Former finalist Matteo Berrettini is back following another injury layoff to take on Swiss veteran Stan Wawrinka in the Wimbledon first round. Thanasi Kokkinakis will also be in action against Alexander Bublik on Tuesday.
Matteo Berrettini vs. (WC) Stan Wawrinka
Matteo Berrettini and Stan Wawrinka have somehow never met on the main tour, which feels strange given how long both have been active. Wawrinka is 41 years old now, a three-time major champion still wielding his famous one-handed backhand — albeit a bit slower than he was in his prime. Berrettini was the 2021 Wimbledon runner-up; he is legitimately a great grass-court player thanks to his cannon serve and forehand.
The worry for the Italian is the one that never quite goes away, and that’s his body. He retired during his French Open quarterfinal against Matteo Arnaldi, so the real question is whether he turns up at the All-England Club in one piece. If he does, this will be a tough afternoon for Wawrinka — whose movement has slipped and who has dropped eight of his last 10 matches, including a first-round exit in Paris. As long as Berrettini is fit, this shouldn’t be a problem for the Italian.
Cheryl pick: Berrettini in 4
Ricky pick: Berrettini in 4
(10) Alexander Bublik vs. Thanasi Kokkinakis
There is almost no downside to watching Alexander Bublik. The man who represents Kazakhstan can often be counted on to entertain — and not just because he is a good tennis player. He is sometimes temperamental, sometimes humorous, and with a delightful streak of unpredictability. The good news for Bublik? The ranking gap is enormous, with Bublik seeded 10th and Kokkinakis down at No. 492 in the world following major pectoral surgery that swallowed a chunk of his career. He managed to win a match at the French Open, but the rest of his season has been quiet. This will be the Aussie’s fourth match of the year on the main tour, although he has won a few on the Challenger circuit.
Form is a coin flip dressed up as a mismatch. Bublik reached the semifinals in Stuttgart, losing to Taylor Fritz, then promptly flamed out in the first round of Halle as the defending champion against Mattia Bellucci — which is honestly standard operating procedure for him. Make no mistake: Kokkinakis is more dangerous than his ranking suggests. He has a monster first serve and since this is the first round, fitness may not be an issue. I still can’t pick the the underdog, but I’ll give him a set.
Cheryl pick: Bublik in 4
Ricky pick: Kokkinakis in 5