Day 1 at Wimbledon sees veterans Gilles Simon and Kevin Anderson looking to get past their round 1 matches while Marton Fucsovics aims to upset Jannik Sinner. Our panelists have all your predictions for day 1 of the tournament.
Marton Fucsovics vs Jannik Sinner
Pablo Mosquera Hasselbaink: When it comes to spoiling Major draws, Fucsovics is a Hall of Famer. Even Mount Rushmore material. The Hungarian has a knack for peaking at Slams. In turn, Sinner’s best results have come at ATP events. The young Italian has to be on upset alert here. Fucsovics in 5
Damian Kust: Sinner’s grass-court experience is very scarce and it puts him under a bit of an upset alert here. Especially against Fucsovics, who is a nightmare to play against and sort of specializes in these Grand Slam upsets. This could really go either way. Fucsovics in 5
Kevin Anderson vs Marcelo Tomas Barrios Vera
Pablo: A few seasons ago, this pick would have been a no-brainer. But Anderson is a shell of his former self. Meanwhile, Barrios Vera sneaked through qualifying despite barely practicing on grass ahead of the tournament. Sorry, University of Illinois’s fans, but the Chilean can pull this off. Barrios Vera in 4
Damian: Barrios Vera’s qualifying success came as a huge surprise, as the Chilean usually only performs his best on clay. Feels like the upset here can only happen if Anderson’s really struggling physically. He definitely isn’t in top shape, but he should have enough to pull through. Anderson in 4
Karen Khachanov vs Mackenzie McDonald
Pablo: Khachanov has the bigger weapons, McDonald is more clutch. The Russian has dropped close matches again and again in 2021. McDonald’s game isn’t tailor-made for grass, but he’s been a competitive monster this season. In the final round of qualifying, he overcame a two-set deficit against his UCLA pal Maxime Cressy. Few players on tour can match his will to win. McDonald in 5
Damian: McDonald was the marathon man in the qualies but if he manages to recover, he should have a very good shot here. Khachanov’s badly out of form and seems to be very low on confidence at the moment. Perhaps the American can win yet another dramatic match. McDonald in 5
Dusan Lajovic vs Gilles Simon
Pablo: I’ve seen more appealing matches than this one. Simon is 2-12 on the season, while Lajovic has won a meager 23.5% of his career matches on grass. Both should be happy with the draw. Whoever wins will be a big underdog in the second round. Simon looked too hopeless in Mallorca for me to have any faith in him. Lajovic in 4
Damian: Both men are in a terrible slump, Simon lost his last nine matches, while Lajovic fell in the opening round of 7 of the 8 previous events he played. The surface definitely suits the Frenchman, but Lajovic was also capable of playing good tennis on the grass before. If the Serb can make it go long, he should have a physical advantage over the 36-year-old. Lajovic in 5
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