With Wimbledon 2025 now into round two, the sole remaining British hopes rest on the shoulders of Daniel Evans and Jack Draper, who are both handed difficult tasks against tennis legends Novak Djokovic and Marin Cilic respectively. Played out on July 3rd, these high stakes match promise a day of Centre Court drama that will have the home faithful, but indeed the very course of the tournament, hanging perilously in the balance.

Outside-the-top-30 player Daniel Evans has long been a temperamental grass-court opponent. His educated slice, touch volleying, and natural feel for the surface give him the edge in stingy rallies. Evans, before Wimbledon, produced his strongest pre-Wimbledon showing in the Eastbourne quarterfinals, defeating two top 50 players. His 2025 grass-court mark of 6–3 is creditable, following a stop-start start to the season.

Seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic was saved from humiliating first-round defeat by a lower-ranked opponent. Though he went on to win in four sets, his serve seemed vulnerable and his ever-so-slightly slow presumably the consequence of this year's lighter schedule and ongoing wrist issue that kept him out earlier in 2025. Nevertheless, the Serbian is not to be underestimated, especially at SW19.

Djokovic enjoys a commanding 4–0 head-to-head over Evans, never dropping a set in their previous encounters. While Evans is able to provide him with some challenge through his net play and slice, Djokovic's return play and championship mindset will see him through.

Djokovic is the heavy favorite, but with his first-round pratfalls, a shock never remains out of the picture.

Jack Draper comes to Wimbledon 2025 as Britain's top-ranked male player and a rising reputation on grass. With an 8–2 season grass record, Draper advanced to the finals at Stuttgart and semis at Queen's Club, defeating top-level players on his way with his explosive lefty forehand and serve. His fitness and greater consistency have made him an actual threat in best-of-five matches.

2017 Wimbledon runner-up Marin Cilic has experienced a revival in 2025 after two seasons plagued by injury. The Croatian has been consistent throughout the year, possessing a 4–2 grass record so far, and is once more playing with the calming power that had secured him a Grand Slam championship. In his first-round encounter, Cilic played sensibly, beating a younger rival in straight sets with 15 aces and not a single double fault.

Draper will need to manage on serve and push time from Cilic's forehand. If he can force errors with deep returns and put pressure on the second serve, an upset is certainly in the equation. But Cilic's experience and ability to deliver on the biggest stage make this a close contest.

• Prediction: Draper in five sets – 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 3-6, 6-3

Bookmakers are pricing this almost even, Draper holding a slight edge in form and popularity.

July 3rd at Wimbledon 2025 presents two thrilling matchups with profound British interest. As Daniel Evans is presented with the Herculean task of defeating Novak Djokovic, Jack Draper faces a more level-headed, pressure-cooker showdown with veteran Marin Cilic.

As always at Wimbledon, the grass is unpredictable, and upsets are never out of the question.