2015 Wimbledon First Round Review and Second Round Preview

1st Round Upsets:
Men's
(WC) Denis Kudla d. (28) Pablo Cuevas 6-7 (4), 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2
Alexander Zverev d. Teymuraz Gabashvili 6-3, 1-6, 6-3, 3-6, 9-7
(Q) John Millman d. (19) Tommy Robredo 6-2, 6-3, 6-4
(Q) Dustin Brown d. Lu Yen-hsun 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4
Pablo Andujar d. (29) Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 3-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, 6-4
Sam Groth d. (31) Jack Sock 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3

Women's
Heather Watson d. (32) Caroline Garcia 1-6, 6-3, 8-6
(WC) Jelena Ostapenko d. (9) Carla Suarez Navarro 6-2, 6-0
(Q) Bethanie Mattek-Sands. d. Alison Van Uytvanck 6-3, 6-2
Zarina Diyas d. (24) Flavia Pennetta 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
Jana Cepelova d. (3) Simona Halep 5-7, 6-4, 6-3
Duan Yingying d. (12) Genie Bouchard

2nd Round Matches to Watch/Upset Alert:
Men's
(9) Marin Cilic vs. Ricardas Berankis
Cilic has struggled with injuries this season and now could be the time for the 2007 Boys U.S. Open Champion to finally live up to his juniors hype and notch one of, if not the biggest, win of his career.

Fernando Verdasco vs. (32) Dominic Thiem
This matchup pairs the upstart (Thiem) against the crafty and dangerous veteran (Verdasco). It appears each guy is heading in opposite directions with the 21 year old Thiem earning his first career seed at a major (32) and a earning his highest ranking (29) two weeks ago (now ranked 30th). The 31 year old Verdasco, who reached a career high number seven ranking seven years ago, is ranked 41 in the world. However, Verdasco can be tough on any given day. He had eventual champion Andy Murray on the ropes in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon in 2013, but couldn't hold on to a 2-0 lead.

(11) Grigor Dimitrov vs. Steve Johnson
After a breakthrough year in 2014 which saw him finally live up to his potential with three titles, a semifinal appearance at SW19, and a career high number eight ranking, 2015 has been a forgettable year for the most part for Dimitrov. He's defending semifinal points, but looks ripe for the picking for Johnson, who won his first career singles match at Wimbledon on Monday.

(PR) Tommy Haas vs. (7) Milos Raonic
After it's all said and done, the ATP just might rename the Comeback Player of the Year award to the Tommy Haas Comeback Player of the Year award. Haas, who was out of action for a year following shoulder surgery, made his return on the grass court swing in Stuttgart and Halle. He only won one match at the two events, and his ranking is down to 861, but never count Haas out. He reached the semifinals on these hallowed grounds in 2009 and boasts two career titles on grass.

Raonic is coming back from his own injury. He cut his clay court season short and skipped the French Open after undergoing surgery on his foot. The hard serving Canadian reached his first career major semifinal at Wimbledon last year, and is looking to play his way back into form. I expect Raonic to win, but it won't be easy against Haas, who will make him earn it the hard way.

(Q) Dustin Brown vs. (10) Rafael Nadal
Nadal is having his worst season on tour since his breakthrough year in 2005. He was able to win his first title on grass in five years at Stuttgart (d. Troicki), but fizzled out in the first round in Queens (l. to Dolgopolov).

The unpredictable Brown will make life difficult for the "King of Clay" with a display of days gone by-- serve and volley. To add more intrigue, Brown won their only career meeting in Halle (6-4, 6-1).

Nadal has been prone to upsets in early rounds with losses to Rosol (2nd round) in 2012, Steve Darcis (1st round) in 2013, and Nick Kyrgios (4th round) in 2014. I expect Rafa to win, but it will definitely be close.

Alexandr Dolgopolov vs. (23) Ivo Karlovic
This matchup pits the finesse of "the Dog" versus the booming serves of "Dr. Ivo". Dolgopolov may be far from the form the got him to a career high ranking (13) three years ago, but he will have enough in his arsenal to give Karlovic fits. It will be interesting to see how "the Dog" returns Karlovic's serves and how "Dr. Ivo" handles the low slices from Dolgopolov.

I will predict Dolgopolov wins in five.

(25) Andreas Seppi vs. Borna Coric
Borna Coric is not afraid of the big stage. At only 18, he already boasts wins over Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray. Seppi is coming off a loss in the final in Halle (l. to Federer), but should take plenty of confidence into this matchup.

I worry how much Coric has left in the tank after outdueling Gabashvili in the first round, but he's still a teenager, and should have tons of energy.

(18) Gael Monfils vs. Adrian Mannarino
Monfils is one of the most talented, yet wildly inconsistent guys on the ATP tour. He should be a top ten player every year.

Mannarino reached the fourth round at Wimbledon last year. So, he should be comfortable. He's one of the most improved players on the tour, and has reached a career high 29 ranking (now number 34) in the world.

This battle of the Frenchmen will come down to which Monfils shows up. If he's focused, he'll win in straight sets. If not, it will get complicated in a hurry.

Women's
Daniela Hantuchova vs. Heather Watson
Watson held off nerves in front of the home crowd. How will she fare against a former top ten player who's ranking has slipped in recent years?

(19) Sara Errani vs. Aleksandra Krunic
Grass is Errani's worst surface. She's only made it past the second round once (2012) in her career.
Krunic is an up and comer who reached the fourth round of the U.S. Open last year. She has the talent, but will she have the game to pull off the upset?

Kirsten Flipkens vs. (23) Victoria Azarenka
Flipkens (2013) and Azarenka (2011 and 2012) have reached the semifinals at Wimbledon before. However, Flipkens has struggled with her form while Azarenka is working her way back from a 2014 season decimated by injuries. It should be interesting, but expect Vika to prevail.

(11) Karolina Pliskova vs. Coco Vandeweghe
Pliskova is one of the rising young guns of the WTA, but she was pushed to three sets in her first round match against Irina Falconi. She also was stunned by Andreea Mitu in the second round at the French Open.

Vandeweghe has a huge serve which should serve her well on the fast grass courts.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova vs. (10) Angelique Kerber
Pavlyuchenkova, who reached a career high number 13 ranking four years ago, will have a showdown with Kerber, a former semifinalist (2012). Both are inconsistent, but Kerber definitely is more consistent. Her confidence should be up with her first career grass court title in Birmingham two weeks ago.

(13) Agnieszka Radwanska vs. Ajla Tomljanovic

2015 has been rough for Aggie. She was a former top five player who looked to be on the verge of a title. Tomljanovic will give her trouble in this match, but will Tomljanovic win one set or two?