Predicted Winners in BOLD

Centre Court

Andy Murray (GBR) [3] vs David Goffin (BEL) – Goffin is an entertaining player to watch, but my guess is the crowd will be on Murray’s side.  Murray was champion in 2013 and runner-up in 2012 along with winning an Olympic gold in singles at this venue.  He’s earned the love of the fans.

Novak Djokovic (SRB) [1] vs Andrey Golubev (KAZ) – The best way for Nole to get the bad taste of clay out of his mouth is to win Wimbledon and eat some grass while befriending a squirrel.

Court 1

Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) [11] vs [Q] Ryan Harrison (USA) – Dimitrov can have a great event, but Harrison is a dangerous opponent on grass.  Ryan’s promise has been seen as waning, and he has nothing to lose.  I think Dimitrov wins, but this might go 4 or even 5 sets.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) [14] vs Jurgen Melzer (AUT) – This is the match I would circle and not miss if I had tickets.  Tsonga should win, but Melzer is a crafty player.  Grass should bring out the best in each player’s game.

Court 2 (11:30 a.m.)

Tomas Berdych (CZE) [6] vs Victor Hanescu (ROU) – The 2010 runner-up has reached the semis or further at all 4 slams in his career and has had a solid 2014.  Still, he feels like someone not in contention to win the title.

Andrey Kuznetsov (RUS) vs [WC] Daniel Evans (GBR) – Wildcards can be dangerous.

Court 3

Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) [17] vs [WC] James Ward (GBR) – Youzhny is a solid grass court player.

David Ferrer (ESP) [7] vs Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP) – Spanish battle

Court 12

Dustin Brown (GER) vs Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) – Does it get any better than this for a first round match?  Baghdatis is well past his best days, but the guy has/had a lot of game.  He’s charismatic.  Dreddy Tennis is a show by himself.

Andreas Haider-Maurer (AUT) vs [WC] Kyle Edmund (GBR)

Court 18

Jeremy Chardy (FRA) vs [WC] Daniel Cox (GBR) – I am not giving a lot of love to the wildcards.

Fabio Fognini (ITA) [16] vs Alex Kuznetsov (USA)

Court 8

Fernando Verdasco (ESP) [18] vs Marinko Matosevic (AUS) – I could see an upset here, but Hot Sauce played well at Wimbledon last year.

Bernard Tomic (AUS) vs Evgeny Donskoy (RUS) – Tomic is not in good form, but a good first week could change his whole year.

Court 16

Gilles Simon (FRA) vs Konstantin Kravchuk (RUS) – Gilles’ foot speed and feel should help on the fresh grass.

Kevin Anderson (RSA) [20] vs Aljaz Bedene (SLO) – He’s had a very strong 2014 campaign.

Court 17

Marin Cilic (CRO) [26] vs Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) – This could go either way, but I will go with the seeded player.

Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR) [21] vs [Q] Samuel Groth (AUS) – Dolgopolov needs to find his Indian Wells form.

Court 4

Andreas Seppi (ITA) [25] vs  Leonardo Mayer (ARG)

Sam Querrey (USA) vs Bradley Klahn (USA) – Sone from the US will advance.

Court 5 

Pablo Andujar (ESP) vs Blaz Rola (SLO) – I like Andujar, but he has not done much since a semifinal showing on clay in Rio.

Edouard Roger-Vasselin (FRA)  vs Filippo Volandri (ITA)

Court 6

Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) [27] vs Steve Johnson (USA) – NCAA folk hero runs into a man who just won a grass court title.  To Johnson’s advantage is Agut playing 8 sets over 2 days and then having to travel from The Netherlands to London.  Agut has had a nice 2014 so I will pick him over fatigue.

Donald Young (USA) vs Benjamin Becker (GER) – Young impressed me in Paris and Becker may be tired from his play at the Topshelf Open.

Court 7

Teymuraz Gabashvili (RUS) vs [Q] Tim Puetz (GER)

Court 9

Alejandro Gonzalez (COL) vs [Q] Jimmy Wang (TPE)

Radek Stepanek (CZE) vs Pablo Cuevas (URU) – The worm wins.

Court 10

Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) vs Carlos Berlocq (ARG) 

Tobias Kamke (GER) vs [Q] Jan Hernych (CZE) 

Court 11

Dominic Thiem (AUT) vs [Q] Luke Saville (AUS)

Ernests Gulbis (LAT) [12] vs Jurgen Zopp (EST) – Latvia vs. Estonia!  Gulbis should win here, but I love the Baltic battle.

Court 19

Vasek Pospisil (CAN) [31] vs Robin Haase (NED) – Hasse is tricky on grass, and Pospisil is not in good form.