Mallorca champion Daniil Medvedev kicks off his 2021 Wimbledon campaign against Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Mallorca runner-up Sam Querrey takes on Pablo Carreno Busta.
(2) Daniil Medvedev vs. Jan-Lennard Struff
Daniil Medvedev probably won’t get a chance to ease into the draw at the All-England Club. The Russian will face Jan-Lennard Struff in his first match, and he just lost to Struff in Halle a couple of weeks ago. It’s not all bad news for Medvedev, however. He has been unimpressive on grass to this point in his career, but following his first-round exit in Halle he won the event in Mallorca.
Struff isn’t having a great season. The German is a mediocre 17-16 for the year, and most of the wins came on clay. His best result was a run to the final in Munich, where he lost to Nikoloz Basilashvili. He was knocked out of Mallorca in the first round by Adrian Mannarino.
While Medvedev’s grass credentials are slightly lacking, the world No. 2 seems to have the ability to play well as soon as he decides he wants to – that time seems to be now on grass. The Russian should find his way to the second round.
Cheryl pick: Medvedev in 4
Ricky pick: Medvedev in 5
(11) Pablo Carreno Busta vs. Sam Querrey
American veteran Sam Querrey shines for the few weeks a year that the ATP tour finds its way to grass. The big-serving world No. 54 has just the kind of game designed to work well when a big first serve can do the most damage. Querrey has been strong on the lawns in 2021. He made the semifinals in Stuttgart and the final in Mallorca just a few days ago.
Pablo Carreno Busta has had a good season so far. While his game is more tailored to hard courts, his only title this year came on the clay courts of Marbella. He doesn’t have a traditional grass-court game, but he played well enough in Mallorca to earn a spot in the semifinals.
Drawing Querrey in the first round was bad luck for the No. 11 seed. The courts aren’t yet chewed up, and with the surface still slippery Carreno Busta’s athleticism will be neutralized since players are still sliding and falling with some frequency.
Cheryl pick: Querrey in 5
Ricky pick: Querrey in 4
WWW?
Querry loves it at The AELTC….in 4; and Med finds his form…in 3.
Medvedev playing lovely stuff. Looks inspired at the mo. Mac purring.
Med v Cilic: whoever wins that will beat Fed , on this form.