Photo Source: Rob Newell Camera Sport
Wimbledon, Day 2: First round matches will complete at the All England Club and we’re here to preview what’s on tap.
See the full Day 2 Order of Play Here
Krejcikova’s Defense Begins
The last time Barbora Krejcikova tried to defend a Grand Slam title she was bounced out of Roland-Garros in the first round by then 19-year-old Frenchwoman Diane Parry. The Czech became just the third defending champion to lose in the first-round of her Roland-Garros title defence along with Anastasia Myskina and Jelena Ostapenko.
To be fair she was injured at the time and hadn’t really played in three months. It’s not a significantly different situation this week, as Krejcikova recently pulled out of Eastbourne with a thigh injury.
Meanwhile her opponent, 20-year-old Alexandra Eala, is coming off one of the best weeks of her burgeoning career, having reached the final at Eastbourne. Should be a very interesting first-time meeting between the pair.
Pick: Krejcikova in three wobbly sets
Djokovic on Centre, Sinner on 1
Novak Djokovic will open his bid for a 25th major title – and eighth at Wimbledon – on Tuesday against France’s Alexandre Muller. The Serbian legend believes Wimbledon is his best chance to claim Grand Slam glory once again. He has, after all, reached the final in each of the last two seasons.
On No.1, his biggest rival in the top half, Jannik Sinner, will take the court against Italy’s Luca Nardi. Sinner is coming in off an upset loss to Alexander Bublik at Halle, and he recently parted ways with key members of his team, his trainer and physio, and nobody is entirely sure why. Not the most ideal way to enter a Slam but we think he’ll be fine.
Pick: Djokovic and Sinner slide through in straights
Petra’s Last Stand
Long live Petra Kvitova, the 2011 and 2014 champion at the All England Club, who is playing her final tournament on the hallowed lawns of SW19. What does Kvitova, who will face Emma Navarro on Court 1, have left to give? We’ll find out on Tuesday as she faces one of last year’s quarterfinalists at Wimbledon.
35-year-old Kvitova, former World No.2 will always be known for the swift and ruthless way that she dispatched Maria Sharapova and Eugenie Bouchard in breathtaking finals in 2011 and 2014 respectively. On Tuesday we’ll see if she has any magic left in that well-worn left-hand of hers. The hand, incidentally, is also part of Kvitova’s story. She suffered major lacerations to it while fighting off a knife-wielding burglar in 2016, and many thought she may never play again.
Pick: Navarro in three, with plenty of tears at the finish