Summertime is in full swing in Europe, and that means one thing: the 2026 Wimbledon Championships are upon us. The intrigue at the most prestigious event in tennis could not be higher on the men’s side as American Tommy Paul looks to make a dark-horse run into the second week. As always, we at LWOT offer our roundtable analysis and predictions on each match. Let’s dive in.
Wimbledon Day 1 Predictions
Cameron Norrie vs Michael Zheng
Ilemona
Norrie always seems comfortable on the Wimbledon lawns, where his left-handed patterns and defensive skills are especially effective. Zheng has earned his place in the main draw with some strong results in qualifying, but Norrie’s experience on this stage should help him navigate the contest.
Prediction: Norrie in 3
Zain
Michael Zheng has the serve and baseline game that can prove to be effective on grass. But his inexperience on this surface, when he is up against someone who has made multiple second weeks at Wimbledon, might prove costly here. Expect Cameron Norrie to hold the edge from the baseline and earn a well-deserved win.
Prediction: Norrie in 4
Tope
Michael Zheng enters Wimbledon after three qualifying wins and now faces British number one Cameron Norrie in the first round. Norrie brings serious grass-court credentials to the match, having reached the semifinals four years ago. The concern for the home crowd’s favourite, though, is form, with no win since late April. Zheng has the firepower to make this uncomfortable for Norrie, and a player returning from injury and short on confidence is precisely the kind of opponent a hungry qualifier targets. Norrie remains the favourite on pedigree alone, but he will need to find his best tennis quickly or Zheng will make him pay.
Prediction: Zheng in 5
Aleksandar Kovacevic vs Botic van de Zandschulp
Ilemona
Kovacevic has quietly put together a solid season and has shown he can be dangerous on faster courts. Van de Zandschulp’s all-round game makes him a tricky opponent, but his inconsistency over the past year could give Kovacevic enough opportunities to edge this matchup.
Prediction: Kovacevic in 5
Zain
While Botic van de Zandschulp has the weapons in his serve and forehand to do well on grass, Aleksandar Kovacevic’s aggressive baseline game could translate well to the surface. But in a best-of-five match, it is likely that the Dutchman problem-solves his way through and wins the match on the back of earning more free points.
Prediction: van de Zandschulp in 4
Tope
Aleksandar Kovacevic arrives at Wimbledon having endured a difficult grass-court swing and another defeat in Eastbourne leaves him searching for rhythm at the worst possible time. Botic van de Zandschulp is hardly in blistering form either, but the Dutchman carries the psychological edge having come from a set down to beat Kovacevic at the Italian Open last month. His 2022 run to the Wimbledon round of 16 also speaks to a genuine comfort on grass that his opponent simply cannot match right now. Van de Zandschulp’s serve will be the key variable.
Prediction: van de Zandschulp in 4
Jan-Lennard Struff vs Sebastian Baez
Ilemona
Grass has traditionally brought out Struff’s best tennis, with his powerful serve and first-strike game becoming even more effective on the quicker surface. Baez has worked hard to improve away from clay, but he may struggle to consistently neutralize Struff’s attacking style.
Prediction: Struff in 4
Zain
This matchup pits the traditional clay-courter Sebastian Baez against the big-serving and powerful forehand of Jan-Lennard Struff. Struff has had positive results at Wimbledon before, and given the difference in power and serve between the two players, he should have what it takes to win this match.
Prediction: Struff in 5
Tope
Jan-Lennard Struff has a way of finding another gear when the Slams come around, and four third-round appearances here speak to that. Last year, he knocked out Felix Auger-Aliassime and pushed Carlos Alcaraz to the brink, and that kind of big-match resilience doesn’t simply disappear. Baez, meanwhile, rode a brilliant start to 2025 before the European clay season unravelled into a string of early exits, Roland Garros included. The surface shift to grass only deepens his problems: his game is built for slow, high-bouncing conditions, while Struff’s flat, aggressive hitting is tailor-made for the pace of the Wimbledon courts. Expect the German to make the most of it.
Prediction: Struff in 3
Tommy Paul vs Alexandre Muller
Ilemona
Paul has become one of the more reliable performers on grass thanks to his movement, athleticism, and ability to transition forward. Muller is capable of playing aggressive tennis, but Paul has more weapons to consistently pressure his opponent’s serve.
Prediction: Paul in 3
Zain
Alexandre Muller’s baseline game can cause problems for many opponents, especially in the first match of a Major, but Tommy Paul has the creative tools and physical abilities to have success in this match. Expect the American to mix things up from the baseline, come to the net, and, when needed, defend for that extra ball retrieval to ultimately win this match.
Prediction: Paul in 4
Tope
Alexandre Muller is enduring a torrid season with no tour-level win since April and a ranking adrift outside the top 100. Tommy Paul, by contrast, has been one of the ATP’s busiest finalists in 2025, reaching four title matches. The American’s grass-court form is sharp and leads their head-to-head. Muller will need to rediscover something that has eluded him for most of this season just to make it competitive. On paper, this is Paul’s match to lose.
Prediction: Paul in 3
Main Photo Credit: Aaron Doster – Imagn Images
