Wimbledon 2017: Friday Schedule and Predictions for London Bracket

Defending champion Andy Murray heads the bill at Wimbledon 2017 on Friday as he takes on Italian No. 28 seed Fabio Fognini in the third round.

Two-time champion Rafael Nadal will also be in action against Karen Khachanov as he attempts to make the fourth round in SW19 for just the second time since 2011.

In the women's draw, two home hopes will be playing their third-round matches, with Heather Watson taking on former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka, and sixth seed Johanna Konta facing Greece's Maria Sakkari.

Meanwhile, second seed Simona Halep has a clash with China's Peng Shuai, and five-time champion Venus Williams will be in action against Naomi Osaka of Japan.

Read on for a selected schedule, along with a closer examination of the day's key matches.

Selected Thursday Fixtures

Men's Draw

(1) Andy Murray vs. (28) Fabio Fognini

(4) Rafael Nadal vs. (30) Karen Khachanov

(7) Marin Cilic vs. (26) Steve Johnson

(9) Kei Nishikori vs. (18) Roberto Bautista-Agut

(12) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs. (24) Sam Querrey

Women's Draw

(2) Simona Halep vs. Peng Shuai

(4) Elina Svitolina vs. Carina Witthoeft

(6) Johanna Konta vs. Maria Sakkari

(8) Dominika Cibulkova vs. (27) Ana Konjuh

(10) Venus Williams vs. Naomi Osaka

For the competition fixtures in full, visit the Wimbledon website. 

Friday Preview

World No. 1 Murray's fitness was a concern going into this year's Wimbledon due to a hip injury suffered ahead of the tournament.

After two rounds the Scot looks in decent shape, and he was impressive in dispatching the talented Dustin Brown 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in just over 90 minutes on Wednesday.

Fognini is a very tough opponent, and he and Murray have shared three wins apiece in their six career meetings.

Most recently the Italian got the better of the three-time Grand Slam winner at the Rome Masters in May.

The pair have never met on grass, though, and Murray showed fine form against Brown, while he will also have plenty of home support.

The Scot is very aware of the threat Fognini poses, per Raz Mirza of Sky Sports:"I think he's always dangerous. He's a shot-maker and he's very solid off his forehand and backhand side, but he can also hit winners from both sides. ... I expect it to be very tough. When Fabio is switched on, he's really, really tough to beat."

Nadal, 31, is bidding to make his third Grand Slam final this year having already been runner-up at the Australian Open and won the French Open.

The Spaniard looks in fine form and brushed aside American Donald Young in the second round, winning 6-4, 6-2, 7-5.

The New York Times' Ben Rothenberg believes Russia's Khachanov could threaten the 15-time Grand Slam champion:

And certainly the world No. 34 should provide Nadal with a major challenge. But the fourth seed's form is so good—he hasn't lost a set since May—that it would be a huge shock were Nadal not to advance to the fourth round. 

Konta will be one of the key attractions in SW19 on Friday after she came through a 190-minute epic with Donna Vekic in the second round on Wednesday.

The 26-year-old world No. 7 is in uncharted territory having never reached the third round of Wimbledon before.

But she will be expected to advance to the second week given that 21-year-old Sakkari is ranked No. 101 in the world.

Fatigue will be a concern for Konta given her efforts against Vekic, but, as with Murray, home support should provide a boost, and she has more than enough quality to grind out another victory.