There should be plenty of entertaining tennis on day two at Wimbledon. There are 32 matches on the schedule at the All England Club and, as ever, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match, including Matteo Berrettini vs Guido Pella, Roger Federer vs Adrian Mannarino, Fernando Verdasco vs Grigor Dimitrov, Nick Kyrgios vs Ugo Humbert, Jan-Lennard Struff vs Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev vs Tallon Griekspoor and Kei Nishikori vs Alexei Popyrin. But who will reach the round of 64?
Wimbledon Day 2 Predictions
John Isner vs Yoshihito Nishioka
Jim: Take his serve out of the equation and John Isner is not much of a grass-courter. But fortunately for the American, he can still rely on his hammer of a first serve. Yoshihito Nishioka is a fine returner and covers the court superbly, but Isner’s power should see him safely into the second round.
Prediction: Isner in 4
Jakub: The 36-year-old American has an odd history at Wimbledon, making a semifinal seemingly out of nowhere in 2018, not going past the third-round there ever before or since. Isner didn’t play any lead-up events, so it is difficult to predict how he will do. His opponent has not found success on grass though. Nishioka has never won a main draw match at Wimbledon and lost his only lead-up match in straight sets to Andreas Seppi.
Prediction: Isner in 3
Anurag: At Wimbledon, Nishioka has an uphill task against the American’s mammoth service game. I can’t think of anything, but Isner in straight sets, unless he is having a particularly bad day.
Prediction: Isner in 3
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Richard Gasquet vs Yuichi Sugita
Jim: Richard Gasquet may not be the force he once was, but the Frenchman showed what he is still capable of by reaching the quarterfinals in Nottingham only for injury to end his week. He has not played since, leaving the state of his game and his fitness uncertain. But if he is fit, he should be able to get the better of Yuichi Sugita, who has struggled to find consistent success since winning his first and thus far only title in Antalya four years ago.
Prediction: Gasquet in 4
Jakub: Though Gasquet is a very good grass-court player and two-time semifinalist at Wimbledon, it’s tough to expect much from him here as he retired from his match against Alex Bolt in Nottingham two weeks ago. If the Frenchman is going to beat anyone though, it would be Sugita, a 32-year-old with one main-draw win at Wimbledon in his career, in the middle of a five-match losing streak, who won just three games in his only lead-up match on grass.
Prediction: Gasquet in 3
Anurag: Gasquet has an excellent record on grass and he is also in good form this year with a 10-8 record. Their last meeting was at the US Open where Gasquet prevailed. The Japanese is not bad on grass either, but I take Gasquet on his ATP standing.
Prediction: Gasquet in 4
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Filip Krajinovic vs Alex Bolt
Jim: Alex Bolt arrives at Wimbledon having won his last seven matches after coming through the qualifying to win the title at the Nottingham Challenger. With Filip Krajinovic in no kind of form at all, the Australian looks to be in good position to pick up win number eight.
Prediction: Bolt in 4
Jakub: Krajinovic has never made it past the first round and don’t expect him to make it this time. Bolt is also looking for his first main-draw win and may have been on a seven-match losing streak throughout the clay season, but the Australian broke it by winning the second Nottingham challenger.
Prediction: Bolt in 4
Anurag: Krajinovic has arguably a better grass-court record, but Bolt got the better of a strong field at the Nottingham Challenger. Bolt has my vote.
Prediction: Bolt in 5
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Hubert Hurkacz vs Lorenzo Musetti
Jim: For all his success at the French Open, one suspects Lorenzo Musetti will not find things quite so simple at Wimbledon. He likes to take big cuts at the ball which allows him to generate formidable power, but it can also leave him vulnerable to being rushed. Hubert Hurkacz may well be short of confidence after a dreadful run of form, but this is a more than winnable match for the Pole.
Prediction: Hurkacz in 5
Jakub: Hurkacz is the 14th seed but comes into Wimbledon in terrible form. Since winning the biggest title of his career so far in Miami, the Pole’s record has been 1-6, including losses to players such as Botic Van De Zandschulp or Dominic Stricker. Musetti also comes into Wimbledon with uncertainty, not playing since his retirement at the French Open against Djokovic. This might be a good opportunity for Hurkacz to break his losing streak, but it is impossible to know what to expect from his opponent.
Prediction: Hurkacz in 5
Anurag: Both are in for a bumpy ride. The flamboyant Italian has made major strides this year. Hurkacz has also had a phenomenal year having beaten big names, but he is ruefully short of practice and form currently, especially on grass. It is a bit hard to see the Pole’s service game outclass Musetti’s versatile play.
Prediction: Musetti in 4
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