Canadian tennis fans will savor the Felix Auger-Aliassime vs Vasek Pospisil match on day 1 of Wimbledon, while shotmakers Ernests Gulbis and Benoit Paire are also in action. Our panel of Steen Kirby and Yesh Ginsburg offer their predictions. We also have predictions for matches featuring Novak Djokovic, Gael Monfils, and Alexander Zverev.
Felix Auger-Aliassime vs Vasek Pospisil
Yesh: This all-Canadian battle will pit Canada’s former future star (Pospisil) against its current future star (Auger-Aliassime). Something tells me that Auger-Aliassime won’t flame out like Pospisil did. Auger-Aliassime in 3
Steen: FAA is 10-3 in his last three tournaments while the outspoken Pospisil hasn’t played this season. Felix is a dark horse this Wimbledon and he should get off to a strong start in this one. Auger-Aliassime in 3
Benoit Paire vs Juan Ignacio Londero
Yesh: Londero is having the year of his life. His reward is a battle with the mercurial Benoit Paire in the first round of Wimbledon. I’m not sure how far the Argentine can go in this tournament, but he has at least one upset in him. Londero in 5
Steen: After a nice run at Roland Garros, his home slam, Paire has struggled on grass. Londero is far from a world beater on the surface either but he’s had the better season and you just can’t trust Paire these days. Londero in 4
Ernests Gulbis vs Leonardo Mayer
Yesh: Ernests Gulbis didn’t need to qualify for this year’s Wimbledon, but he did have an astoundingly bad loss in his tune-up in Antalya. His form is awful right now, and Wimbledon won’t fix it. Mayer in 3
Steen: Gulbis has lost his last five matches on tour, and despite the fact he’s capable on this surface, he should lose this match to the more reliable veteran Mayer. Mayer in 5
Hubert Hurkacz vs Dusan Lajovic
Yesh: This is really disappointing to see in the first round. Both of these players will be Slam contenders in the future, and each is steadily improving. I trust Hurkacz more on grass, but this could definitely go either way. Hurkacz in 4
Steen: Lajovic is a good player but Hurkacz’s game translates better to grass and he should be in more comfortable form right now. Look for the Pole to pull the upset in terms of ranking and continue to build a name for himself on tour. Hurkacz in 4
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