Eastbourne R1 previews and predictions: Wawrinka vs. Murray, Seppi vs. Istomin

It will be the blockbuster match of the entire tournament when Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka collide in the Eastbourne first round on Monday. Andreas Seppi and Denis Istomin are also beginning their final Wimbledon tuneup.

(WC) Stan Wawrinka vs. (WC) Andy Murray

Murray’s comeback to tennis began with a Queen’s Club first-rounder versus Nick Kyrgios. It does not get much easier at the Nature Valley International, where the former world No. 1 has to open against fellow three-time major champion Wawrinka on Monday afternoon. It will mark their 19th career encounter, with Murray leading the head-to-head series 10-8. The Scot has won both of their previous grass-court meetings; 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 at Wimbledon in 2009 and 6-3, 6-3 again at the All-England Club during the 2012 Summer Olympics. The two injury-plagued veterans last faced each other in the 2017 French Open semifinals, with Wawrinka prevailing 6-7(6), 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(3), 6-1.

Murray missed almost an entire year due to hip problems before returning at Queen’s Club, where he accounted himself well but ultimately lost to Kyrgios 2-6, 7-6(4), 7-5. Thus the world No. 156’s lack of match play continued and led to his acceptance of an Eastbourne wild card as he prepares to make a final decision about Wimbledon. Wawrinka was also sidelined for the rest of 2017 following Wimbledon, but his comeback is further along than that of Murray. The 261st-ranked Swiss has played 13 matches this season, winning five of them. He thrashed Cameron Norrie 6-2, 6-3 at Queen’s Club before falling 7-5, 6-7(3), 6-1 to formidable grass-courter Sam Querrey. At this point in their respective returns to the tour, Wawrinka is more match-tough and should be able to come up with the goods in the pressure-packed moments.

Pick: Wawrinka in 3

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Andreas Seppi vs. Denis Istomin

One of the most under-the-radar rivalries in tennis will add another chapter when Seppi and Istomin square off for the 11th time in their careers on Monday. Seven of their last eight encounters have required final sets, including–incredibly–all five of their Grand Slam matchups. In the span of less than three years from the summer of 2012 through January of 2015, Seppi and Istomin played five five-setters against each other, with Seppi seizing the upper hand on three occasions and Istomin winning twice. The Italian leads the overall head-to-head series 7-3, having taken their two most recent showdowns at the 2015 Australian Open (5-7, 6-3, 2-6, 6-1, 6-4) and one year later in Sydney (6-4, 4-6, 6-2).

At 34 years old, Seppi is still going relatively strong at No. 50 in the world. He lost his grass-court opener to Mackenzie McDonald in ‘s-Hertogenbosch but got back on track by reaching the quarterfinals in Halle, where he succumbed to eventual champion Borna Coric. Istomin fared well in Stuttgart, beating Philipp Kohlschreiber and Florian Mayer before falling to Lucas Pouille in three sets. The 95th-ranked Uzbek then failed to qualify in Halle, outlasting Gilles Simon in a third-set tiebreaker but then bowing out in the final round against Matthias Bachinger. Seppi should have a slight edge based on current form in this battle between former Eastbourne champions, but the only borderline guarantee is that it will go three sets.

Pick: Seppi in 3

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