Our guest contributor, Alex Mann, is back with his Wimbledon 2022 Day 1 Predictions. Do you think differently? Let us know!
Alex is currently a university student and has been playing tennis since he was 4 years old. In the past few years, he has been coaching as well as writing about the best sport in the world (his own words!). Let’s get into his Wimbledon predictions!
Wimbledon 2022 Day 1 Predictions
by Alex Mann
It’s day one of Wimbledon, so grab your strawberries and cream and let’s break down some of the mouthwatering first-round matches.
Centre Court
Novak Djokovic (1) v Kwon Soon-woo
Novak Djokovic opens the action on the 100-year-old Centre Court against the world number 81, Kwon Soon-woo. Although he hasn’t played since Roland Garros and is short of grass-court match practice, this shouldn’t worry the defending champion. Djokovic has never lost in the first round at The All England Club and I don’t think this will change tomorrow.
Prediction – Djokovic in 3 sets
Emma Raducanu (10) vs Alison Van Uytvanck
The second match on Centre Court sees the reigning US Open champion, Emma Raducanu take on the skillful Alison Van Uytvanck. With Emma’s latest injury setbacks, we don’t know where her current level is. Van Uytvanck, on the other hand, has shown recent success on the grass, winning the Surbiton Trophy a few weeks ago and making the 4th round of Wimbledon in 2018. This is a very tough test for the 10th seed.
Prediction – Raducanu in 3 sets
Andy Murray vs James Duckworth
To close out the opening day on Centre Court is the two-time Wimbledon champion, Andy Murray, who is up against Australian James Duckworth. Although Murray’s abdominal injury sustained during the Stuttgart final is cause for concern, he has shown some great form on grass this season. If he’s fit, this should be a winnable match for the Brit.
Prediction – Murray in 4 sets
Court 1
Ons Jabeur (3) vs Mirjam Bjorklund
One of the favorites for the title, Ons Jabeur will look to kick-start her Wimbledon campaign against the qualifier Mirjam Bjorklund. Jabeur shouldn’t have any problems, and this should be a straightforward win for the Tunisian.
Prediction – Jabeur in 2 sets
Carlos Alcaraz (5) vs Jan-Lennard Struff
The young Spaniard faces a tough test against the big-hitting Jan-Lennard Struff. Alcaraz hasn’t played since Roland Garros and pulled out of Queen’s due to injury. With Alcaraz’s limited experience on grass, Struff will fancy his chances, but the world number 6 has shown that he can quickly adapt to different surfaces this year. This should give him the confidence he can do the same again.
Prediction – Alcaraz in 5 sets
Angelique Kerber (15) vs Kristina Mladenovic
Angelique Kerber opens her campaign against the tricky Kristina Mladenovic. The multiple-time doubles major champion Mladenovic has struggled with her singles results in recent years and grass is arguably Kerber’s best surface, so the 2018 Wimbledon Champion will win this match.
Prediction – Kerber in 2 sets
Matches to watch
Jannik Sinner (10) vs Stan Wawrinka
A popcorn match with the young Italian, Jannik Sinner up against the experienced multiple major champion, Stan Wawrinka. Sinner has reached at least the fourth-round of 3 of the 4 majors in his young career, so knows how to play on the biggest of stages. Wawrinka has had little match practice this year since coming back from his injury layoff and Sinner is yet to win a match on the grass. Wawrinka’s grass-court experience will help him prevail today.
Prediction – Wawrinka in 5 sets
Hubert Hurkacz (7) vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
The big-serving Pole has a tricky first-round match against the clay-court specialist Davidovich Fokina. Fokina could take a set off the 7th seed, but Hurkacz’s grass-court game will overwhelm the Spaniard.
Prediction – Hurkacz in 4
Alexander Bublik vs Marton Fucsovics
The ever-exciting Alexander Bublik is in form, having won 4 grass-court matches this year. Fucscovics made the quarter-final at Wimbledon last year but has had back issues this grass-court season.
Prediction – Bublik in 4 sets
Elise Mertens (24) vs MarÃa Camila Osorio Serrano
The young Colombian Serrano made the third-round last year and will be a tricky opponent for number 24 seed Elise Mertens. However, Mertens has made at least the third-round of every slam she has played for the last five years, so it would be a surprise if she doesn’t continue this streak.
Prediction – Mertens in 3 sets
