Predicted Winners in BOLD
CENTRE COURT (1 p.m. start)
[11] Petra Kvitova (CZE) vs Johanna Larsson(SWE) – Kvitova’s 2 Wimbledon titles and tune-up victory make her an obvious contender. Her recovery from a gruesome attack make her a player for whom it will be easy to root. Does this add up to a deep run or title?
NO.1 COURT
[10] Venus Williams (USA) vs Elise Mertens (BEL) – I don’t know what Venus Williams’ mindset will be for this match of for this event.
[6] Johanna Konta (GBR) vs Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE) – I like Konta to do well at this event so long as the home court pressure is not too heavy.
NO.2 COURT (11:30 a.m. start)
[2] Simona Halep (ROU) vs [Q] Marina Erakovic (NZL) – Halep’s mobility can pay big dividdends on grass.
[WC] Heather Watson (GBR) vs Maryna Zanevska (BEL)
NO.3 COURT
[4] Elina Svitolina (UKR) vs Ashleigh Barty (AUS)
[13] Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) vs Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR) – Will a Grand Slam hangover lead to a 1st round upset? I don’t think so, but it has happened in the past.
COURT 12
[17] Madison Keys (USA) vs Nao Hibino (JPN)
[8] Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) vs Andrea Petkovic (GER) – I am not sold on this upset by any means, but I think if the grass is slick, Cibulkova can be overpowered.
COURT 18
[WC] Laura Robson (GBR) vs Beatriz Haddad Maia(BRA) – Bullish on the Brits
COURT 4
Ying-Ying Duan (CHN) vs Ana Bogdan (ROU)
COURT 5
Madison Brengle (USA) vs Richel Hogenkamp (NED)
Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) vs Shuai Peng (CHN)
COURT 6
[26] Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (CRO) vs Carina Witthoeft (GER)
COURT 7
[22] Barbora Strycova (CZE) vs. Veronica Cepede Royg (PAR)
COURT 8
Camila Giorgi (ITA) vs Alizé Cornet (FRA) – Cornet could reach the second week.
Donna Vekic (CRO) vs Natalia Vikhlyantseva (RUS)
COURT 9
Naomi Osaka (JPN) vs Sara Sorribes Tormo(ESP)
[21] Caroline Garcia (FRA) vs Jana Cepelova (SVK)
COURT 11
Francesca Schiavone (ITA) vs Mandy Minella (LUX)
Kurumi Nara (JPN) vs [Q] Francoise Abanda (CAN)
COURT 14
Naomi Broady (GBR) vs Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU) – Bullishness has its limits, but this is a 50-50 type match.
[27] Ana Konjuh (CRO) vs [PR] Sabine Lisicki (GER) – This is the match of the day. I have no idea who Lisicki is feeling physically, but I think on grass she is quite dangerous.
COURT 15
Irina Khromacheva (RUS) vs [Q] Aryna Sabalenka(BLR)
Katerina Siniakova (CZE) vs Maria Sakkari (GRE)
Jennifer Brady(USA) vs Danka Kovinic (MNE)
COURT 16
[31] Roberta Vinci (ITA) vs Kristyna Pliskova (CZE) – If, and it is a big if, Pliskova serves well, she can spring the upset.
[15] Elena Vesnina (RUS) vs [Q] Anna Blinkova (RUS)
COURT 17
Kai-Chen Chang (TPE) vs Qiang Wang (CHN)
[18] Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) vs Yulia Putintseva(KAZ)
TO BE ARRANGED
NOT BEFORE: 5:00PM
Victoria Azarenka (BLR) vs Catherine Bellis (USA)
NOT BEFORE: 5:00PM
[25] Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) vs Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) – Conchita Martinez’ 1994 Wimbledon title should give CSN some confidence while Martginez gives good advice to her new charge.
Tennis Abides: Dan Martin on Tennis and Life 