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The final days of preparation before Wimbledon are designed to be a ultimate test, pushing players to their physical and mental limits on the demanding grass courts. On a marathon Thursday of tennis, top seeds were forced to dig deep, showcasing the endurance and fortitude required to be a true contender. It was a day that separated the champions from the pretenders, forcing players to showcase their mettle—a quality that top sports handicappers value highly when analyzing a player’s chances at a major. One top seed had to play the role of iron man, surviving two grueling battles in a single day, while another continued his remarkable run of consistency to prove he is one of the tour’s most reliable performers when a semifinal spot is on the line.
Lexus Eastbourne Open: An Incredible Feat of Endurance
No. 1 seed Taylor Fritz put on an incredible display of endurance and determination, winning two separate, grueling three-set matches on Thursday to fight his way into the semifinals in Eastbourne. Due to rain delays from earlier in the week, the three-time champion at this event first had to step on court to finish his opening match, where he outlasted a tough challenge from Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca 6-3, 6-7 (5), 7-5.
With little time to recover, Fritz was back on court just hours later for his quarterfinal match against fellow American Marcos Giron. Once again, he was pushed to the limit, ultimately prevailing 7-5, 4-6, 7-5 in another epic battle. For Fritz to win two physically and emotionally draining matches in a single day is a testament to his fitness and his deep understanding of how to win at this tournament. His epic double-win is the kind of gritty performance that solidifies a player’s status as a top contender on all the major sports picks sites. His reward is a semifinal clash with sixth-seeded Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. The other semifinal will see fourth-seeded Ugo Humbert face unseeded American Jenson Brooksby, both of whom dashed the hopes of the British fans by defeating their last remaining home players.
Mallorca Championships: The Quarterfinal King
In Mallorca, No. 2 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada continued to prove why he is one of the most consistent players on tour in 2025. He improved his stunning record to a perfect 7-0 in quarterfinal matches this year with a hard-fought 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory over Serbia’s Hamad Medjedovic. After dropping the first set, Auger-Aliassime raised his level, dominating the second set and then surviving three break points in a tense third set to seal the win. His perfect 7-0 record in quarterfinals this year is a remarkable statistic, making him one of the most reliable players to follow on the weekly leaderboard. With the victory, he now ties Carlos Alcaraz for the most semifinal appearances on tour this season.
He will face fourth-seeded Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands for a spot in the final. The other semifinal will feature an intriguing matchup between No. 3 seed Alex Michelsen of the United States and the crafty, unseeded Frenchman Corentin Moutet, who ended the run of American teenager Learner Tien.
Looking Ahead to the Semifinals
The stage is now set for some fascinating semifinal clashes on Friday. In Eastbourne, all eyes will be on Taylor Fritz to see how he recovers from his marathon day as he takes on the talented Davidovich Fokina. In Mallorca, the consistent Felix Auger-Aliassime will have his hands full with the powerful Tallon Griekspoor. With four exciting semifinal matchups set, the live odds and scores for Friday’s action promise plenty of drama as players fight for a spot in the finals.
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