Wimbledon 2013 Schedule: Anticipating Best Matches of 3rd-Round Action

It's been quite the tournament so far at the All English Club, where the 2013 Wimbledon will move into the third round on Friday. 

Several of the top stars have bowed out due to either poor play against lesser opponents or injury, a list that includes Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer on the men's side and Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka on the women's side. 

As noted by the Wimbledon Twitter account, this is a first for a Grand Slam tournament that included both former Wimbledon champions:

Heck, we're even making firsts with the weather, where the retractable roof was used for the first time on Thursday. BBC Sport had the tweet:

If things were any crazier at Wimbledon this year...well, you get the drift. The way things are going, getting crazier results would be the norm in London over the next week. 

In the spirit of the excitement and craziness that has already unfolded, here's a look at the matches on the docket for the third round of the men's and women's singles draw that have the potential to be the most exciting for viewers everywhere. 

For a complete look at the 2013 Wimbledon schedule, click here (via Wimbledon.com). 

Bernard Tomic vs. Richard Gasquet

There's a good chance this matchup between to guys who could anchor the ATP Tour very soon will also be one of the best in the entire tournament.

Gasquet is the No. 9 player in the world and he's won both of his first two matches in London this year in four sets. Wimbledon is the site of Gasquet's best career finish at a Grand Slam; the Frenchman made it to the semifinals of the event in 2007.

Since then, though, he hasn't made it past the fourth round in any Grand Slam.

Tomic made it to the quarterfinals at Wimbledon in 2011 yet hasn't made it past the fourth round in any Grand Slam since. Nevertheless, this matchup is certainly starting to raise some eyebrows.

Carole Bouchard of L'Equipe is among those anticipating a solid match. She interpreted Gasquet's comments about Tomic as if this was a matchup of two of the world's best players:

Tomic is wasting no time stating his case toward a big win, either, telling reporters in anticipation for this match that he feels his game will translate well on grass against the 27-year-old Gasquet, via Tennishead:

Gasquet is 2-0 against Tomic in his career, with both wins coming on hard court. The third match will be on grass, where games are changed and strategies shifted every year in this event. Right now, this has the makings of a five-set thriller. 

Sloane Stephens vs. Petra Cetkovska

A year after facing each other in the second round, Stephens and Cetkovska will square off again at Wimbledon. 

Stephens won in three sets the first and only time the two women met, and both have survived the gauntlet of the first two rounds at the 2013 event. 

Cetkovska will come in with revenge on the brain, while Stephens will look to avoid a letdown in another big match in her budding career. She made the semifinals at the Australian Open and the fourth round at the French Open, but a place in the Wimbledon quarterfinals or semifinals would cement her status as a rising star. 

On the other hand, Cetkovska comes in hot after taking down Caroline Wozniacki in straight sets and has the confidence of her game to lean on while trying to even the score with the American on the other side of the net. 

We should see a solid battle of skill and strength in this one, especially since the draw lends itself to the idea that either one of these women could easily reach the semifinals in the next few days. 

Andy Murray vs. Tommy Robredo

Murray is in the best calendar year of tennis of his life, and a win at Wimbledon would cap what will likely be the start of a strong streak of play over the next few years. 

Since being a finalist at the 2012 tournament at the All England Club, he's won the U.S. Open, been to the final at the Australian Open and won gold at the Olympics in front of home fans in London. 

Standing in the way of his second Grand Slam title is Tommy Robredo, who actually has a winning record against the No. 2 player in the world on his career. 

Robredo holds a 3-2 career mark against Murray, beating the Brit at the Hopman Cup back in 2010. It's been quite some time since the two men met, and they've never met at a Grand Slam, but records are records and that mental edge could be an advantage for Robredo. 

As noted by British Tennis, Murray knows Robredo won't be an easy out:

Murray has been cruising so far, his decision to sit out the French Open looking like one of the best of the year for any player. With two of the top five seeds gone and none left on his side of the draw, a path to the final and Novak Djokovic's side of the draw seem to be in order. 

But Murray will have to get past Robredo first. As we've seen so far in London, nothing is for certain. Even for a man playing the best tennis of his life. 

Follow Bleacher Report FC Ethan Grant (@DowntownEG) on Twitter.