LEYLAH FERNANDEZ V CAROLINA GARCIA
Former US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez and fifth seed Caroline Garcia square off in one of the higher-profile showdowns of Wimbledon’s second round.
Fernandez, who reached the decider at Flushing Meadows in 2021, overcame Kateryna Kozlova 6-4 4-6 6-4 in a tough opening-round battle. Ranked 95th, her grass-court build-up consisted of a win over Lena Ruffer and a loss to Anna Blinkova at the Bad Homburg Open.
The Canadian surged into the top 15 this time last year but has struggled to consistently deliver on her undoubted ability. A quarter-final appearance in Auckland is the only time in 2023 she has won more than two matches at a tour-level event.
Still only 20, this is Fernandez’s second Wimbledon foray after missing the 2022 edition. Garcia reached the fourth round last year after taking out the Nottingham Open and Bad Homburg Open in something of a springboard to an incredible finish to the season.
Garcia reached the US Open semis and won the WTA Finals, but hasn’t matched that top-drawer form regularly in 2023.
She made the Lyon and Monterrey Open finals earlier this year but exited in the fourth round of the Australian Open and the second round at Roland Garros.
The French 29-year-old looked fairly solid in Berlin and Eastbourne, however, and disposed of Katie Volynets 6-4 6-3 in her first assignment at Wimbledon.
Garcia has also won the pair’s two clashes to date – both this season, at the Australian Open (7-6 7-5) and Indian Wells (6-4 6-7 6-1).
Those results suggest another close-fought and entertaining contest between two enigmatic players. The more explosive Garica should get over the line.
Tip: SGM – Back Garcia to Win and Over 22.5 Total Games @ $2.88
ELISE MERTENS V ELINA SVITOLINA
Big-name players Elise Mertens and Elina Svitolina are gearing up for their sixth career meeting in the second round at Wimbledon. Svitolina leads 3-2 – including their only grand slam clash at the 2018 Australian Open – but Mertens took out the most recent encounter at the 2021 Gippsland Trophy.
The pair were earmarked as potential slam winners as they both became regular quarter- and semi-finalists around 2018-19. An Australian Open semi-finalist in 2018, Mertens made it to the last 16 at Wimbledon in 2019 and ’22.
The Belgian, seeded 28th here, defied a limited grass-court build-up after a fourth-round French Open exit to beat Viktoria Kuzmova 7-6 6-2 in a tricky opening-round assignment.
Former world No.3 Svitolina, who returned from a maternity break in April, also only had one pre-Wimbledon match on grass after her stunning capture of the Internationaux de Strasbourg title and run to the quarters at Roland Garros.
But the Ukrainian wildcard saw off the challenge of five-time champion Venus Williams in the first round, 6-4 6-3.
Svitolina was a semi-finalist here in 2019; she went on to reach the US Open semis later that year and has made the quarters of another seven majors.
As she’s shown with her performances since returning to the tour and by handling the emotion of a high-profile clash with Williams, Svitolina thrives in big matches and should have more in the tank when the going gets tough against Mertens, whose 2023 season has largely disappointed.
Tip: Back Svitolina to Win @ $2.25
ANDREY RUBLEV V ASLAN KARATSEV
Seventh seed Andrey Rublev confronts fellow Russian Aslan Karatsev in a tough second-round match-up at Wimbledon.
Rublev put away Aussie Max Purcell 6-3 7-5 6-4 in the opening round, coming on the back of his run to the Halle Open final two weeks ago. It was the fourth final of his 2023 season, including the Monte Carlo Masters title.
But the 25-year-old is still awaiting a grand slam breakthrough. He has made it to the quarter-final stage seven times, while his best effort at Wimbledon was reaching the fourth round in 2021.
Karatsev memorably reached the Australian Open semis on slam debut in 2021 but hasn’t been beyond the third round at a major since. Currently 47th in the ATP rankings, the 29-year-old proved how dangerous he can be by leaving three seeds in his wake on the way to the Madrid Masters semis.
He recovered from a shaky start to beat Luca Van Asshe 6-7 6-4 6-2 6-4 in the first round at the All England Club with a big serving performance.
Karatsev won his only previous encounter with Rublev in the 2021 Dubai Championships semi-finals. Rublev seems likely to get the result this time around – he has been one of the most dominant players on the tour this year – but Karatsev is a dangerous customer capable of rattling the $1.20 favourite.
Tip: Back Rublev to Win 3-1 @ $3.60
LIAM BROADY V CASPER RUUD
One of only three British players through to the Wimbledon men’s second round alongside big names Cameron Norrie and Andy Murray, world No.142 Liam Broady is searching for a boilover against fourth seed Casper Ruud.
After seeing off Constant Lestienne in impressive style 6-1 6-3 7-5, Broady will be looking to channel his efforts in reaching the third round at the All England Club last year, when he rolled 12th seed Diego Schwartzman in the Round of 64.
Broady was the junior Wimbledon runner-up in 2011 but never really kicked on. This is only the 29-year-old’s eighth grand slam, six of which have been at Wimbledon.
Despite reaching his third final from the past five grand slams at the recent French Open, Ruud attracted little pre-Wimbledon buzz due to his very limited experience on grass (a 5-8 career record). After his loss to Novak Djokovic in the Roland Garros decider, he skipped the grass warm-up events.
Ruud outlasted qualifier Laurent Lokoli 6-2 5-7 6-4 6-3 in the first round, just his second win at Wimbledon. He is hoping to avoid a repeat of last year, when he crashed out to Ugo Humbert in the second round.
There’s no question about who is the more talented, accomplished player – but Ruud’s apparent disdain for the surface makes it hard to confidently get behind him to dominate a low-ranked opponent as he should. Expect him to get through, but Broady should pick up a set.
Tip: Back Over 35.5 Total Games @ $1.80