WEDNESDAY IS GOING TO BE AWESOME.  Play will begin at 12pm on Centre Court and No.1 Court, which both have three matches.  All four mens quarters look fascinating on paper and are likely to kick off from about 2pm.  Here is the first part of the mens quarter-final preview featuring the quarters from the top half.  Andy Murray, Grigor Dimitrov, Novak Djokovic and Marin Cilic have all had the advantage of a day off on Tuesday…

1. Andy Murray v Grigor Dimitrov

In the most anticipated match of the tournament so far, Andy Murray will play Grigor Dimitrov in the Wimbledon quarter-finals.  This could be an absolute stunner.  Dimitrov has received a really favourable schedule at Wimbledon this year, playing three times on No.1 Court and once on Centre Court, despite never making it past the second round of Wimbledon before this year.  Dimitrov has reached his second Grand Slam quarter-final of the year.  He overcame a huge scare against Alexandr Dolgopolov in the third round having been two sets to one down. When a player wins a tight match, often in the face of adversity, it makes them stronger and certainly more dangerous for upcoming rounds.

Murray continued his dazzling form at this year’s Wimbledon on Monday. He defeated Kevin Anderson in three sets in his fourth round match, 6-3 6-4 7-6(6).  Anderson played a great match and could have easily won a set.  Murray has yet to be severely tested and there is no doubt that Dimitrov will be the first major challenge of his tournament.  Murray and Dimitrov last played in the semi-finals of Acapulco. This was one of my favourite ATP matches of the entire year.  Murray was still coming back from the back surgery, but Dimitrov showed terrific mental toughness to win that match, 4-6 7-6(5) 7-6(3) in two hours and 55 minutes.

This Wimbledon quarter-final is going to be absolutely fascinating. I’m so pumped for it and am expecting a brilliant match. Dimitrov definitely has a shot; however beating Murray in front of a passionate home crowd at Wimby will require the best performance of his career so far… I’m going Murray.

Prediction: Murray d. Dimitrov in 5 sets

2.  Novak Djokovic v Marin Cilic

Can I just have a quick boast? I correctly called all four of the mens quarter-finalists from the top half in my original preview HERE! Novak Djokovic and Marin Cilic will play each other for the second consecutive Grand Slam.  At Roland Garros, Cilic won a set before Djokovic posted a four set victory, 6-3 6-2 6-7(2) 6-4 in their third round encounter.  Cilic’s big win of the week at Wimbledon came in the third round when he took out Tomas Berdych in straight sets.  He backed that up rather beautifully with a straight sets victory over Jeremy Chardy in the fourth round to reach his first Grand Slam quarter-final at Wimbledon.

Djokovic played his pigeon, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the fourth round.  It was another straight sets win for Djokovic, his seventh in a row against Tsonga.  The Frenchman put up a solid fight in the final set of their match, but returned poorly throughout the one hour and 48 minute contest and was unable to break the Serb at all, losing 6-3 6-4 7-6(5).  Djokovic has never lost to Cilic.  I can’t see that changing on Wednesday.

Prediction: Djokovic d. Cilic in 3 sets