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Wimbledon 2011, Day 2 Preview: Five Matches To Watch

Jun 21, 2011, 2:04 PM UTC

Rain prevented four of our six Day 1 Matches To Watch from finishing (and some from even starting), so consider those bonus recommendations for today. Here are five new picks from the matches originally scheduled to take place on Tuesday, Day 2 of Wimbledon 2011.
1. Robin Soderling (SWE) [5] vs Philipp Petzschner (GER) -- Third on Court 1 -- Robin Soderling is in a nice section of the draw to do some damage in the second week, but first he’s going to have to survive a brutal opening week. Philipp Petzschner held a two sets-to-one lead over Rafael Nadal in the third round of Wimbledon last year, but blinked when it came time to seal the deal. While Petzschner’s mind is typically the part of his arsenal that lets him down, he also suffered a back injury in the final of Halle just over a week ago. If he is at 100%, though, this one could be a real scare for Soderling. Prediction: Soderling in 4.
2. John Isner (USA) vs Nicolas Mahut (FRA) -- Fourth on Court 3 -- When the absurd rematch of their absurd epic was announced, it seemed like the only two places the match could be played were on the grand stage of Centre Court, or back on Court 18 where history was made. So I have no idea what inspired the decision to go with Court 3, nor do I understand why it is being scheduled for so late in the day. No, this match isn’t going to go 70-68 in the fifth again, nor do I even expect it to go five sets. Isner is simply the much better player of the two, and Mahut’s serve is ultimately far more attackable. Of course, I would have said the same thing about this match-up last year. Prediction: Isner in 4.
3. Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR) [22] vs Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) -- Fourth on Court 6 -- If you like forehands (and really, who doesn’t?) this is the match for you. Both have struggled with health problems this year, with Gonzalez especially struggling. Wimbledon will be only the Chilean’s fourth tournament of 2011, but should be a good one for him to come back on. The quick surface will keep points short, and his forehand will be able to end a lot of points at will. With Dolgopolov struggling lately, I think there’s a pretty good chance for an upset here. Prediction: Gonzalez in 4.
4. Kei Nishikori (JPN) vs Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) -- Fourth on Court 12 -- Lleyton Hewitt, the 2002 Wimbledon champion, is very possibly playing his last ever match at Wimbledon today. Plagued by hip injuries for some time now, Hewitt’s clearly on his last legs. He’s still an incredible fighter and competitor, but that likely won’t be enough against flashy young Japanese Kei Nishikori, whose impatient game seems tailor-made for grass. But if Hewitt can make it a battle of intangibles, I’ll always like his odds. Prediction: Nishikori in 4.
5. Ana Ivanovic (SRB) [18] vs Melanie Oudin (USA) -- Fifth on Court 12 -- Melanie Oudin never seemed comfortable with the attention her stunning run to the quarterfinals of the 2009 US Open brought. And by failing to ever come close to duplicating that performance, the attention the tennis world once paid to Oudin has just about completely gone. But this match presents an interesting opportunity for her to get back in the spotlight. With her consistent counterpunching and ability to find angles, Oudin is precisely the type of opponent that could get Ivanovic off her game most. Ivanovic has lost in the first round of three of the last four slams, and is an abysmal 2-7 in three set matches in 2011. If this one gets close, Oudin has a real shot. But I’m not sure that it will. Prediction: Ivanovic in 2.