Expect plenty of entertaining tennis on day one at Wimbledon. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the schedule, including Elise Mertens vs Camila Osorio, Emma Raducanu vs Alison van Uytvanck, Maria Sakkari vs Zoe Hives, Ons Jabeur vs Mirjam Bjorklund, Anett Kontaveit vs Bernarda Pera, Danielle Collins vs Marie Bouzkova, and Beatriz Haddad Maia vs Kaja Juvan. But who will reach the second round in SW19?
Wimbledon Day 1 Predictions
Belinda Bencic vs Wang Qiang
Jim: Belinda Bencic does not have a particularly impressive record at Wimbledon, but she has only lost in the first round once (albeit that was last year). Wang Qiang, meanwhile, seems to have rather lost her way over the past year or so. This should be comfortable enough for the Swiss.
Prediction: Bencic in 2
Yesh: Bencic very rarely pulls out huge results at the biggest events (last year’s Gold Medal notwithstanding), but she is generally solid in early round. This will be a stiff test, but the Swiss should be able to pass it.
Prediction: Bencic in 3
Jakub: Bencic was looking like a potential contender, fighting three-set battles in all her wins in Berlin until the final. The Swiss had to retire in the second set due to an ankle injury, putting her Wimbledon chances in jeopardy. Wang made the third round in her last Wimbledon appearance three years ago though her grass season was not the most impressive. The 30-year-old only won one in four matches but did well at an exhibition in Liverpool, which might give her a bit of confidence. The result here hinges on Bencic’s ankle as Wang’s chances are very slim if the Swiss is healthy.
Prediction: Bencic in 2
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Viktoriya Tomova vs Daria Saville
Jim: It has been a good season for Daria Saville. She has been a patchy on the grass, however, whilst Tomova has looked sharp, not least in reaching the last eight in Eastbourne as a qualifier. Expect the Bulgarian to be the player to reach the second round.
Yesh: Saville is in the midst of something of a career renaissance this year after a tough time with injuries for the Australian. I’m expecting it to continue into Wimbledon.
Prediction: Saville in 2
Jakub: Tomova had an interesting week in Eastbourne, reaching the quarterfinal as a lucky loser and avenging her qualifying loss to Kirsten Flipkens in the second round. The Bulgarian is a decent grass player, previously reaching the second round here as a qualifier back in 2018. Since the Saville’s great sunshine swing, the results have been up and down. The Australian beat Jil Teichmann in Berlin but lost to Yuriko Miyazaki a week later. It’s a close match-up and I will lean towards Tomova on current form.
Prediction: Tomova in 3
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Katie Swan vs Marta Kostyuk
Jim: Marta Kostyuk has struggled to build much momentum over the last season and a half, with the Ukrainian still searching for a breakout result. It will surely come sooner rather than later, and she has still has time on her side either way. But it may not come here. Katie Swan will have the crowd right behind and has plenty of talent.
Prediction: Swan in 3
Yesh: Kostyuk should, in theory, love the grass, but it hasn’t quite worked out that way so far for the Ukrainian. And she’s up against a Brit to boot–and the Brits are all impressing on grass so far this year.
Prediction: Swan in 3
Jakub: The former great British hope Katie Swan has become a decent grass player, qualifying for Wimbledon last season and earning wins over Tamara Korpatsch and Sloane Stephens in Bad Homburg this year. Kostyuk only played one warm-up but certainly impressed in Eastbourne last week, allowing Viktorija Golubic just three games and taking out Barbora Krejcikova. The Ukrainian is the favourite for me though Swan could certainly mix it up if she gets a lift from the crowd.
Prediction: Kostyuk in 3
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Katerina Siniakova vs Maja Chwalinska
Jim: Katerina Siniakova is more at home on the clay than the grass, benefitting from the extra time afforded to her to wind up her powerful groundstrokes. But she still has the necessary tools to succeed on the grass, not least an excellent game in the forecourt. She should have too much for the qualifier Maja Chwalinska.
Prediction: Siniakova in 2
Yesh: A bit of a tough draw for Chwalinska, who is looking for her first ever career win in a Major main draw. She was impressive in qualifying, but Siniakova is likely a step too far.
Prediction: Siniakova in 2
Jakub: Siniakova has had a tough season and hoped to kickstart it on grass and pick up where she left off last grass season, when the Czech made the final in Bad Homburg and the third round at Wimbledon. Siniakova was handed tough draws in Berlin and Bad Homburg but fought hard, pushing both Bianca Andreescu and Simona Halep. Chwalinska is having an impressive season, overcoming depression and winning two ITF titles to break into the top 200.
The Pole spoke about her mental health struggles that lead her to shut down her season after Wimbledon qualifying last year. 12 months later, the 20-year-old is set to make her Grand Slam debut after defeating former-#9 CoCo Vandeweghe in the final round of qualifying. It should be an interesting match, but I see the experience of Siniakova coming out on top.
Prediction: Siniakova in 3
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