Wimbledon qualifying gets underway and we've got three first-round picks to break down today. None of these are household names, but qualifying grass matches can be unpredictable, and there are a couple of interesting calls in here worth talking about.
Wimbledon Predictions
Bu Yunchaokete vs Hugo Dellien
Head-to-head: First meeting
Yunchaokete is the higher-ranked player here and grass should suit him more than it suits Dellien, who's a clay grinder at heart and has never looked particularly comfortable when the surface speeds up. The Bolivian gets a lot of balls back, but that game doesn't translate well to Wimbledon qualifying, where the bounce stays low and free points come at a premium.
Yunchaokete in three sets.
Prediction: Yunchaokete in 3
Henrique Rocha vs Nicolas Mejia
Head-to-head: First meeting
This is the most interesting pick of the three. Rocha is ranked higher and would normally be the favorite, but Mejia gets the nod here and I think there's something to that. At 164 in the world, Mejia hasn't had many opportunities on this surface, so it's hard to know exactly what to expect and that cuts both ways. Should be a tight one, and I wouldn't be shocked if it goes the distance either way.
Prediction: Mejia in 3
Chak Lam Coleman Wong vs Borna Gojo
Head-to-head: First meeting
Gojo is ranked 184th but this pick makes sense when you think about his game. The Croatian is a big server with a natural feel for grass, and those qualities matter a lot more in qualifying at Wimbledon than the ranking suggests. That said, Wong has been the more consistent performer on tour this season, but grass tends to reward serve-and-volley instincts over steadiness, and that's Gojo's territory.
Gojo should handle this comfortably, all things considered.
Prediction: Gojo in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Pro Sports Images
