For the LWOS panelists’ predictions of the Day 1 women’s matches, click here.
It is Wimbledon time, and therefore it is also time for our esteemed panel of writers to make their predictions for the opening day of the Gentlemen’s singles.
Having picked five of the best matches coming our way on day one, Last Word on Sport contributors Niall Clarke, Stefano Berlincioni, and Jason Fernandes have made their predictions.
Novak Djokovic vs Phillip Kohlschreiber
Niall: Perhaps the pick of the round one matches, the defending champion, Djokovic, could not ask for much worse of a draw. Kohli is arguably the most dangerous unseeded player, and on his day he can play great tennis capable of beating the world’s best. However, he has choking tendencies which might play a factor in this match. With that in mind I believe Djokovic will come through.
Prediction: Djokovic in 4.
Stefano: Kohlschreiber is probably one of the worst draws that Djokovic could have in the first round. Coming here with no official tournaments played on grass could be a risk for Nole but I don’t think the German will bother Djokovic too much. Considering the head to head and Kohli being a grass specialist I will go with Djokovic in four sets.
Prediction: Djokovic in 4.
Jason: If there’s one unseeded player most seeds would have wanted to avoid in round one, it’s Philipp Kohlschreiber. He has proved himself to be a huge threat on the surface winning on the grass in Halle four years ago, and also almost beating Federer, who went onto win the tournament there, just under two weeks ago. This will be a huge test for the world number one and he will need a fast start in order to get past the German but if there is anything we have learned about Novak Djokovic in the past few years, it is that he does not lose early in slams. The Serb will be pushed in what should be an incredibly entertaining round one match but he will prevail.
Prediction: Djokovic in 4.
Martin Klizan vs Fernando Verdasco:
Niall: A battle between two lefties with big forehands here. Both are streaky players, meaning they can play very well or very bad. Expect a lot of momentum shifts in this one, and it will likely be down to who can sustain an average level for longer. A match that could go either way, but I am going with Klizan in five sets.
Prediction: Klizan in 5.
Stefano: Klizan is everything but a grass court specialist whilst Nando often performed well on the surface. The Spaniard didn’t have any notable results in the previous weeks (beat two compatriots and lost to Murray and Haase) but his decent form should be enough for him to beat the Slovak.
Prediction: Verdasco in 4.
Jason: Two left handers, two talented shot makers, and two amazing forehands. If both of these men show up for their meeting it will be a sight to behold, but unfortunately if the past is anything to go by they won’t. Both men are not in the best of form and the Slovakian player has yet to even play a match on grass this year. In the first meeting between the pair I expect the former quarter-finalist to prevail based on experience alone.
Prediction: Verdasco in 4.
Lleyton Hewitt vs Jarkko Nieminen:
Niall: Both are playing their last Wimbledon tournament, so it is a shame one of them will have to bow out so early. This could be a good match between two experienced and crafty players. It will likely go fair long, but I feel Hewitt is the better grass courter and in the end will prevail.
Prediction: Hewitt In 5
Stefano: Both 34 years old, and playing their last Wimbledon tournament: this match will show intense emotions. Hewitt on grass has always been very dangerous even after the peak of his career, and he played quite good tennis in the last weeks. Nieminen did not show any good signs of form lately so I think Hewitt will win this without much trouble.
Prediction: Hewitt in 4.
Jason: In what will be their last ever Wimbledon for both veterans, it is pretty sad one is going to have to go home in the very first round. Nieminen’s form has been far from good the last few months, but Hewitt has only won one match all year. But you know what, I do not think form matters with this match, I expect the former champion’s last ever SW19 visit to motivate him to his best tennis of the year, and produce a highly competitive tight affair with him coming out on top.
Prediction: Hewitt in 5.
Kei Nishikori vs Simone Bolelli:
Niall: These two played an epic five setter last year, and Nishikori scraped the victory. Bolelli will feel he probably should have won that match, but here he gets another chance that the Japanese star. Bolelli is a talented player and proved he can test Nishikori last year, but he is another one who can be let down by the mental game. Nishikori will come in to this match in better shape, and therefore will take it in more straight forward fashion.
Prediction: Nishikori in 4
Stefano: Last year Bolelli probably played one of the best matches of his whole career against Kei at Wimbledon. Bolelli comes in to the tournament with good confidence and surely knows he will have chances. Kei on the other hand had to retire against Seppi in Halle 10 days ago and he showed again how he can be fragile. If you do not have good preparation, a best of five sets match can be very tough. I think we can have an upset here.
Prediction: Bolelli in 4.
Jason: A rematch of last year’s epic round three meeting in which Nishikori won 6-4 in the fifth after being down 2 sets to 1 down. This year things are a little bit different with the Japanese man looking like a legitimate slam contender and a better player overall. Despite his injury worries in Halle where he pulled out of the semis, he insists he is once again fit and fully ready to start his 2015 Wimbledon campaign. It won’t be an easy start for the world number five but it will not be as tight as their encounter last year.
Prediction: Nishikori in 4.
Donald Young vs Marcos Baghdatis:
Niall: Baghdatis showed a good level of tennis in Nottingham, but unfortunately he had to withdraw before the semi-final. Young is capable of playing good tennis too and could quite easily defeat the former Australian Open finalist. I think this could go long, but I am unsure how Baghdatis is feeling. If he is ok, then Baghdatis, but if not then I predict Young.
Prediction: Baghdatis in 5
Stefano: On paper, considering the form and the surface this should have been a quite easy task for Baghdatis. The injury he had in the Nottingham Semifinal looked quite important, so I am pretty surprised he is playing here. I think there is a decent chance that the Cypriot will not be able to finish the match, so even though Baghdatis is surely the better player on this surface, I will go with Young to win in three (or by retirement).
Prediction: Young in 3
Jason: It was only last week that Baghdatis was producing some of the best tennis he has produced in recent years until coming up with a leg injury against Denis Istomin in the Nottingham semis. Given that the Cypriot has not yet pulled out of Wimbledon, one would like to hope it was just for precautionary reasons that he pulled out last week. Donald Young on the other hand has not won an ATP tour match since March and to make matters even worse he has only won two sets since. If Baghdatis is anywhere near fit he should brush aside the 25 year old American with relative ease.
Prediction: Baghdatis in 3
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