalist, two of the finest grass movers of their generation, each arriving on a resurgent run. Dimitrov, back on a wild card at No. 146, has been the story, upsetting 15th seed Jakub Menšík; Berrettini survived a four-tiebreak epic with Wawrinka and then dismissed the 20th seed Arthur Fils. Their head-to-head is level at 1-1. The separator is the serve: Berrettini's is the single biggest grass weapon left in this quarter, and on a fast court it manufactures the cheap holds and short points that keep the pressure entirely on the other man. Dimitrov's variety can absolutely win it — expect a decider either way — but the Italian's first strike is the tie-breaker.
The case for Grigor Dimitrov
45% to winDimitrov is playing like the man who reached the Wimbledon semi-finals a decade ago: he outmanoeuvred a big-serving 15th seed in Menšík by returning brilliantly and staying ice-calm on the key points. His one-handed backhand and disguise are tailor-made for grass, and a wild card ranking flatters a player who, healthy, belongs far higher. If he reads the Berrettini serve the way he read Menšík's, he wins.
The case for Matteo Berrettini
55% to winBerrettini is the 2021 Wimbledon finalist and, on grass, arguably the bigger threat of the two: a serve that produces free holds by the set and a forehand that ends points before rallies begin. He came through the Wawrinka war on four tiebreaks — proof his nerve holds — then dispatched a seed. He is the higher-ranked man at No. 51 and the more recent deep runner here. On a quick Centre-Court-caliber surface, the serve wins the tightest sets.
Both cases written 2026-07-03, before the first ball — frozen into the record exactly as written, whatever the result. The percentages are mine, quoted to a decimal because false precision is funnier — and tennis has no draw to hide the rounding in.
Tale of the tape
Grigor DimitrovMatteo BerrettiniPlayer vitals: ATP Tour player profiles and Wikipedia (career records) · as of 2026-07-01.
The briefing
Storylines
- A grass throwback: the 2021 finalist Berrettini against the 2014 semi-finalist Dimitrov.
- Dimitrov, back on a wild card, has already upset the 15th seed to reach this stage.
- The head-to-head is level at 1-1, and both men own huge grass-court serves.
This fortnight’s form
Grigor Dimitrov
- R1def. Dane Sweeny (Q)7-6(4) 6-3 7-5
- R2def. Jakub Menšík (15)7-6(5) 4-6 7-5 6-3
Matteo Berrettini
- R1def. Stan Wawrinka (WC)6-7(7) 7-6(16) 7-6(7) 7-6(5)
- R2def. Arthur Fils (20)6-4 7-5 3-6 6-3
Each player’s path into this round. Source: Mungomash Wimbledon 2026 draw (this cluster's verified results), cross-checked against the published draw · as of 2026-07-03.
Head to head
Level at 1-1; Berrettini won the most recent meeting 7-6(5) 7-6(1) indoors at Vienna in 2019.
Source: ATP head-to-head · as of 2026-07-03.
Watch: US coverage runs on ESPN and ESPN2, and every court — this match included — streams on ESPN+. The exact channel and start time follow the order of play. (ESPN, as of 2026-07-03)
Court & schedule: Third-round order of play is posted the evening before; the court and start time for this match had not yet been published. (All England Club order of play (not yet released for the third round), as of 2026-07-03)
Venue: All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London — grass.
