The Wimbledon Day 3 is packed with a series of exciting matches on the beautiful courts of SW19. However, if you are feeling nostalgic, the draw makers have a special surprise for you on court 2. Tennis veterans Stan Wawrinka and Gael Monfils will go up against each other for a place in the third round of Wimbledon.

Wawrinka, a former quarter-finalist and three-time major champion, has a 5-9 win/loss record for the season. At 39, the Swiss legend is on his final steps, looking to take back some fond memories of the game before bidding farewell. Monfils, meanwhile, with a 17-13 record for the season, is in much better shape despite being months away from turning 38.

Stan Wawrinka vs Gael Monfils: Wimbledon Round 2 Preview

Focusing on solely on their grass court performances, it is quite evident that this surface is not their favorite. Unsurprisingly so, Wawrinka did not participate in any leadups to Wimbledon after a long clay-court season. He started his campaign with a solid straight set victory over local boy Charles Broom. Last year, the Swiss player went as far as round 3 before losing to Novak Djokovic in three sets. Apart from those performances, the 39-year-old hasn’t been a familiar face on the surface at the tail-end of his career.

On the other hand, Monfils is playing his first grass-court swing since 2021. He started strongly by making the semi-finals of ATP 250 in Mallorca. A win over Mannarino in Wimbledon’s first round took his record to 4-1 for the grass season, which is quite impressive for someone with a career win percentage of 58 on this surface.

Stan Wawrinka vs Gael Monfils: Head-to-Head

Monfils and Wawrinka have locked horns 6 times in the past and they share a 3-3 head-to-head. The first four matches took place before 2011, while the last two went as follows:

• Roland Garros 2017, R16: Wawrinka won 7-5, 7-6(7), 6-2
• Rotterdam 2019, Final: Monfils won 6-3, 1-6, 6-2

The head-to-head cannot form any matchup judgement, especially since they haven’t met on grass, nor have they played each other in five years.

Prediction:

In Mallorca, Monfils recorded 49 aces in four matches and regularly crossed 15% ace rate mark. He was serving bigger than he did in his last few grass court seasons. Despite the age factor, his foot speed has remained intact. Against Mannarino, he won a whopping 81% first serve points and looked demonic in the forecourt, winning 16 of those 18 points. Wawrinka’s straight set win wasn’t nearly as impressive. He lost his serve twice but survived owing to the opponent’s mediocre serving, while barely winning 60% of net points.

Fitness will also play a key role in this matchup as both players struggle to play for long at the current stage of their careers. However, Monfils trumps Stan in this metric too with 30 matches to his name this season. Monfils’ finesse, serving and movement will be enough to outdo Wawrinka’s superior groundstrokes in the matchup.

Final Verdict: Monfils will win the tie in four sets, serve more aces and complete the match within 40 games.