Brazilian Joao Fonseca is one of the rising stars in the men's game and starts his second Wimbledon by facing a former semi-finalist in Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut.
The 38-year-old reached the last four at SW19 seven years ago where Novak Djokovic ended his hopes.
The great Serb was himself knocked out of last month's French Open by Brazilian teenager Fonseca.
Fonseca's exposure on grass courts remains quite limited and, despite confirming his plans to retire later this year, Bautista Agut can put up a fight in what will be his Wimbledon farewell if he is knocked out.
Roberto Bautista Agut v Joao Fonseca Tips Summary
Best Bet – Joao Fonseca to win 3-1 @ 11/5
Alternative Bet – Roberto Bautista Agut to make 3+ Double Faults @ 5/6
Bet Builder – Joao Fonseca to win Set 1 7-5,7-6 - Set 1 Correct Score Group, 5+ Aces for Joao Fonseca & Over 37.5 Games @ 7/1
Roberto Bautista Agut v Joao Fonseca Prediction
Best Bet: Joao Fonseca to win 3-1 @ 11/5
Fonseca made his maiden Grand Slam quarter-final last month in Paris, ending the hopes of Djokovic in round three and seeing off Casper Ruud before he was outplayed by Jakub Mensik in the last eight.
His grass-court swing began in Halle where it was a short stay as he lost to home hope Yannick Hanfmann 6-2 6-2.
The Brazilian was slated to head for Eastbourne after that but a troublesome shoulder ruled him out. That rates as some kind of concern coming to Wimbledon but all reports suggest he is well recovered.
He won a couple of matches in his first Wimbledon last summer before bowing out in four sets against Nicolas Jarry and Fonseca should get past Bautista Agut.
The 2019 semi-finalist will retire later this year and has just four 2026 wins so far, beating just one top 50 player. His grass-court experience should aid him, however, and he can take a set in his SW19 farewell.
Alternative Bet: Roberto Bautista Agut to make 3+ Double Faults @ 5/6
Bautista Agut will have to serve well to stand a chance against Fonseca. He exited in round one at Roland Garros last month, losing to Brandon Nakashima in three sets as he served more double faults (four) than he did aces (three).
He played two qualifiers for Halle and didn't serve a single double fault but the added pressure of Fonseca on the other side of the net may tempt him to go for a few second serves and a target of four double faults is attainable on what promises to be another warm day in London.
Roberto Bautista Agut v Joao Fonseca Bet Builder Tip
- Joao Fonseca to win Set 1 7-5, 7-6
- 5+ Aces for Joao Fonseca
- Over 37.5 Games
Pays 7/1
Keeping things tight in the opening set will be a primary target for Bautista Agut and with Fonseca perhaps easing his shoulder into this match, the Spaniard can stay in touch.
A lengthy first set will go some way to taking the total games tally over 37.5, while Bautista Agut's ability to pinch a set can also prolong this opening-round tussle as he uses his wealth of experience on this surface to stay with the 24th seed.
Fonseca went down in straight sets to Mensik in Paris last month but still sent down six aces. He served 10 in his Australian Open first round loss against Eliot Spizzirri in January and this surface should lend itself to a decent tally once more.
Learn more about how Bet Builders work in our Bet Builder guide.
Key Match Stats
- This is the first meeting between Fonseca, 19, and Bautista Agut, 38
- The veteran Spaniard was a Wimbledon semi-finalist in 2019 and has reached the fourth round on four other occasions
- Fonseca went to the third round in his Wimbledon debut last summer, with two of his three matches completed in four sets
- The Brazilian teenager ousted Novak Djokovic at the French Open en route to his first Grand Slam quarter-final
- Bautista Agut has lost in round one at the last six Grand Slam events
- He has a 4-12 record this season, beating just one top 50 player, and is retiring come the end of the season
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.
