Rafael Nadal versus Gilles Muller

One of the hottest topics up for speculation coming into this year's Wimbledon pertained to what fans could expect from Rafael Nadal.  The Spaniard is enjoying a spectacular resurgence in 2017 and won his tenth Roland Garros title earlier this spring.  Nadal opted to rest rather than play a Wimbledon tune-up, however, and given that it has been awhile since he has enjoyed a deep run here in London, there were some question marks as to whether he was poised to rectify that this year.  He certainly has looked like he is prepared to do that, as he has appeared strong through the first three rounds.  But he knows he will likely have to kick it up a level when he takes on Gilles Muller on Monday.  At thirty-four, the Luxembourger is having a career-year.  He won the first title of his career earlier this season in Sydney, and he picked up his second on the grass of s-Hertogenbosch. 

He also has a game that translates nicely to the grass.  He boasts a big serve that earns him free points on just about any surface, and he is someone always looking to move forward as well.  He plays quick, offensive points, and he knows what he is doing when up at the net. Muller must commit to playing that style from beginning to end though because he is not going to win this match playing from the baseline.  Nadal has too great of an advantage in the movement department, and he is the more consistent of the pair from the back.  Furthermore, the Spaniard also has some nifty hands of his own up at net.  The onus will be on Muller to ensure he is the one regularly dictating what happens on the court because he has fewer options for finding a winning formula.  Of course, the most important ingredient in any winning formula is confidence, and Muller should have it.  They have played twice here and split those meetings, and each was a competitive affair.  Nadal may be the obvious favorite, but he will be aware of the challenge Muller poses and that the slight chance of an upset could be on the horizon.

Simona Halep versus Victoria Azarenka

Comebacks are always entertaining, and one of the most intriguing aspects about them are the thrilling early matches that can occur because of a top player entering the mix unseeded.  Victoria Azarenka is in the early stages of her comeback and has done an admirable job to fight her way through to the second week of Wimbledon.  Due to her lack of being seeded, however, she has, unfortunately, run into second seed Simona Halep in the Round of 16.  Neither woman is apt to be happy about the arrangement, but it one that fans should be looking forward to.  Both are top performers, who bring plenty of tenacity and grit to the court.  They are also both evenly matched.  Each is solid from the ground and able to change the trajectory of the ball from either wing with ease. 

The Belorussian possesses more firepower, and when at her best, is more adept at moving forward and getting the job done at the net.  While less comfortable in the forecourt, that is not to say that Halep has more of a defensive mindset, however.  On the contrary, she does a good job of hugging the baseline and looks to step into the court to rob her opponents of time and make up for what she lacks in power.  Her greatest asset though is her foot speed, which is one area where she enjoys a decisive edge over Azarenka.  The biggest difference-maker in this match, however, will likely be that Halep is simply more match tough.  Although it was a disappointing end to her Paris campaign, the Romanian still enjoyed a successful spring, whereas Azarenka is playing just her second tournament of the season and is still shaking off the rust.  Additionally, Halep has won their only meeting at a major, which came a couple of years ago at the US Open.  Azarenka certainly could cause the upset.  She has the game and the experience, which makes her difficult to count out no matter what the circumstances.  But Halep is also a feisty and experienced competitor, and given how early it is in Azarenka's comeback, the second seed may be too big of a step up now.  It could be close.  It could be entertaining.  But this Manic Monday should belong to Halep.

Milos Raonic versus Alexander Zverev

While many fans are eagerly hoping for a showdown between Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, there are still competitors left in the draw that would dearly love to derail that marquee semifinal match.  Among them are Milos Raonic and Alexander Zverev.  They will square off for the right to potentially face Federer in the quarters.  On paper, the Canadian is the slight favorite, and the fact that this match is being contested on grass also increases his odds for success.  Not only does he make more headway with his serve, but he boasts more power from his forehand wing.  Furthermore, he is unquestionably more adept in the forecourt, which not only tends to pay dividends on this surface but puts his opponents under constant pressure.  If that were not enough, Raonic has been in this situation more frequently than the German, including making the final at Wimbledon last season. 

In fact, Monday will mark Zverev's first-ever appearance in the second week of a major.  Despite his lack of experience at this stage, however, most believe he is ready for it.  The young gun already cracked the Top 10 earlier this spring, doing so in impressive fashion by winning the title in Rome over Novak Djokovic.  He owns a nice-looking game, which he is continuing to develop.  He presently has a decent serve, and he is plenty capable of making inroads from either wing.  In this match, in particular, he should look to engage the Canadian in a battle of the backhands, as he is vastly superior to the sixth seed from that side.  In addition to that, Zverev will not be lacking in belief either.  He knows he is surging, and he defeated Raonic earlier this year in straight sets. Zverev has looked better to this point, so he perhaps has the slight edge, but if Raonic plays his best, with the way his game is so suited to this surface, it would be equally expected to see him advance.  Either way, it should be a good one that results in a worthy competitor moving through to the last eight.