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 Frances Tiafoe vs Terence Atmane, Ben Shelton vs Otto Virtanen, Alexander Bublik vs Thanasi Kokkinakis, 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
Alejandro Tabilo vs Kamil Majchrzak
Amanda:
This is the third time Alejandro Tabilo and Kamil Majchrzak will meet in the first round of a Grand Slam, with Tabilo winning the previous two meetings. However, Majchrzak is a much stronger player on grass and can eke out the win this time.
Prediction: Majchrzak in 5
Cizu:
Interesting that these two only ever meet in Grand Slams. Tabilo won him at the just-concluded French Open to bring up a 2-0 head-to-head. This surface though, tilts the boat. Furthermore, while Majchrzak has enjoyed a stellar grass court swing, which included a title, Tabilo has barely registered, losing his two matches in straights. This time, the Pole gets one back on the biggest stage.
Prediction: Majchrzak in 4
Tope:
Kamil Majchrzak is in genuine grass-court form, having claimed his maiden tour title at the Libema Open with wins over Auger-Aliassime, Medvedev and De Minaur in succession. Tabilo, by contrast, has looked out of sorts all fortnight, beaten early in both Mallorca and Queen’s and will need a significant step up to trouble a man now clearly in his element on the surface. Back the Pole to carry his momentum through.
Prediction: Majchrzak in 4
Flavio Cobolli vs Mariano Navone
Amanda:
Mariano Navone has won only one match at Wimbledon in his career, and though Flavio Cobolli doesn’t have any grass wins this year, his Wimbledon quarterfinal run last year showed how well he competes on the surface. Cobolli is the better player and more comfortable on grass, he just might need some time to settle into the match.
Prediction: Cobolli in 4
Cizu:
Both players lost their only matches on grass. However it is Cobolli who must be arriving here in full confidence having just had the run of his life at the French Open. Cobolli also has a decent enough and strong forehand which should favour him massively on this surface against what is in reality, a clay court player.
Prediction: Cobolli in 3
Tope:
Flavio Cobolli’s quarterfinal run here last year confirms he can handle grass when it matters. Navone is the more battle-hardened clay-courter, and while he showed enough grit to win a round here in 2024, grass remains his least comfortable surface. Cobolli should have too much firepower here.
Prediction: Cobolli in 3
Kyrian Jacquet vs Vilius Gaubas
Amanda:
Both Vilius Gaubas and Kyrian Jacquet came through qualifying, and Jacquet had a much more dominant run than Gaubas. This is a Wimbledon main draw debut for both players, and Jacquet has been just a bit stronger in the leadup.
Prediction: Jacquet in 4
Cizu:
Two qualifiers face off with a chance to make the second round on the line. Jacquet looked more convincing in his passage through qualification. He has also spent significantly more time on the grass coming into this and that should prove crucial.
Prediction: Jacquet in 4
Tope:
Two qualifiers, one grudge match. Kyrian Jacquet holds a 2-0 head-to-head over Vilius Gaubas, winning their Wimbledon qualifying clash last year and a Challenger meeting in San Marino and that psychological edge could prove decisive on a stage where neither man has gone beyond the first round of a Major. Jacquet looks sharper, but Gaubas’s five-set grind past Lajovic in qualifying shows he won’t fold under pressure.
Prediction: Jacquet in 5
Alexander Zverev vs Alexander Blockx
Amanda:
Alexander Zverev lost in the first round of Wimbledon last year, but Alexander Blockx should be a fairly straightforward first-round for him. Blockx has very little experience on grass and hasn’t played since his injury at the French Open.
Prediction: Zverev in 3
Cizu:
Really unlucky for the young Belgian to get Zverev in the very first round because Blockx has shown good things lately. The pair of them played twice last month and Blockx barely troubled the German. On a surface rewarding first strike tennis, and against a player buoyed by finally winning his first Grand Slam, the signs are ominous.
Prediction: Zverev in 3
Tope:
Alexander Blockx walks into his Wimbledon debut under a cloud; his ankle injury at Roland Garros has kept him off court for weeks, and his level heading into SW19 is anyone’s guess. Zverev, meanwhile, arrives as a Grand Slam champion for the first time, having finally claimed the major he long deserved at Roland Garros, even if a Halle semifinal loss to Fritz hinted that his grass-court game still has its limits. With a 2-0 head-to-head advantage and a returning opponent whose fitness remains a question mark, Zverev should advance but his historically modest SW19 record means nothing can be taken entirely for granted.
Prediction: Zverev in 4
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images
