Wimbledon R1 previews and predictions: Cilic vs. Kohlschreiber, Verdasco vs. Anderson

Fellow seeds Marin Cilic and Fernando Verdasco have tough openers on their hands as the first day of 2017 Wimbledon action begins. Cilic is facing Philipp Kohlschreiber, while Verdasco is going up against Kevin Anderson.

Philipp Kohlschreiber vs. (7) Marin Cilic

Cilic and Kohlschreiber will be squaring off for the 10th time in their careers when they clash in round one at Wimbledon on Monday. Kohlschreiber holds a surprising 6-3 lead in the head-to-head series, but the two veterans have never met on grass. In their only showdown since 2012, the German got the job done 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 last season on the indoor hard courts of Rotterdam.

The bad news for Kohlschreiber is that he appears to be slowing down at 33 years old. He has slumped to No. 57 in the world due in part to a modest 17-14 record for his 2017 campaign, including a 1-5 mark in his last six clay-court matches. Kohlschreiber’s grass-court swing includes a quarterfinal in Stuttgart (fell to eventual winner Lucas Pouille) and a second-round setback against eventual runner-up Alexander Zverev in Halle. Cilic started slow this season but has taken off since, with a title in Istanbul, Masters 1000 quarterfinals in Monte-Carlo and Rome, a quarterfinal at the French Open, a semifinal in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, and a runner-up finish at Queen’s Club. Not only does the sixth-ranked Croat enjoy a massive edge in current form, but he has also reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals three straight years. He may go even farther in 2017.

Pick: Cilic in 4

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(31) Fernando Verdasco vs. Kevin Anderson

Although Verdasco is finally seeded again at a Grand Slam, he still managed to stumble upon another difficult first-round draw–this time in the form of a sixth career contest against Anderson. Already this season Verdasco has faced Novak Djokovic (Australian Open) and Alexander Zverev (French Open) in major openers, losing to the former and upsetting the latter. The 35th-ranked Spaniard eventually fell to Kei Nishikori during fourth-round action in a match that saw him win the first set 6-0 and drop the fourth 6-0. Verdasco also ran into Nishikori in the Halle first round and succumbed 6-7(7), 6-3, 6-4.

Heading into Monday, Verdasco is leading his head-to-head series against Anderson 3-2. However, their only previous grass-court encounter came last summer in Nottingham and Anderson prevailed 6-3, 7-6(6). The 6’8” South African has struggled with injuries in recent years, but he is back up No. 45 in the world and recently battled into the French Open fourth round with a defeat of Nick Kyrgios in the process. Anderson warmed up for Wimbledon by advancing one round in Eastbourne, where he clobbered Thomaz Belucci before losing to Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-4. Growing in confidence, the former University of Illinois standout should be able to win just enough free grass-court points with his booming serve to survive what is sure to be a competitive contest.

Pick: Anderson in 5

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