5 blockbuster Wimbledon 3R matches you cannot miss ft. Carlos Alcaraz vs Frances Tiafoe, Denis Shapovalov vs Ben Shelton

The second round of matches has begun at Wimbledon, with most of the top players going through to the third round. The likes of Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have all won their respective matches so far.

In the women's section, defending champion Marketa Vondrousova has been knocked out in the first round itself. However, most of the other top seeds have managed to get through.

In this article, we will take a look at five blockbuster matches that will take place in the third round on Friday.

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#5. Emma Raducanu vs. Maria Sakkari

Emma Raducanu, the former US Open champion from Great Britain, has won both her matches in straight sets so far. She beat Renata Zarazua and Elise Mertens in straight sets in the first two rounds.

Maria Sakkari, the ninth seed from Greece, brushed aside both Mccartney Kessler and Arantxa Rus in straight sets. Raducanu's dynamism might hold her in good stead against Sakkari, but the latter is the in-form player at the moment. It should be an absorbing battle between two able strokemakers.

#4. Jasmine Paolini vs. Bianca Andreescu

Jasmine Paolini, who finished runner-up at French Open this year, has carried her good form into Wimbledon as well. She beat Sara Sorribes Tormo and Greet Minnen in straight sets in her first two matches.

Bianca Andreescu has also won both her matches in straight sets, beating Jacqueline Cristian and Linda Noskova. However, she could find the diminutive Paolini a tough player to beat due to the latter's quick movement and powerful backhand.

#3. Grigor Dimitrov vs Gael Monfils

It will be a battle between two veterans, who are thorough entertainers at the same time. Grigor Dimitrov, the 33-year-old Bulgarian, won his first match against Dusan Lajovic in straight sets, but had to toil really hard to overcome Jancheng Shang in an epic five-setter in the second round.

37-year-old Gael Monfils, meanwhile, beat Adrian Mannarino in four sets in the first round and then beat Stan Wawrinka in straight sets in the second. He would face a stiffer test against Dimitrov, who has a better serve than either Wawrinka or Mannarino at the moment and is quite proficient at the net, too.

#2. Denis Shapovalov vs Ben Shelton

It will be a battle between two exciting southpaws on Friday. Ben Shelton has endured a couple of five-setters against Mattia Bellucci and Lloyd Harris so far. However, his big serve and robust game would always be a good fit on grass.

On the other hand, Denis Shapovalov, a former semi-finalist at Wimbledon, is looking in really good touch in this year's tournament. He beat Nicolas Jarry in straight sets and then prevailed over Daniel Altmaier in a five-setter. There could be a lot of crosscourt forehand exchanges between the two in their third-round match, which promises to go down to the wire.

#1. Carlos Alcaraz vs Frances Tiafoe

Frances TIafoe has made the headlines for wrong reasons at this year's Wimbledon by calling some of his fellow players "clowns". The 29th seed struggled to beat Matteo Arnaldi in five sets in the first round, but blanked Borna Coric in straight sets in his next match.

On the other hand, Carlos Alcaraz, the third seed and one of the brightest young hopes in men's tennis, has won his matches against Mark Lajal and Aleksandar Vukic in straight sets. The defending champion has the defence to deal with Tiafoe's solid groundstrokes and will be the favorite to win their third-round clash on Friday.