Carlos Alcaraz vs. Frances Tiafoe

The American scored two fine wins, and while Tiafoe has not had a good year, but soon, he will rise again. That is, if he really does. However, Alcaraz is such a tremendous hitter, with his blasting forehand and his heavy backhand. He won Wimbledon last year, so clearly, he understands on the the low grass.  

The Spaniard just crushed Aleksandar Vukic, so he is already rocking. Tiafoe will try to go for it, early, and  drag him on the heels, but Alcaraz will be patient, and come up into the net, frequently. Therefor, Alcaraz will take in four, fun sets.

Ugo Humbert vs. Brandon Nakashima

Who would have thought that the American, Nakashima, is still there? He has not had a good year, but he does try to re-think about how he hits it. He can be steady, but at times, it is too short, and it is hard to attack.

The Frenchman Humbert can play terrific, and he is currently No. 13, but over the last four months, he has done very little. At least in February, he won Marseille, and also, in Dubai, beating the two Slammers, with Andy Murray and Daniil Medvedev, on the hardcourts. Then he disappeared. However, Humbert can leap on the ball, and punch it, side to side. There will be some fine rallies, but Humbert will touch it on the corners and win it in four, savage sets.

Tommy Paul vs. Alexander Bublik

Paul had a very tough match, with five severe sets, but he survived, yet now, he has to face against Bublik. He had a solid couple month, winning Montpellier, and reaching into the final in Dubai. He was the same thing, when in March, he started to lose, early, for four months. At least Bublik has been somewhat befitting, year after year, and in 2023, he won a number of wins, winning Halle, on the grass, just before Wimbledon. So if he can ratch it up, with his forehand, and try to hop on his return,  then he could really blend it up. Both if them are very close, but in the fourth set, Paul will throw in some impressive forehands, and he will win it, in three hours, plus.

Emma Navarro vs. Diana Shnaider 

Who would have seen that when Navarro would stepped on the former No. 1 Naomi Osaka 6-4, 6-1?  Maybe Osaka doesn’t like on  the grass, but the American Navarro is flying, high. She is on fire, yet Shnaider is also doing the same thing. 

The 20-year-old Shnaider destroyed Sloane Stephens 6-1, 6-1, and she is ready to beat almost everyone. She just won Bad Homburg, beating Navarro in the semis, which was close. They have actually play the doubles, together, and they are friends. But on the court, they have to put it away.

“We had a lot of fun playing doubles together.She plays very courageously, and she goes for her shots, which I think is a big part of her game,” Navarro said.  “She’ll go for it.  Obviously she’s a lefty, which makes it tough. But I feel just excited for the challenge.”

Yes it will be. Navarro does know how Shnaider plays, but the most important thing is to really try to split her forehand, and to keep it in. This is a toss up, but on grass, Navarro will trip up Shnaider right at the end, and in the third set, the American will win it 7-5.

Coco Gauff vs. Sonay Kartal

The Britain Kartal had a couple wins here, but she is not ranked in the top 200, and while she has been solid in the ITF’s, she has a long way to go. But not Gauff, who has had a pretty good year, but not tremendous, yet. Yes, she is ranked No. 2, which is passional, but she has only won one event, back in the beginning of January in Auckland. After that, she would go deep, but not enough. Maybe she will in the next 10 days, but right now, she has to swing away, especially with her up and down forehand. Her backhand is excellent, almost all the time, so against Kartal, she will ruin her, in two, quick sets.

Maria Sakkari vs. Emma Raducanu

The Greek Sakkari can really hustle, and she can play for many hours. She has been in the top 10 for a while, and she is fast, and bring it back. However, she isn’t that tall, so it is hard to shatter the ball. Either way, she will be very excited to go on the court against the famous Britain,  Raducanu. If you watch her, now, her strokes are better, and her revolt. But really, the former 2021 U.S. Open still has work to do, a lot. However, in Eastbourne, Raducanu beat Jessica Pegula, one of her best wins this year. In front of all the fans, she will out hit 

Sakkari 6-4 in the third set. What a win!

Iga Swiatek vs. Sofia Kenin

This is supposed to be an excellent match, I would think in the Center Court, or Court 1. Regardless, there might be a terrific match, as both of them have won in the Grand Slams. But not at Wimbledon, so both of them have to change it a little bit, this time. The No. 1 Swiatek has it all together, on the clay, and in the hardcourts, but here, on grass, she was somewhat frustrated. Maybe she is ready to truly understand what she has to do.

The No. 38 Kenin can look so darn good, and then she is so out of it. During this year, she has lost against a lot of opponents, not the great players, but the mediocre players. She did win the 2020 Aussie Open, but then, she fell down. Now it is happening again, we think. She played against Swiatek in the start of the year at the Aussie Open, and the Polish person beat Kenin 7-6, 6-2. That was somewhat close, but Swiatek will win it 6-4, 6-2. She is simply prime.

Novak Djokovic vs. Vita Kopriva

Will the Czech Kopriva have any chance to shock Djokovic? Probably not, as he has been around for a while, and he has yet to reach into the top 100.  However, at least he was able to qualify, so he must be thrilled, on the Center Court. 

Djokovic has won the Grand Slams so many times, but the former No. 1 became hurt, so he had a have a surgery, but he did say that he is feeling better, everyday. If he does, he will have another shot to go super deep, anyway he wants to. 

Kopriva will try to show the fans that he is very talented, and maybe he will, but he just isn’t that good, so Djokovic will win it in three, decent sets.

Sebastian Korda vs.  Giovanni Mpetshi Pericardi

The Frenchman Mpetshi Perricard is only 20-years old, and he has had an impressive year. He won the ATP Lyon, and even before that, he beat many people at the Challenge Tour. Clearly he is getting better, all the time.

But the American, Korda, has played extremely well over the past couple months, and now, he finally was able to go into the top 20. Once again, he is ready to dance, finally. As long as he can try to crack his forehand and his backhand, early, on the slippery grass, then he can put  together a lot of winners. Korda is rising up. and he will out-stroke Mpetshi Perricard in four, fun sets.

Taylor Fritz vs Christopher O’Connell

The American Fritz just won a tournament, in Eastbourne, so he is on fire. Last year, he was up and down a lot, but currently, he is smarter, and also, his return is better. He needs that.

O’Connell is a veteran, and there are times when he is very steady, and also, he will try to were them downs. However, at the start of the year, in Adelaide, on the hardcourts, Korda beat him 6-4, 6-4, so he was unable to find out where he should have gone. He did not,  so this time on the grass, Korda will do it again, even when it is fast, as he will take it in four, interesting sets.

Jessica Pegula vs Ashley Krueger 

She looked very good when she won Berlin, and Pegula was sharp. At times, she can back off, and she can also be afraid, but currently, she is super dapper. She has yet to go deep at Wimbledon, but that does not mean that she can. 

The 20-year-old American, Krueger, is still learning how to strike the ball. She is good, but she has lost against a number of various people. She has been close, in the matches, yet she can overlook it. Last year in October, she faced against Pegula, and she lost 6-3, 6-1. Yes, Krueger will get fancy for sure, but Pegula is more suitable and she will win it in two sets.  

Elena  Rybakina vs. Elena-Gabriela Ruse 

It almost always that when she is locked in, Rybakina can win another Grand Slam. But with her, you never know. She has won two events, this year, but then when it is close, she can make some second-class errors. However, the Russian keeps moving on. 

The Romanian Ruse has had some decent wins, but not good enough to play more consistently. She has yet to reach into the third round, at any of the four Grand Slams, which means that she has to get splendid. Therefore, Rybakina will win it, in two, easy sets.

Frances Tiafoe vs. Matteo Arnald

Tiafoe has not had a good year, on the court, but over the past few years, he can return, mentally, and turn it around. Tiafoe can be somewhat creative, and he can also hit some huge forehands. He is fast, and can go for it, but also, when he isn’t feeling good, he can push it. 

Arnald has improved a lot over the past couple years, and now he is ready to crack into the top 30. He must be thinking about it all the time. He can be confident, and steady, but he knows that he has to go early, and try to put it away. 

This will be a tough match, but while Arnald can be steady, he still needs to grow more. Therefore, Tiafoe will win it in four sets.

Tommy Paul vs. Pedro Martinez

Paul just won London, Queens, and that was one of the best week, ever. The veteran Paul has improved so much, not only with his solid strokes, but going down the line. He does really like to rally, and he can be patient. 

The Spaniard Martinez has had a few very good wins, like in France and in Portugal. However, week to week, he can lose early, and often. Sure, he can try to attack, and maybe he does, but Paul has more desire to the second week, so he will win it in three, up and down sets.

Sebastian Korda vs. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina

Finally, Korda is rising, gradually. He is in the top 20 for the first time, reaching into the final of the Netherlands, and the semis in London. Yes, he can fall down, here and there, but currently he is much better with his strokes. He can hustle, and he can hit more winners. 

It is hard to say when Davidovich Fokina  is on the court, playing terrific, or somewhat, odd. His backhand is solid, but not hard enough. Last year, he put together some fine shots, even with his forehand, but recently, he is mentally down. Davidovich Fokina played against Korda in Monte-Carlos two months ago and the American Korda crushed him  6-1, 6-2. Maybe Davidovich Fokina was physically hurt, but either way,  Korda will win it in three, solid sets.

Tomas Machac vs. Andy Murray

This is not likely that the three time Grand Slam champion Murray will play next year. His body is breaking down, pretty fast, so while he loves to play, but when he becomes 38-year-old, it is almost impossible to go deep at the majors. That is true, but you never know.  We think. 

Whatever the case, while Murray can still be steady, especially with is tremendous backhand, the other fast players can sprint. The Scot really can’t go corner to corner and catch it, for so many hours.  

Many of the British people will come to cheer Murray, so the Czech, Machac, has to be super focused. Recently, Machac upset Novak Djokovic, so clearly he is playing well, when he is on. In Miami on the hardcourts, he beat Murray 7-6 (5) in the third set. It was so darn close, but Machac hung in there, while Murray made a few key errors. Yes, Machac is better than he is right now, but in Wimbledon, Murray will give it all, and touch the lines. Murray will win it in five, wild, sets. 

In England Emma Raducanu is playing terrific. She has not been perfect at all, but shot after shot, she stays in there, and she mixes it up into the corners. She can make some odd errors, but the former 2021 US Open champ is pretty smart, but the No. 168 has a lot of work today.  

On Wednesday, the Britain beat Jessica Pegula 4-6, 7-6(6), 7-5 at Eastbourne. The American was really trying, but on Sunday, Pegula just won Berlin, so this time, she was a little bit tired.

Yet in a sense, Raducanu knows that if she can focus day after day, rather than to think what is ahead, then she could be satisfied, win or lose. She has lost a lot over the past five months, yet she has been very healthy, so then she can be much more proper.

“I would say it’s just I’m going to do things on my own time, at my own pace, and I’m in no rush to do anything. And everything I’m doing and playing for now is for myself. I’m just way more focused on my own lane and less susceptible to outside opinions or views.

Raducanu said, “I’m just enjoying it. Just doing everything for myself and really just being independent out here.”

The 21-year-old Raducanu is way behind, and part of that is as in April 2023, she became injured, and she had to stop for seven months. She dropped a long way. When she returned, she was struggling. She knew that, but she has to be positive. She didn’t beat any of the top 10 people, but she finally did it, beating the No. 5 Pegula.  

Before she became injured, she was thinking too much.

“I think at one point I was chasing, playing too many tournaments when I wasn’t ready, and then I was just picking up niggle after niggle in every tournament, because I never really gave myself any time to do the training and the work. I think that’s something I did a lot better this year,” Raducanu said. “Even though I might get challenged or questioned for not playing certain tournaments like the [2024] French Open or the Olympics, I think that for me, that is just part of it, doing things at my own speed and doing things how I want to rather than how everyone else thinks is best for me, because ultimately me and the close few people around me just only know what is actually best for me and my game.”

She was happy in Eastbourne, when she won a couple good players. She will play at Wimbledon, and then she will eventually on the hard courts at the United States and Canada, as long as she can take more practices, rather than playing at the the tournaments, week after week. 

“I have rushed less, played less, chased less, and it’s been working out for me, especially in this middle section of the year. The most important thing for me is just playing when I’m ready, when I’m fresh, and when I want to, because there have been certain tournaments where I didn’t necessarily want to play, and it’s kind of showed in my game,” she said. “I would say I’m pretty expressive.” 

Raducanu will face Daria Kasatkina on Thursday. Another Britain Katie Boulter is still winning, and will face to go up against Jasmine Paolini. It will be close, all of them. 

How about this? Two wins in a row by the No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki, beating Veronika Kudermetova 6-2, 6-4 in the Bad Homburg. Now she will go against the American Emma Navarro, who is ranked No. 19. Navarro has had a really good year, but while Wozniacki never loved on the grass, yet the older woman is super consistent, especially with her fine backhand.

Tommy Paul won last week, but there are a few events, right now. Taylor Fritz is playing in Eastbourne, too, and he has to face against the 19-year-old Juncheng Shang. That should be very engaging. The No. 13 Fritz had a solid season on the clay, but last year on grass, he only won one match. He has already done it. How about even more.

“Winning two matches last week was my best result at Queen’s, but I wasn’t super happy with the last match I played, so I still want to play better,” he said.

The 27-year-old Katie Boulter was pretty decent over the past eight years, but she wasn’t able to beat the very good players, consistently. Well this year, she began to be more aggressive, and also, with some extra shots. On Sunday, she won Rothesay Open, Nottingham, beating Emma Raducanu and Karolina Pliskova. It was difficult that week with a lot of rain, but on the grass, she stood in there,  and she rarely did not collapse.

“To come out here and play some seriously good tennis and get over the line, I’m not entirely sure how I did it in the end. But I’ve gone back-to-back and I’m super proud of myself,” Boulter said.

That was in England, and in February in San Diego, the United States, Boulter’s won it on the hardcourts. She has become very consistent and flatted it out. Her first serve is hard, and she can hit it into the corners. She has beat a number of solid players, but she has yet to beat any of the top 10s competitors this year. Maybe she can rise again, as this week, she will be in Birmingham. 

That was a stringy match when Liudmila Samsonova beat the Canadian Bianca Andreescu 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 in the final at Libema Open in the Netherlands. 

The Russian Samsonova has had a so-so year, but when she is really on, she can out-hitter. Even last year in Beijing, she reached into the final at a huge event, and she beat Petra Kvitova, Jelena Ostapenko and Elena  Rybakina, before she lost against the No. 1, Iga Swiatek. That was darn, good. 

On Sunday, the No. 15 Samsonova was battling, all the time. She had to, as in the semis, she bashed over Ekaterina Alexandrova, and in the final, she slammed over Andreescu. As she once said, “I think [the mental] was the part where I had more difficulties, to play all the weeks on the same level. I think I had the tennis level, I had the physical level already, but I didn’t have the mental level to do it consistently,” Samsonova said. 

Andreescu lost, and in third set, she had to take  an off-court medical timeout. Then she was done. However, she was very pleased. 

“For me, this is definitely a step forward,” Andreescu said. “I’ve been through a lot for quite some time, especially the last 10 months. This is just my second tournament back. Obviously it’s upsetting, but I know there are good things coming for me.”