Mens Wimbledon Day 1 Results
Novak Djokovic (1) d Jack Draper 4-6 6-1 6-2 6-2
Djokovic had a little scare, being broken early in the first set and converting 0/7 break points in the first set. Draper doing well to serve to love serving for the match. From there, the fairytale ended quickly, only winning a maximum of 2 games in each of the next three sets.
Frances Tiafoe d Stefanos Tsitsipas (3) 6-4 6-4 6-3
The 3rd seed gets knocked out..In straight sets! Looking back on the match, Tiafoe loves to hit flat, and can trouble taller people who rely on a lot of spin (aka Tsitsipas). Tsitsipas did not play a grass match leading up to Wimbledon and is not completely surprising that is knocked out of Wimbledon so early.
Denis Kudla d Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (30) 5-7 4-6 7-6(4) 6-3 6-3
Despite the 30th seed being 3 points away from winning in straight sets, Kudla's incredible grass season continues! It was an even match pre-game and statistically, but Fokina retired from his last match injured, so maybe this was a factor in the Kudla comeback.
Roberto Bautista-Agut (8) d John Millman 6-2 3-6 6-3 7-6(4)
The Spaniard is nowhere near where he needs to be if he want to back up with another SF appearance. The 8th seed just had the experience and won critical points like the fourth set tiebreak.
Andreas Seppi d Joao Sousa 4-6 6-4 7-5 6-2
Sousa only broke 3/21 times, leaving the match open for Seppi, serving 14 aces and breaking 6 times throughout the match. Seppi has always been a classy grass player but his next opponent in Kudla could have something to say about it.
Jiri Vesely d Yannick Hanfmann 6-1 7-5 7-6(5)
Vesely has performed decently at Wimbledon over the years, and Yannick is a fresh name, known for the Clay. A great straight sets win, when sets could have gone either way at some points. Vesely serving excellently, winning 82% of first serves and providing 0 break opportunities for the German.
Miomir Kecmanovic d Facundo Bagnis 6-4 3-6 6-3 7-6(1)
It was a relatively even game statistically except for break points. Kecmanovic showed up to return well, creating 16 break point opportunities compared to 4 for the Argentine. Vesely's second round opponent should have been Jannik Sinner, but Marton Fucsovics defeated the Italian in 4 sets.
Marton Fucsovics d Jannik Sinner (19) 5-7 6-3 7-5 6-3
The Hungarian man somehow does it again! Sinner seemed to be having a great practice week in London, but Fucsovics is a complicated man to play. Some call the Hungarian the fittest man on tour, that can be patient, and Sinner was not providing the goods today. 15 breaks of serve in total ,with only 6 going to the Italian. Sinner is still in his teens, so we should see him grow far in Wimbledon in the future.
Kevin Anderson d Marcelo Tomas Barrios Vera 6-7(4) 6-4 6-4 7-6(4)
Kevin Anderson serving 40 aces in 4 sets to defeat the qualifier. It is difficult to beat someone who serves this many aces. Vera only created 2 break point opportunities and did well to only lose the match by 4 games. If Anderson was not such a prolific server, the outcome could be totally different. Anderson faces the world no 1 Novak Djokovic in the second round.
Karen Khachanov (25) d Mackenzie McDonald 3-6 6-3 6-4 7-6(4)
This was one of the matchups of the first round. One of those matches that felt like it could be a 5-set thrilled. It was still a thriller with the American taking the first set. Khachanov needed to be strong to comeback, both mentally and physically, and provided the goods. Both players showing pockets of weakness and nerves, but ultimately the more experienced play came out on top.
Andy Murray d Nikoloz Basilashvilli (24) 6-4 6-3 5-7 6-
Murray was not the better play physically, but as many say, tennis is a mental game. A solo sport (for the most part) that requires such mental strength to pull yourself out of dips. Murray was forcing the errors, and not hitting many winners at all frankly. Despite this, Murray, throughout his career has been able to psych out many of his opponents, and with the help of the crowd, Murray was able to do the same here today. Basilashvilli has struggled, and still struggles with personal issues regarding alleged DV, which no doubt plays on his mind. Murray swept him up in the occasion, and the 24th seed checked out clearly in the 3rd set, but somehow clawed it back from 0-5 to 4-6 with a little fight at the end.
Andrey Rublev (5) d Federico Delbonis 4-6 6-4 6-1 6-2
There has been a theme of favourites losing the first set today, and Rublev continued the trend. It is likely because there has not been a big grass season this year, and especially last year so players are not as consistent as previous years. This is not the Russian's favourite, but still is 5th seed, so many matches to play.
Pedro Martinez d Stefano Travaglia 6-3 2-6 6-4 6-4
It was a much tighter match than the score says, with Martinez only breaking once more, winning 3 more games than Travaglia. The Italian's second serve really let him down, converting 39% compared to 60% for the Spaniard.
Dominik Koepfer d Reilly Opelka (27) 6-4 7-6(3) 6-2
Another upset! Pre-match thoughts were Opelka to atleast bring out his serve bot enough to win a set, but Koepfer's return game was too good. When coming against one of the biggest servers on the tour, break points are few and far between, so when they came, the German made the most of it, converting 100% (3/3) compared to Opelka's 0% (0/3).
Vasek Pospisil d Roberto Carballes Baena 6-3 6-3 6-3
Pospisil was looking in good form in the lead-up to Wimbledon, winning 2/3 matchups in Eastbourne. Carballes Baena did take a set off in-form Querrey, but his form has not been as good, and Pospisil has always been better on the faster surfaces whilst Baena remains a clay player. Pospisil serving 18 aces and 5 breaks to sweep the match.
Liam Broady d Marco Cecchinato 6-3 6-4 6-0
The wildcard continues! Another Italian gets knocked off the chopping block! It seemed to be a match of who can convert break points, with breaking 5/11 (45%) compared to 0/5 (0%). The Brit swept the crowd with him too, likely leading to Cecchinato's demise in the third set.
