Wimbledon qualifying finals day, and we've got three picks from today's schedule to break down. All three look genuinely tight on paper, so let's get into it.
Wimbledon Qualifying Predictions
Nicolai Budkov Kjaer vs Otto Virtanen
Head-to-head: Kjaer 2-0 Virtanen
The H2H is all Kjaer, but neither of those meetings came on grass, and Virtanen's game actually translates pretty well to this surface. His flat, heavy ball off the forehand wing is a real weapon when conditions are quick, and Wimbledon qualifying grass can be slippery and low-bouncing in ways that suit exactly that kind of hitter. Kjaer is ranked higher than his 121 suggests he should be at this stage, so there's some pedigree here, but I think the surface flips this one.
Prediction: Virtanen in 3
Dane Sweeny vs Tomas Barrios Vera
Head-to-head: Sweeny 1-0 Vera
Sweeny holds the H2H and is seeded slightly better going in, but Barrios Vera has quietly been one of the more consistent performers at this level and his footwork on faster courts is underrated. The Australian has his moments but tends to go missing in big moments in five-setters and qualifying finals have a way of getting very uncomfortable very fast. Vera takes this one.
Prediction: Vera in 3
Hugo Gaston vs Moez Echargui
Head-to-head: First meeting
Gaston is a fascinating case on grass. Everything about his game, the sliced backhand, the dropshots, the awkward angles, looks like it shouldn't work on this surface, and yet he finds ways to make it difficult for people. That said, Echargui at 155 in the world, a ranking that reflects a pretty thin recent run of results, is not someone who's been putting up big results lately, and I feel like Gaston's variety will be too much to handle once he settles in. Could easily go five given how unpredictable Gaston can be, but he should still find a way to get through here, all things considered.
Prediction: Gaston in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Dennis Agyeman/AFP7 via ZUMA Press Wire