Predicted Winners in BOLD

CENTRE COURT 

[2] Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs Martin Klizan (SVK) – This is not an ideal draw, but I think Novak has momentum from his recent win and should advance without too much trouble.

[3] Roger Federer (SUI) vs Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR) – This is another tough 1st round draw for high level seed.  Federer likely figures this match out if any trouble emerges.

No.1 COURT

[6] Milos Raonic (CAN) vs  Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) – Milos Raonic needs to have a good showing at this event.  His health issues have undermined what looked like a mounting challenge to the Big 4 or 5.

[8] Dominic Thiem (AUT) vs Vasek Pospisil (CAN)  – Thiem will need to return well to win or avoid a lot of tie break sets.  Thiem’s long swings may be a hinderance.

SHOW COURTS

No.2 COURT (11:30 a.m. start)

[29] Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) vs [PR] Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) – JMDP’s slicing may benefit from the green grass of week 1.

[11] Tomas Berdych (CZE) vs Jeremy Chardy (FRA) – This could go either way, but I lean toward the value of experience.

No.3 COURT

Kyle Edmund (GBR) vs Alexander Ward (GBR) – The days of expecting players from the UK to lose is long gone, but two facing off in the 1st round can’t be what the LTA was hoping to see in the draw.

[10] Alexander Zverev (GER) vs Evgeny Donskoy (RUS) – Zverev could be dangerous if he finds a nice zone in the second week.

COURT 12

[22] Richard Gasquet (FRA) vs David Ferrer (ESP) – These two veterans will square off for what may be one of their last clashes.

[13] Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) vs Diego Schwartzman (ARG)  – Dimitrov needs to recapture his early 2017 form.  If he does, watch out.

COURT 18

[15] Gael Monfils (FRA) vs [Q] Daniel Brands (GER)

Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) vs [WC] James Ward (GBR)

FIELD COURTS

COURT 4

Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) vs  Nicolas Mahut (FRA) – How fun is this match!

COURT 5

[25] Albert Ramos-Vinolas (ESP) vs Jordan Thompson (AUS)

[Q] Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) vs Dusan Lajovic (SRB)

COURT 6

Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) vs  Taro Daniel (JPN)

Robin Haase (NED)  vs Frances Tiafoe (USA)

COURT 7

Steve Darcis (BEL)  vs Ricardas Berankis (LTU)

Janko Tipsarevic (SRB)  vs Jared Donaldson (USA)

COURT 8 

[17] Jack Sock (USA) vs [Q] Christian Garin (CHI)

[32] Paolo Lorenzi (ITA) vs Horacio Zeballos (ARG)

COURT 9

Adam Pavlasek (CZE) vs Ernesto Escobedo (USA) 

Borna Coric (CRO) vs Ryan Harrison (USA)

COURT 11

Dudi Sela (ISR) vs Marcel Granollers (ESP)

COURT 14

[27] Mischa Zverev (GER) vs Bernard Tomic (AUS) – I could see this going either way.

[23] John Isner (USA) vs. [Q] Taylor Fritz (USA)

COURT 15

[Q] Andrey Rublev (RUS) vs [Q] Stefano Travaglia (ITA)

Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) vs [Q] Sebastian Ofner (AUT) – Qualifiers tend to be match tough.

COURT 16

Ernests Gulbis (LAT) vs Victor Estrella Burgos (DOM) – I can’t pick Gulbis.

Yuichi Sugita (JPN) vs Brydan Klein (GBR)

COURT 17

Gilles Simon (FRA) vs [Q] Nicolas Jarry (CHI)

[19] Feliciano Lopez (ESP) vs Adrian Mannarino (FRA)