Wildcard Jacob Fearnley faces Spain’s Jaume Munar for a place in the third round of Wimbledon on Thursday.
Fearnley was one of four British players to win on Tuesday when he came from two sets down to beat American world number 46 Alex Michelsen 3-6, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-2.
The 24-year-old Scot, who broke into the world’s top 50 a year ago, hit 48 winners and committed 52 unforced errors in a match which lasted three-and-a-half hours.
Munar, meanwhile, produced a shock of his own when he dismantled recent Queen’s Club champion Francisco Cerundolo 6‑1, 6‑4, 6‑3 in just one hour and 45 minutes.
The Mallorcan saved seven break points and showed a level of aggression rarely seen from him on grass.
After missing Queen’s and Eastbourne with a tooth infection, Munar said he was “very surprised” by his level at Wimbledon, where he reached the third round a year ago.
This will be their first meeting, but with Fearnley’s comeback energy and Munar’s rediscovered grass‑court confidence, expect a match full of swings, breaks and tactical shifts.
Jacob Fearnley v Jaume Munar Tips Summary
Best Bet – Jacob Fearnley to win @ 13/10
Alternative Bet – Jacob Fearnley to win & both players to win a set @ 12/5
Bet Builder – Over 6.5 Breaks of Serve, 10+ Match Double Faults & Jacob Fearnley to win from behind @ 17/2
Jacob Fearnley v Jaume Munar Prediction
Best Bet: Jacob Fearnley to win @ 13/10
Fearnley looked down and out against Michelsen, who had withdrawn from two grass-court warm-up events because of lingering back pain.
But he was able to reset mentally after losing the first two sets and turned the match into a test of both players’ physical endurance.
His serve still lacks a bit of pop, but he has good grass-court instincts and elite fitness levels.
British fans will remember his display against Novak Djokovic in the second round two years ago when he put up a better fight against the Serb than anyone else apart from Carlos Alcaraz in the final.
The 24-year-old should match up to Munar, who is 7-18 on grass in his career, pretty well.
The right-hander is a clay-court specialist who somehow made it through to round three at SW19 last year before losing in four sets to Marin Cilic.
His win over Cerundolo says more about the fallibility of the Argentinian in Grand Slam events than it does his own game.
The Queen’s Club champion, who reportedly partied hard after his win over Tommy Paul at Andy Murray Arena, looked well short of the level he showed that day.
He committed twice as many unforced errors as Munar and served twice as many double faults as aces.
Munar’s game - built around long rallies, heavy topspin and attrition - is far less suited to grass than Fearnley’s aggressive, forward‑moving style.
The Briton’s second serve is stronger, his ability to finish points is superior, and his confidence is soaring. With home support behind him, he is well‑placed to reach the third round for the first time.
Alternative Bet: Jacob Fearnley to win & both players to win a set @ 12/5
While Fearnley is the favourite, Munar is a fighter. He rarely goes away quietly and his physicality can force opponents into uncomfortable rallies.
Even on grass, he has the ability to grind out a set if Fearnley dips in intensity or struggles with rhythm.
Fearnley has also produced occasional slow starts - as seen in his opener - and Munar’s consistency may allow him to capitalise early.
But over best‑of‑five, Fearnley’s superior serve, aggression and grass‑court instincts should ultimately carry him through.
Jacob Fearnley v Jaume Munar Bet Builder Tip
Over 6.5 Breaks of Serve
10+ Match Double Faults
Jacob Fearnley to win from behind
Pays 17/2
Munar’s serve is attackable, and Fearnley’s returning was excellent in the second half of his win against Michelsen.
However, his aggressive style can produce streaky patches, making breaks on both sides likely.
Munar won only 38% of his second-serve points against Cerundolo and his high‑spin delivery can misfire on grass.
Fearnley’s aggressive second‑serve placement can be risky, so there should be plenty of double faults - and consequently several breaks - in the match.
Finally, add Fearnley to come from behind to win to this Bet Builder. He lost the first set in round one before dominating the match and, although Munar often starts matches with high consistency, the Brit’s superior grass‑court game should enable him to recover.
Learn more about how Bet Builders work in our Bet Builder guide.
Key Match Stats
Munar has a 7-18 career record on grass while Fearnley has won 61.3% of his matches on the surface
Fearnley won his first five-set match in round one, coming from two down to beat world number 46 Michelsen
The British player took a set off Djokovic in the second round at Wimbledon two years ago
Fearnley won 52% of his second-serve points in round one, Munar won 38%
Munar has been broken multiple times in eight of his last 10 matches
Fearnley has won six of his last eight grass‑court matches
Read more tennis betting tips and predictions on site.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
