Wimbledon 2011: Picking the Winners of Monday's Top 10 Specials
It seemed like yesterday we were speculating about potential Wimbledon action as we closed the doors on Stade Roland Garros.
Now, as the players have arrived on the dust-free grounds of the All England Club with the whole two weeks ahead, fans are offered an enticing menu of scintillating tennis matchups.
In the background we view the pristine, carefully maintained lawns and wait for the players to take the court on Monday, praying for good weather and competitive matchups.
While there are no guarantees, most give Nadal the nod in his opening round match with Michael Russell of the United States. By the same token, Andy Murray should be able to handle Daniel Gimeno-Traver of Spain.
Similar assumptions can be made regarding Andy Roddick’s conquest of Andreas Beck.
There are several other matches, however, where the outcome remains more in doubt.
Here are 10 to ponder.
Akgul Amanmuradova (UZB) v. Venus Williams (USA)[23]
1 of 10
12:00 Noon
Court 2: (1). Ladies' Singles, 1st Round
At high noon on Monday Venus Williams, seeded No. 23 at the 2011 Wimbledon tournament, will take the court to play unseeded Akgul Amanmuradova of Uzbekistan in first round action. The two have never met before.
At 6'1", Williams seldom finds herself looking up at any opponent, but Amanmuradova stands 6'3" and will at least enjoy a height advantage over her American opponent.
The only thing that could stop Venus Williams from running over her opponent in this match is rust. The American’s lack of match play may leave her a bit vulnerable, but unless Amanmuradova plays some aggressive, risky tennis she will not win against Williams who loves playing on grass.
Venus Williams will win this in straight sets.
Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) v. Marin Cilic (CRO)[27]
2 of 10
Court 3: (1). Gentlemen's Singles, 1st Round
Ivan Ljubicic now ranked World No. 33 will face the No. 27 seed Marin Cilic in a first-round contest at Wimbledon.
They have met once before in 2008 at Indian Wells in the first round with Ljubicic winning 7-6, 7-5.
The two Croats, both big hitters, will square off immediately for a chance to advance to the second round.
Cilic was ousted in the first round at Wimbledon in 2010. His best showing was making it to the fourth round in 2007.
Ljubicic has not gotten beyond the first round of Wimbledon since 2007. Neither record instills much confidence in either player's ability to win.
With a throw at the dart board, Cilic wins this one.
Jelena Dokic (AUS) v. Francesca Schiavone (ITA)[6]
3 of 10
Center Court: (2). Ladies' Singles, 1st Round
So far Jelena Dokic is 3-0 against Schiavone, having already defeated the Italian once this year at Kualal Lumpur.
The Australian's overall record plus that win should give Dokic some confidence heading into this opening round match on Monday.
Dokic has risen from No. 150 in the world to No. 45 during the past six months. She brings much intensity to her matches as the Aussie strives to get back into the upper echelons of the women’s game.
Schiavone is coming off another great run at the French Open, reaching the finals before falling to Li Na of China.
Last year the Italian was eliminated in the opening round of Wimbledon so Schiavone has plenty to prove––convincing the world that she can really play on this surface.
This promises to be one of the more competitive opening round matchups in the women’s draw.
Both women definitely have a chance to win but Schiavone’s game seems to be in better shape at this point in time.
Schiavone in three sets.
Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) v. Victoria Azarenka (BLR)[4]
4 of 10
Court 2: (3). Ladies' Singles, 1st Round
The No. 4 seed Victoria Azarenka has enjoyed a great year so far, rising to the No. 4 world ranking. She won titles in both Miami and Marabella this year, and the lady from Belarus advanced to the finals in Madrid before losing to Petra Kvitova.
At the French Open, Azarenka made it to the quarterfinals before being dismissed by the eventual champion, Li Na.
Unfortunately, after withdrawing from an Eastbourne quarterfinal match with Marion Bartoli, Azarenka may be coming into her opening Wimbledon match with injuries.
Her opponent on Monday, Magdalena Rybarikova, will be looking for any advantage. The Slovakian did win a grass court event at Birmingham two years ago. Rybarikova also captured a title on clay in Memphis this year.
Overall, however the Slovakian does not have many weapons to slow down Azarenka unless the injuries are significant.
Azarenka in straight sets.
Radek Stepanek (CZE) V. Fernando Verdasco (ESP)[21]
5 of 10
Court 2: (4). Gentlemen’s Singles, 1st Round
Radek Stepanek and Fernando Verdasco have played each other five times, with Verdasco winning two of their three encounters in 2009.
Recently, however, Stepanek has been playing better ball than the Spaniard including his play at the Queen’s Club.
Moreover, the Czech leads in their head to head 3-2.
The 32-year-old Stepanek is trying to return to form after injuries which caused the Czech to descend to a No. 57 ranking.
Verdasco appears to be plummeting at the moment, falling to the No. 22 spot.
The two met at Wimbledon in 2006 with Stepanek winning their fourth-round match 6-7, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.
A year ago Verdasco was really hot, enjoying a very good European clay court season. He was ranked in the top 10. Now ranked outside the top 20, Verdasco desperately needs to do something to stop the skid.
Both men will go after an opening round win on Monday with every ounce of talent and determination they can muster.
Stepanek's age might be a disadvantage, but not in this instance. The nod should go to Verdasco but the results are not there.
Stepanek lives to fight on.
Jelena Jankovic (SRB)[15] V. Maria Jose Martinez-Sanchez (ESP)
6 of 10
Court 3: (4). Ladies’ Singles, 1st Round
Jelena Jankovic is no longer ranked in the women’s top 10.
Her loss to Francesca Schiavone at the 2011 French Open effectively dropped her into the second ranking tier.
Martinez-Sanchez leads in their head to head 2-1, topping the Serbian at Miami in 2001 and in Rome in 2010. Jankovic defeated the Spaniard during the Fed Cup on clay in 2009.
In 2008, Martinez-Sanchez reached the third round at the All England Club, losing to Venus Williams 6-1, 7-5. In 2009, the Spaniard lost in the first round.
Jankovic has never advanced past the fourth round at Wimbledon, reaching that round in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010.
Currently ranked World No. 76, Martinez Sanchez can always deliver a good game but she cannnot always sustain her efforts through an entire match. In that respect, she is a dangerous player.
Still, Jankovic in three sets.
Ivo Karlovic (CRO) V. Janko Tipsarevic (SER)[23]
7 of 10
Court 12: (3). Gentlemen’s Singles, 1st Round
The big hitting Croat whose ranking has plummeted to No. 143 will be back in action at Wimbledon against No. 30 ranked Janko Tipsarevic who won their only previous encounter 7-6, 7-6 at Delray Beach earlier this year.
Karlovic who has suffered from injury will be hoping to regain his spot in the men’s top 50 by doing well at the All England Club. In 2010, Karlovic advanced to the quarterfinals where he met and was defeated by Roger Federer.
Tipsarevic who has played at Wimbledon for eight seasons was dismissed in the first round at Wimbledon in 2010 by Arnaud Clement. His furthest advancement was in 2007-2008 when he made it as far as the fourth round.
It is always fascinating to see how far the big man’s serve will advance him through the draw. With such a weapon, the opponent must find a way to return bullets while avoiding any mistakes on his own serve. Such matches generally come down to tiebreaks and you never know when the big guy might rise up and bite a higher ranked player.
This should prove to be an interesting men’s matchup.
Tipsarevic in four.
Fabio Fognini (ITA) V. Milos Raonic (CAN)[31]
8 of 10
Court 14: (1). Gentlemen’s Singles, 1st Round
Milos Raonic is another talented tennis player whose anticipated greatness adds pressure to his game in the early stages of his budding career. Those hungry to see the newest and best, give the Canadian the nod as a player whose skills should thrive on grass.
Fognini, on the other hand, is coming off a career best Grand Slam having made the quarters at the French Open. The question is: Will the crowd-pleasing Italian be back in playing shape in time to do battle with Raonic? He left the French Open limping.
It is hard to imagine that Fognini can stand up to the Raonic serve on one or two legs.
After all, Raonic started 2011 ranked 156 in the world. He's now No. 26 and was as high as No. 25 at one stage.
He started the year with a bang, getting to the fourth round of the Australian Open as a qualifier. Raonic then won the title in San Jose and pushed Roddick to the limit in the Memphis final.
After that, the Canadian made a semifinal in Estoril as well.
Raonic in three.
Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) V. Denis Istomin (UZB)
9 of 10
Court 15: (1). Gentlemen’s Singles, 1st Round
Philipp Kohlschreiber is fresh off his victory at Halle where he won the Gerry Weber Open, defeating countryman Phillipp Petzschner.
Kohlschreiber and Denis Istomin have met once before at San Jose in 2010 on hard courts where the German won 6-1, 1-6, 6-3.
Istomin, currently world ranked No. 65 has not exactly been setting the world on fire with his play. He lost in the first round at both Eastbourne and the Queen’s Club. That does not bode well for his chances at Wimbledon.
In 2010, Istomin made it to the third round at the All England Club, losing to Tomas Berdych in a hard fought contest 7-6, 6-7, 7-6, 3-6, 4-6. The man can play on grass.
Kohlschreiber also lost in the third round of Wimbledon in 2010–to Andy Roddick in four sets.
With Kohlschreiber playing well of late and Istomin not, it stands to reason that the German will win their opening round match in straight sets.
Kohlschreiber in three.
Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG)[24] V. Flavio Cipolla (ITA)
10 of 10
Court 18: (3). Gentlemen’s Singles, 1st Round
Juan Martin del Potro has spent most of his tennis career after winning the 2009 U.S. Open out of action with injury or just returning from injury.
In all that time, people have not forgotten or given up on the Argentine, believing he has the talent to defeat those currently sitting at the top of the game.
Like Nadal during his early tries at Wimbledon, most people think the Argentine does not have the game for grass.
When Nadal started playing at Wimbledon, no one really took him seriously until he made a final and took a set from Federer.
If Nadal can play on grass, so can del Potro. He just needs to believe he can win and have some success.
The Argentine can make a great start by dispatching World No. 111, Italian Flavio Cippola, in straight sets on Monday in this first round matchup.
Del Potro in three.
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