Day 2 at the Wimbledon Championships marks the start of the second half of the draw, as players begin their main draw campaigns. An all-Brit battle between Dan Evans and Jay Clarke leads the day. Elsewhere, we have prediction articles featuring Jannik Sinner vs Luca Nardi, Novak Djokovic vs Alexandre Muller, Tommy Paul vs Johannus Monday, Lorenzo Musetti vs Nikoloz Basilashvili, Gael Monfils vs Ugo Humbert, Jack Draper vs Sebastian Baez, and Ben Shelton vs Alex Bolt. But who will advance to the second round?
Wimbledon Day 2 Men’s Predictions
Jakub Mensik vs Hugo Gaston
Ilemona
Gaston’s flair is always entertaining, but grass gives Mensik’s power game a real edge. If the Czech can keep points short, he’ll control the rhythm. Still, Gaston’s shot-making can flip a set in a flash.
Prediction: Mensik in 3
Damian
Youngsters typically struggle to improve on grass as you just don’t get that much playtime on this surface with only one month a season. As such, it’s hard to say where exactly Mensik is right now. But it should be players better than Gaston that could potentially expose him, especially as the Frenchman hasn’t played since his injury at Roland Garros.
prediction: Mensik in 3
Shane
Gaston is one for the flair, but Mensik is way too consistent to fall here.
Prediction: Mensik in 4
Christopher Eubanks vs Jesper de Jong
Ilemona
Eubanks has the tools for grass, but his recent form has been shaky. De Jong’s a steady operator and won’t give much away. If Eubanks serves well, he’s always dangerous — but it might not be smooth sailing.
Prediction: Eubanks in 5
Damian
It feels like ages since Eubanks won Mallorca and reached Wimbledon quarterfinals two years ago. With just one (awful) match played this grass swing, he’s arriving in London with far less rhythm and confidence this time. But de Jong also doesn’t have much fire in his grass-court game. Somebody will grab a much-needed win here.
Prediction: Eubanks in 5
Shane
Can Eubanks replicate his 2023 quarterfinal run? Doubtful, but I do expect his serving prowess to lead him to a victory or two. I see him squeaking by de Jong in a tight five-setter.
Prediction: Eubanks in 5
Alexander Shevchenko vs Reilly Opelka
Ilemona
Opelka’s been building momentum since his return, with some solid results in the lead-up. His serve remains a major weapon, but Shevchenko’s baseline game could make him work. If Opelka settles into a groove early, this one could move quickly — but it’s not a given.
Prediction: Opelka in 4
Damian
Opelka was a junior Wimbledon champion seven years ago, but succeeding on grass at the pro level is not just having a big-enough serve. The low bounce bothers him much more than other players with how tall he is and his grass campaigns are usually a mixed bag. But is Shevchenko comfortable enough on the surface to take advantage? Probably not.
Prediction: Opelka in 4
Shane
Expect this match to feature multiple tiebreaks. Opelka is finally finding his form after returning from injury. His big serve pays dividends on the grass and will help him find the second round.
Prediction: Opelka in 5
Dan Evans vs Jay Clarke
Ilemona
All-British matchups can get nervy, and this one could go either way. Clarke’s got a big lefty game and nothing to lose, while Evans will try to keep things sharp and compact. Expect plenty of variety and a few momentum shifts.
Prediction: Evans in 4
Damian
Two British wildcards and it’s clear who enjoys grass more. Evans got a massive boost to his level when he hit the lawn this year, suddenly being able to attack a lot more instead of just grinding with the slice like on hard and clay. Clarke’s pushy groundstrokes don’t penetrate this surface at all, and Evans should take it.
Prediction: Evans in 4
Shane
The crowd will be loud for this match. Evans has proven himself to be a terrific grass-court player, and I would not be surprised if he makes some noise at these Championships. Clarke doesn’t have the power to hang in this one.
Prediction: Evans in 3
Main Photo Credit: Robert Deutsch – USA TODAY Sports
