With 64 players in action, day two at the All England Club should not lack star wattage. As ever, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the schedule at Wimbledon, including Matteo Berrettini vs Guido Pella, Roger Federer vs Adrian Mannarino, Fernando Verdasco vs Grigor Dimitrov, Nick Kyrgios vs Ugo Humbert, Hubert Hurkacz vs Lorenzo Musetti, Alexander Zverev vs Tallon Griekspoor and Jan-Lennard Struff vs Daniil Medvedev. But who will reach the round of 64?
Wimbledon Day 2 Predictions
Kei Nishikori vs Alexei Popyrin
Jim: Kei Nishikori took some time to adjust to grass-court tennis, but the Japanese has posted some very impressive results on this surface, reaching back-to-back Wimbledon quarterfinals in 2018 and 2019. It is hard to see him repeating that feat this year and Alexei Popyrin has the talent to make this a difficult day at the office for the Japanese. But Nishikori should have just about enough to secure a spot in the second round.
Prediction: Nishikori in 4
Jakub: Nishikori reached the quarterfinals both times in his last two appearances, and though he went 1-1 in his lead-up, he should definitely be the favorite over Popyrin. The 21-year-old Australian did have a good debut at Wimbledon in 2019, qualifying to reach the second round, but went 1-3 in his lead-up this year.
Prediction: Nishikori in 5
Yesh: This should be a great match. Both players are powerful, fine on grass, and good competitors at the Slams. This should be tight, which means to always go with Nishikori in a fifth set.
Prediction: Nishikori in 5
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Jordan Thompson vs Casper Ruud
Jim: Casper Ruud has a game that is primarily built for clay courts. Wimbledon is unlikely to ever be a particularly happy hunting ground for the Norwegian as a result. But his rise into the top 20 has been built on more than just clay-court success. His groundstrokes and serve are solid, and he can inject real pace into his forehand. Thompson too has a useful forehand, but the rest of his game is less likely to stand up to a sustained examination from Ruud.
Prediction: Ruud in 3
Jakub: Casper Ruud is the 12th seed, though he only got his first career wins on grass a week ago in Mallorca. He can get his debut Wimbledon win against Thompson, who is a decent grass court player (2019 s-Hertogenbosch finalist), but has only won two sets in four matches at Wimbledon.
Prediction: Ruud in 4
Yesh: Ruud is a better player… on any other surface. The grass at Wimbledon will suit Thompson’s game and Ruud won’t be able to break serve.
Prediction: Thompson in 4
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Steve Johnson vs Dennis Novak
Jim: Steve Johnson was in no kind of form at all earlier in the season, but the American managed to battle into the third round at the French Open, beating Frances Tiafoe and Thiago Monteiro – both in five sets – before losing to Pablo Carreno Busta. That will surely have given him real confidence heading into a tournament he has enjoyed success at before. If he can find the level he displayed at the French Open, expect him to get the better of Dennis Novak.
Prediction: Johnson in 3
Jakub: Johnson is experienced on grass, having reached the second week of Wimbledon before, but his form is questionable as he did not enter any warm-up tournaments and has only won two matches this season. Dennis Novak impressed in his Wimbledon main draw debut, reaching the third round as a qualifier, but the Austrian didn’t impress in his lead-up, taking losses to Ricardas Berankis and Altug Celikbilek.
Prediction: Novak in 4
Yesh: Steve Johnson is solid from the baseline and fine on grass. That should be enough for to take care of a similar player, who is slightly less solid from the baseline, and reach the second round at Wimbledon.
Prediction: Johnson in 3
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Mikhail Kukushkin vs Alexander Bublik
Jim: This is a disastrous draw for fans of Kazakh tennis, but it should be an entertaining match. Mikhail Kukushkin’s flat penetrating groundstrokes make him a very dangerous opponent on this surface, but it may well be Alexander Bublik who has the edge here. Kukushkin is not the force he once was and Bublik has a combination of power and good touch that is typically rewarded on faster surfaces.
Prediction: Bublik in 4
Jakub: A rematch from Eastbourne between the top two Kazakh players. Bublik was the one to come out on top quite easily, winning 6-1 6-4 then, and there’s no reason why he shouldn’t win again. The 24-year-old is a good grass-court player and should be the favorite.
Prediction: Bublik in 4
Yesh: This should be fun. I mean, Bublik’s matches are always fun. But this should be a tight match as well. Kukushkin can hang with the young maverick, but I expect Bublik to eventually find a way through.
Prediction: Bublik in 4
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