The well-groomed greens of Wimbledon are set to witness another enthralling drama with Tommy 'Top Spin' Paul locking rackets with Alexander 'Big Serve' Bublik. Judging by the numbers, the bookies seem to be tipping their caps to Tommy, but let's not count out our man Alexander just yet.
Taking a gander at recent results, Bublik might seem like a kitten chasing a laser pointer, but hold on to your strawberries and cream folks. His game still comes packaged with grit and determination. I mean, the guy came through in two close encounters with Cazaux and Mensik, proving he's quite comfortable throwing down in multiple sets. Heart palpitations, and your family doctor's disapproval, await if you follow his game closely, but where's the fun in love?
On the other side of the net we have Paul, who, despite having a name as common as a Hollywood extra’s, continues to impress. Recent victories over Virtanen and Martínez, not exactly pushovers mind you, speak volumes about his form. There’s a swagger to his performance, like a peacock with a point to prove and plenty of feathers to flaunt.
Don't lose sight of those tournament seeds, folks. Yes, Bublik sporting the 23 might seem like he's the underdog, akin to a poodle in a pitbull fight. But again, where's the fun in love? On the other hand, seeded at number 12, Paul has shown he can deliver when he's not busy shoving Wimbledon muffins in his maw.
If I were asked to stick my neck out, and I sense I am, I’d back Tommy's power game combined with his excellent retrieval potential against Bublik’s mighty serve and surprise factor. And let's be serious, considering Bublik’s recent consistency, or lack thereof, Tommy's mostly likely going to roll him over like a steamroller at a pancake festival.
Albert’s Prediction: Paul in 4 sets.