Scott Ferguson has a look at Friday's action at Wimbledon, with three best bets for day five of the Championships.
Recommended bets
2pts Zhang to win a set at 5/6
1.5pts Azarenka to win at 10/11
For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record
Caroline Wozniacki v Zhang Shuai
Caroline Wozniacki has moved quietly through the opening rounds, via an early retirement in round one, followed by wearing down Veronika Kudermetova in straight sets. A six-time departee in the fourth round, the Dane regularly makes it to about this stage but never any further. Solid but not convincing, against the right opponent she can be opposed at a short price.
Zhang Shuai has looked impressive so far with straight set wins over Caroline Garcia and Yanina Wickmayer, ruthlessly converting nearly 70% of break points along the way. That’s a solid formline for me, both of those women have been ranked in the top 20 during their careers. Zhang's record at SW19 hasn't been much to speak of in the past, but something has changed this year. Since the clay swing ended, her form has turned around and she is into new territory here.
With both players also reaching the quarter-finals at Eastbourne last week, there’s not a great deal between them at the moment, an opinion also backed up by a 1-1 h2h. Wozniacki isn’t the player she was when ranked in the top five, and especially not here. Naturally she should be favoured but not to the extent of winning five out of every seven meetings.
I won't sway people from going for the win but the value for me is with Zhang to win a set.
Best bet: Zhang to win a set at 5/6
Daniil Medvedev v David Goffin
Russian Daniil Medvedev edged past Alexei Popyrin in four sets on Wednesday, applying enough pressure on the young Aussie to force enough errors to break him and wear him down after an enthusiastic start. Minimise the mistakes, keep the pressure on and let the younger opponent swing wildly and eventually miss. Winning 85% and 65% on first and second serves will get you across the line against just about anyone but he does face one of the game's best returners here.
David Goffin is one of my favourite players to watch. For someone built like a stick, he has a marvellous all-court game, plenty of wrist snap for power and angles, plus he boasts a tremendous asset on grass, he gets down particularly low to return. On Wednesday against Jeremy Chardy, he gave him nothing, neutralising the Frenchman's big first serve and attacking his second, which has been noticeably faster than his rival here.
The pair have clashed once before, with Medvedev winning in straight sets at the Aussie Open. In his favour there was the higher bounce, allowing him to tee off at will, and the Belgian had only just returned after a three-month break with an elbow injury. Goffin has been in tremendous form on grass for the past month, only losing the Halle final to the GOAT, Roger Federer, and he can move into the second week here for the third time in his career.
Best bet: Goffin to win at Evens
Simona Halep v Victoria Azarenka
Match of the day on centre court will undoubtedly be this clash between two former number ones. Simona Halep has dropped off the top ranking after poorer results in Melbourne and Paris than in 2018, while Victoria Azarenka is now at her best ranking since becoming a mother three years ago.
Halep plays a heavy top-spin style better suited to higher-bouncing surfaces but she is able to beat most of her WTA rivals on class alone. In recent years, it has taken a smarter opponent to send her home - Su-Wei Hsieh, Johanna Konta, Angelique Kerber - flatter strikers taking the Romanian out of her comfort zone.
On Wednesday she had quite a battle against Mihaela Buzarnescu, only winning half of her points on serve and requiring almost two hours to overcome an opponent ranked just outside the top 50.
Azarenka was ruthless against Ajla Tomljanovic in the second round, initially slow out of the blocks to go 0-2, and then reeling off a dozen straight games to win 6-2 6-0. The problem for Azarenka since returning to the tour has been stringing several matches together to bring her back to the form of 2012-13 when she won two Australian Opens and twice reached the final in New York. Off-court issues and a few injuries have denied her that run, perhaps until now.
The slate lies at two apiece, with the most recent clash here in 2017. At that point in time, Halep was ranked two, Azarenka 683. The Belarussian has the confidence in her game again and I can see her taking the sword to Halep.
Best bet: Azarenka to win at 10/11
