A few picks from the Wimbledon first round to get into today, and it's a decent mix of comfortable favorites and at least one match that could go either way. Who do you think causes an upset?
Wimbledon Predictions
Jannik Sinner vs Miomir Kecmanovic
Head-to-head: Sinner 4-0 Kecmanovic
Four from four in the head-to-head, and Sinner hasn't dropped a set against Kecmanovic in any of those meetings. On grass, against the world number one who just won the Australian Open and Roland Garros, this is a tough ask for Kecmanovic at the best of times. He's a solid, professional player but there's no real weapon in his game that causes Sinner problems and Sinner is so good at not panicking in rallies that grinding him down isn't really an option either.
Sinner wins this comfortably.
Prediction: Sinner in 3
Marin Cilic vs Daniil Medvedev
Head-to-head: Cilic 1-4 Medvedev
Cilic at Wimbledon is never someone to completely dismiss, he's a former finalist here and grass still suits his big serve and forehand better than most surfaces. That said, he's 36 now and hasn't been a consistent force on tour for a couple of years, and Medvedev has won four of their five meetings. Medvedev's grass game has actually improved a lot since his early career struggles on the surface, and he's become a real threat here.
I think Cilic nicks a set before Medvedev takes control, but this one doesn't go the distance.
Prediction: Medvedev in 3
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina vs Juan Manuel Cerundolo
Head-to-head: Fokina 1-0 Cerundolo
This is the tricky one. Cerundolo is a clay specialist who hasn't shown a huge amount on faster surfaces, and you'd think that works in Fokina's favor on grass. That said, Fokina is a volatile player who can lose focus for stretches of a match, and Cerundolo is competitive enough to make him pay for that. Their only previous meeting, which tells us very little given how surface-specific both players tend to be, went to Fokina.
I feel like Fokina's grass-court comfort gets him through, should still find a way to get through here, but not without some drama along the way.
Prediction: Fokina in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Daniel McGregor-Huyer/ZUMA Press Wire