As Day 5 of Wimbledon approaches, we are still a little bit behind in terms of the rounds falling in line with the tournament’s schedule. Normally, the third round, in both the men’s and women’s field, would dominate Friday’s slate. However, due to the rain delays this week, there will be several second round matches spilling into the day’s card as well.

We’re on top of all the action as always here at Bookies.com, bringing you daily predictions and tennis picks from the world’s oldest and most prestigious Grand Slam. 

In this column, we’re focusing on the third round matches that are known already and are currently trading on the tennis betting board. Let’s get cracking.

Wimbledon Day 5 Best Bets

Novak Djokovic vs Stanislas Wawrinka

In his heyday, Stanislas Wawrinka accomplished a feat that very few players could claim: beating Novak Djokovic in the final of a Grand Slam. Not once. But twice. At Roland Garros in 2015. Then, a year later, at the US Open.

Wawrinka trails Djokovic 6-20 lifetime in their head-to-head series. But at the majors he’s level 4-4, having struck fear in the Serbian starlet on the game’s biggest stages in their last three straight Grand Slam meetings.

It’s true that Wawrinka, at 38 years of age and after multiple surgeries, isn’t the same player he once was. However, he’s shown flashes of brilliance this week at the All England Club, advancing into the third round of a major for the first time in three years and dropping just one set along the way.

Djokovic demands the best from his opponents. He’s one of the toughest players to beat, full stop. Never mind at the iconic All England Club where he’s won 30 matches on the spin since 2013. 

Not surprisingly, Djokovic is the runaway favorite at -3000 --- best priced with BetMGM to win. While Wawrinka is the conspicuous longshot bet – best priced at +1600 with FanDuel. 

A flutter on Wawrinka for the upset is very tempting indeed, even though It’s impossible to know whether the Swiss believes he still has what it takes to beat Djokovic again. Let’s face it, without confidence his chances of pulling off the upset are ZERO.

But if he can dial back the clock and get into a zone, we should have a lively match between two future Hall of Famers. 

Wimbledon Best Bet: Over 30.5 -105 at Caesars

Lorenzo Musetti vs Hubert Hurkacz

Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti and Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz will face off for a spot in the last 16 and, potentially, a date with Djokovic or (less likely) Wawrinka. 

Musetti advances into the third round without dropping a set. He looked assured in his straight-set win over Juan Pablo Varillas, 6-3, 6-1, 7-6.  Then, he swept past Jaume Munar in straight sets on Thursday, 6-4, 6-3, 6-1. 

Hurkacz advances into the R32 without dropping a set at the expense of Albert Ramos Vinolas and wild card Jan Choinski, respectively.

On paper, very little separates these two players. Both are finding their feet on grass and arrive on the back of positive runs in their Wimbledon warm-up events. Musetti has the 2-1 edge over Hurkacz while the latter owns the only win on grass between them. 

The tennis betting markets are skewed in favor of Hurkacz – if ever so slightly. This is in part due to Hurkacz’s win over Musetti at Wimbledon two years ago. That said, Musetti is a much better player today, making this a total tossup for tennis picks.

Wimbledon Best Bet: Musetti to win +134 at FanDuel

Jannik Sinner vs Quentin Halys

Italy’s Jannik Sinner breezes into the third round without dropping a set. Admittedly, he’s had a favorable draw with back-to-back matches against clay specialists – Juan Manuel Cerundolo and Diego Schwartzman. 

France’s Quentin Halys is playing with house money right now. He punched above his perceived weight class, getting the better of British hopeful Dan Evans in his tournament opener. Then he upset Aussie Aleksandar Vukic in straight sets.

Sinner should come through this match but he might not do so unscathed. Halys has been serving up a storm. If he continues to serve at such a high level, he certainly can win a set if not two.

Wimbledon Best Bet: Over 35.5 -120 at FanDuel

Iga Swiatek vs Petra Martic

World No. 1 Iga Swiatek is up to her usual tricks, cruising through the early rounds of a major and dishing out bagels. She made light work of Lin Zhu in her tournament curtain-raiser, winning 6-1, 6-3. Then, she dismissed Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-2, 6-0. 

Petra Martic has done well  to reach the third round of Wimbledon, but her run might be nearing the end. The Croatian was pushed the distance by Linda Fruhvirtova before the Czech teenager tapped out in the third set, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 4-1. In her next match, she was forced to rally from a set down against Diana Parry, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. 

If this wasn’t already a mismatch on paper, the amount of time and energy Martic has expended to reach this stage sets her up at an even greater disadvantage. 

Wimbledon Best Bet: Swiatek -7.5 +110 at BetMGM

Elena Svitolna vs Sofia Kenin

American Sofia Kenin threw down the gauntlet at this year’s Wimbledon. After having to qualify for the tournament, the 24-year-old stunned Coco Gauff 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 in the first round; thus, delivering the first big upset of the tournament in the process. 

Then, crucially, she backed it up with a straight-set win over Xinyu Wang, 6-4, 6-3. Next up is Elina Svitolina, who launched her comeback on the WTA Tour this spring and is appearing in her second Grand Slam after reaching the quarterfinals of Roland Garros.

Svitolina got off to a shaky start in her tournament opener against five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams. But the momentum quickly shifted after Venus took a tumble and she came away the 6-4, 6-3 winner. This uncertain form extended into the R64, though she took the topsy-turvy 6-1, 1-6, 6-1 win over Elise Mertens.

Svitolina is former Top 5 player. For that reason, she can’t be dismissed out of hand. However, Kenin is red-hot right now. She’s showing flashes of the confident and brilliant game that saw her win the Australian Open in 2020. If she can keep it up, she should get past the veteran Ukrainian.

Wimbledon Best Bet: Kenin to win -120 at BetMGM