The Eastbourne International is the last warm-up tournament on grass ahead of Wimbledon. All the players playing Eastbourne will be hoping to gain positive momentum in preparation for the third Major of the year. The first day will feature some up-and-coming NextGen stars, some exciting British talent and some old names you may recognise. But who will reach the second round?
Eastbourne International Day 1 Predictions
Cameron Norrie vs Jeremy Chardy
Head-to-head: Norrie 1-0 Chardy
Both players have had up-and-down 2019 seasons thus far. Britain’s Cameron Norrie reached the final in Auckland in January, but has yet to replicate that performance and is currently on a four-match losing streak. But he did start his grass-court season with a positive performance in a three-set loss to Kevin Anderson at Queen’s. Jeremy Chardy, meanwhile, has lost four of his last five matches.
It is safe to say neither player is playing with a lot of confidence. Norrie will definitely get the home crowd support, but will it be enough for him to get over the finish line? It will be a close match and could go either way, but Chardy is the slight favourite to edge through because of his greater experience and consistency, as well as the reliable weapon he has in his powerful forehand.
Prediction: Chardy in three.
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Hubert Hurkacz vs Marco Cecchinato
Head-to-head: first meeting
Even though Marco Cecchinato is the seeded player, Hubert Hurkacz is arguably the favourite to come through in this first-round clash. Cecchinato, a semifinalist at Roland Garros in 2018, is not nearly as good on grass as he is on clay and is not in the best of form after losing in the first round in Paris this season. And even though Cecchinato arguably has more experience, the young Pole plays with no fear and has a solid all-round game that should translate well to the grass courts at Devonshire Park. Expect Hurkacz’s big serve to take him to a reasonably comfortable victory and a place in the next round.
Prediction: Hurkacz in two.
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Nicolas Jarry vs Pablo Cuevas
Head-to-head: Jarry 1-0 Cuevas
The fact that Nicolas Jarry just beat world #6 Stefanos Tsitsipas on grass in Stuttgart illustrates what an effective grass-courter he can be on his day. Another factor is that Pablo Cuevas is very much a clay-court specialist. On paper then, Jarry should get through this match comfortably, but Cuevas can be a tricky player to beat at times. That said, if Jarry can keep Cuevas behind the baseline and not let him dictate, expect the young Chilean will be back in the locker room in no time. On clay, the favourite would likely be Cuevas. But on the grass at the Eastbourne International, it is a completely different ball game.
Prediction: Jarry in two.
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Fernando Verdasco vs John Millman
Head-to-head: first meeting
Neither player has won a match on grass this year, but John Millman did have to play Roger Federer and Dustin Brown in his two matches in Stuttgart and Halle respectively. Though he was defeated, he did perform well on both occasions. Verdasco, in contrast, looked very poor in losing in straight-sets to Daniil Medvedev in the first round at Queen’s. Expect a close encounter, but the confidence Millman gained from pushing both Federer and Brown to tiebreak sets should just about give him the edge in the first round at the Eastbourne International.
Prediction: Millman in three.
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