Predicted Winners in BOLD
CENTRE COURT (1 p.m. start)
[1] Andy Murray (GBR) vs [LL] Alexander Bublik (KAZ) – Murray’s grasp on #1 is not that tight. Anything short of a 3rd Wimbledon title will make him either a former #1 or a #1 with no major titles over the past 52 weeks.
[5] Stan Wawrinka (SUI) vs Daniil Medvedev (RUS) – Where is Stan’s mind after his one-sided drubbing in Paris?
NO.1 COURT
[4] Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs John Millman (AUS) – Rafa’s form and confidence have me feeling like he is entering Wimbledon as he did from 2006-2011 in which he was a finalist 5 times. Moya’s input on Rafa’s serve also give Nadal a good shot at a deep run or 3rd title.
NO.2 COURT (11:30 a.m.)
[12] Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) vs [WC] Cameron Norrie (GBR)
[7] Marin Cilic (CRO) vs Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) – This is a tough match to pick. Cilic played well in a tune-up and was a point away from the Wimbledon semifinal round last year. Still, Kohlschreiber can play on grass and can win this match.
NO.3 COURT
[20] Nick Kyrgios (AUS) vs Pierre-Hugues Herbert (FRA) – Kyrgios is an enigma. Could he blast his way into contention?
[21] Ivo Karlovic (CRO) vs Aljaz Bedene (GBR) – I predict aces and tie breaks.
COURT 12
[9] Kei Nishikori (JPN) vs Marco Cecchinato (ITA)
[26] Steve Johnson (USA) vs Nicolas Kicker (ARG)
COURT 18
[31] Fernando Verdasco (ESP) vs Kevin Anderson (RSA) – Each man nearly derailed a Wimbledon title.
[16] Gilles Muller (LUX) vs Marton Fucsovics (HUN) – Grass court specialist?
COURT 4
Benoit Paire (FRA) vs Rogerio Dutra Silva (BRA)
Peter Gojowczyk (GER) vs Marius Copil (ROU)
COURT 5
[30] Karen Khachanov (RUS) vs Andrey Kuznetsov (RUS) – A mild upset
Andreas Seppi (ITA) vs Norbert Gombos (SVK)
COURT 6
Yen-Hsun Lu (TPE) vs [Q] Simone Bolelli (ITA) – I never get Lu’s matches right.
Jiri Vesely (CZE) vs [Q] Illya Marchenko (UKR)
COURT 7
[PR] Jerzy Janowicz (POL) vs [WC] Denis Shapovalov (CAN) – Jerzy looked so strong in 2013 … nostalgia pick?
[Q] Lukas Rosol (CZE) vs Henri Laaksonen (SUI)
COURT 8
Julien Benneteau (FRA) vs [Q] Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR)
Damir Dzumhur (BIH) v Renzo Olivo (ARG)
COURT 9
Carlos Berlocq (ARG) vs Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO)
Facundo Bagnis (ARG) vs Radu Albot (MDA)
COURT 11
[24] Sam Querrey (USA) vs Thomas Fabbiano (ITA) – Querrey has had some nice moments on grass including a title at Queen’s Club and an upset of Novak Djokovic.
Viktor Troicki (SRB) vs Florian Mayer (GER)
COURT 14
Dustin Brown (GER) vs Joao Sousa (POR) – Surfaces still impact tennis matches and sometimes in big ways.
[14] Lucas Pouille (FRA) vs Malek Jaziri (TUN)
COURT 15
[18] Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) vs [PR] Andreas Haider-Maurer (AUT) – I could see an upset here.
COURT 16
Thiago Monteiro (BRA) v [Q] Andrew Whittington (AUS) – Surface matters
[WC] Tommy Haas (GER) vs [Q] Ruben Bemelmans (BEL) – Not all nostalgia picks are crazy.
COURT 17
Donald Young (USA) vs Denis Istomin (UZB) – I could see either player win, but their paths to victory are quite different.
[28] Fabio Fognini (ITA) vs [PR] Dmitry Tursunov (RUS) – Fognini should win if he does not go crazy (no safe bet).
Tennis Abides: Dan Martin on Tennis and Life 