We will see half of the first round on Day 2 at Wimbledon, which means a whopping 32 men’s singles matches on the slate. And, as always, our team here at LastWordOnTennis will share their thoughts on every single match with you. We split the 32 matches between eight articles, with the other articles featuring Alexander Zverev vs Alexander Blockx, Ben Shelton vs Otto Virtanen, Frances Tiafoe vs Terence Atmane, Alex de Minaur vs Roman Andres Burruchaga, Matteo Arnaldi vs Quentin Halys, Stan Wawrinka vs Matteo Berrettini, and Jakub Mensik vs Toby Samuel. Predicting these matches are Amanda Bergman, Cizu Harbor, and Tope Oke. Who do you think will advance?
Wimbledon Day 2 Predictions
Yannick Hanfmann vs Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard
Amanda:
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard got extremely unlucky in the first round of Wimbledon last year with a close loss to Taylor Fritz, but this year he has a much kinder draw in the form of Yannick Hanfmann. Hanfmann simply doesn’t have the serve to keep up with Mpetshi Perricard on this surface and will have difficulty on return, so his only hope will be to push sets to tiebreaks, which still slightly favor Mpetshi Perricard.
Prediction: Mpetshi Perricard in 4
Cizu:
If Mpetshi Perricard can somehow raise other aspects of his game above average on the day, then this is a match he can absolutely win by staying true on serve. The German, Hanfmann, will hope for a few drawn-out rallies to give himself a chance. I’ll go with the Frenchman on surfaces that should be playing faster, since it’s early days.
Prediction: Mpetshi Perricard in 4
Tope:
Yannick Hanfmann is still without a win on these courts, but milestone moments have a way of unlocking something and the German looks primed to change that. Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard brings thunder off the first serve, though his early Queens exit suggests the grass hasn’t fully clicked yet. Expect Hanfmann’s all-court variety to grind the Frenchman down once the rallies stretch:
Prediction: Hanfmann in 4
Ugo Humbert vs Zizou Bergs
Amanda:
Two days after the Eastbourne final, Ugo Humbert and Zizou Bergs will meet again in the first round of Wimbledon. Bergs won the match in Eastbourne, coming back from a set down, but Humbert has a stronger best-of-five record than Bergs and can turn the matchup around.
Prediction: Humbert in 4
Cizu:
Bergs just got the better of Humbert a couple of days ago in the Eastbourne final. That makes this an even more interesting match-up. The best-of-five format also adds intrigue. On the faster surfaces of Wimbledon, things probably favor Humbert. Expect the Frenchman to have the final say.
Prediction: Humbert in 5
Tope:
Zizou Bergs will be riding the high of his first ATP title, clinched in Eastbourne just days ago but his first-round draw hands him an immediate test of whether that momentum is real. Humbert, who pushed Bergs all the way before dropping the Eastbourne final from a set up, will be desperate to flip the script on grass he has navigated well this season. Expect a tight, mentally charged contest but back Humbert to channel his frustration into the sharper performance.
Prediction: Humbert in 4
Alex Michelsen vs Jacob Fearnley
Amanda:
Alex Michelsen tends to be a strong grass-court player, but he’s been injured for the entirety of grass season. Coming back from injury immediately to best-of-five on grass will be a tough adjustment, and Jacob Fearnley is a capable opponent that can take advantage of Michelsen’s rustiness.
Prediction: Fearnley in 4
Cizu:
While Fearnley has been fairly busy on the surface, Michelsen hasn’t played a single match since Roland Garros. Unless you’re one of the best players in the world, such a situation can be risky, especially when your opponent will have the full backing of the home crowd. Expect a see-saw match that I think Fearnley wins.
Prediction: Fearnley in 5
Tope:
Alex Michelsen skipped the grass-court swing entirely and arrives at SW19 winless in two previous appearances, a concerning résumé against a home favorite. Jacob Fearnley brings crowd energy but his ranking has slipped outside the top 150 and his first-round Wimbledon record is no better. Michelsen’s flat ball-striking and big serve are tailor-made for this surface, and if he controls the rallies early, the American should grind out a winning debut.
Prediction: Michelsen in 4
Alexander Bublik vs Thanasi Kokkinakis
Amanda:
Although Thanasi Kokkinakis has been struggling with injury, he can always make a Grand Slam match complicated and certainly has the potential to knock out Alexander Bublik, who is a good grass courter but also incredibly inconsistent. Kokkinakis may just have another monumental Grand Slam match in him, and Bublik’s current up-and-down form gives him an opening.
Prediction: Kokkinakis in 5
Cizu:
Thishould be a serve-dominated affair littered with many quick points and probably a couple of tiebreakers. Bublik certainly has the extra skills when necessary. And as long as he remains dialed in, he should edge this one.
Prediction: Bublik in 4
Tope:
Thanasi Kokkinakis arrives at Wimbledon carrying familiar injury baggage, raising real questions about his fitness across five sets. Bublik, meanwhile, has unfinished business after last year’s first-round exit to Jaume Munar, though his own Halle title defence ended in a shock defeat to Matteo Bellucci. The Kazakhstani’s grass-court pedigree and overall quality make him the favourite, but Kokkinakis’ serve can make this uncomfortable before Bublik pulls through.
Prediction: Bublik in 4
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
