Predicted Winners in BOLD

Singles – Second Round

[2] A Murray (GBR) vs Y Lu (TPE) – Murray is riding a nice grass court winning streak.  He should move into the 3rd round without much struggle.

[3] R Federer (SUI) vs S Stakhovsky (UKR) – Federer has to look at his draw and think 2 great matches may mean an 8th title.  Expect him to take care of business quickly.

[6] J Tsonga (FRA) vs E Gulbis (LAT) – The Latvian certainly could win this match.  I think Tsonga is a more accomplished grass court player and overall a more predictable performer so I am picking him.

[10] M Cilic (CRO) vs K De Schepper (FRA) – Once again I am taking the seeded player to advance.

[15] N Almagro (ESP) v G Rufin (FRA) – Almagro has a sneaky good serve, and with the lower expectations that come with this surface, he might just relax enough to win several rounds.

[18] J Isner (USA) vs A Mannarino (FRA) – Isner has a chance to take advantage of Rafa’s absence.

[20] M Youzhny (RUS) vs V Pospisil (CAN) – Youzhny’s strong play at Halle has me picking him.

[22] J Monaco (ARG) vs R Ram (USA) – I can’t keep picking seeded players.  If Ram makes this into a grass court match, he can win.  If this is just a typical tennis match, Monaco will win.

[24] J Janowicz (POL) vs R Stepanek (CZE) – If Stepanek can absorb some huge serves, he can use his herky jerky style and experience to pull out a win.

[25] B Paire (FRA) vs [Q] S Robert (FRA) – Paire has had a nice year.

[31] J Benneteau (FRA) vs F Verdasco (ESP) – Verdasco could blow him off the court, but it is not January 2009 so I am not picking hot sauce.

[32] T Robredo (ESP) vs [WC] N Mahut (FRA) – Mahut FTW

[Q] D Brown (GER) vs L Hewitt (AUS)  – Hewitt on grass is a top 20 player (if not higher).

Viktor Troicki (SRB) vs Andrey Kuznetsov (RUS) – I’ll take Troicki in this pan-Slavic showdown.

Jurgen Melzer (AUT) vs Julian Reister (GER) – Melzer is sneaky good.

Steve Darcis (BEL) vs Lukasz Kubot (POL) – Darcis pulls a huge upset and gets put on court 17 for the 2nd round.  Normally, I would expect a player who pulled a big upset to be drained in his next match, but Darcis handled pressure situations so well in the 1st round that I think he will advance again.