Wimbledon Picks Tuesday 07/02
The Championships are up and running again for another year and Day Two will see several big names start their tournament. Serena Williams will be on court, with new world number one Ashleigh Barty also in action in the women’s singles. On the men’s side, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer will also be on Centre Court. Here are three tips for the day at Wimbledon.
Serena Williams v Giulia Gatto-Monticone
Wimbledon women’s singles, first round
Serena Williams knows how this is done. She is, after all, a seven-time Wimbledon singles champion. 2019, however, has been a slow year for Williams so far, at least by her usual lofty standards. The American has returned to the top 10 after her time out of the sport, but injuries have disrupted any injuries she might have hoped to build up for the grass court season.
At 31 years old, this will be Giulia Gatto-Monticone’s debut at SW19. Ranked 162, the Italian has never gone beyond the first round of a Grand Slam, although this will only be her second appearance in the main draw of a major after making the French Open first round last month. Nonetheless, she shouldn’t have the game to truly trouble Williams, although the American has made a habit of starting slowly this year.
0.5u - Back Giulia Gatto-Monticone Set 1 Winner @ +600
Ashleigh Barty v Zheng Saisai
Wimbledon women’s singles, first round
All hail the new world number one. By following up her triumph at Roland Garros with a win on the grass courts of Birmingham, Ash Barty enters Wimbledon as the most feted player in the women’s game, leapfrogging Naomi Osaka just days before the start of the tournament. Indeed, Barty is a strong contender to double her Slam haul over the next two weeks.
Zheng Saisai made it to the second round at SW19 last year. However, her willingness to come to net could feasibly give Barty some problems. Regardless, it’s hard to imagine that the Australian French Open champion will fall at the first hurdle given the momentum she has built up over the past couple months.
1.5u - Back Ashleigh Barty Sets Handicap -1.5 @ -400
Taylor Fritz v Tomas Berdych
Wimbledon men’s singles, first round
As a former finalist and multiple-time semi finalist, Wimbledon is where Tomas Berdych has long found his best form. However, in Taylor Fritz the Czech will come up against someone in red hot form on the green stuff. Indeed, Fritz enters Wimbledon having just won at Eastbourne, impressively disposing of Sam Querrey in Saturday’s final.
Berdych might be the big name here, but his ATK ranking has slumped to 112, making Fritz at (42) the higher ranked of the two. This is the first time that the pair will have faced each other so there is no previous track record to base a prediction off, but Fritz must fancy his chances given his recent fortunes.
1.5u - Back Taylor Fritz to win @ -208