Not many players are able to contest second-round matches on Wednesday at Wimbledon, but Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray are two of the lucky few. They will go up against Kevin Anderson and Oscar Otte, respectively.
(1) Novak Djokovic vs. Kevin Anderson
It will be a rematch of the 2018 Wimbledon final when Djokovic and Anderson meet again on Wednesday, this time in the second round. With Anderson coming off a semifinal marathon against John Isner three years ago, the championship match turned out to be a dud (Djokovic dominated 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(3)). Something similar can be expected for this one, because Djokovic is in stellar form with two Grand Slam titles already this season while Anderson continues to struggle physically. The 102nd-ranked South African, who scraped past Mario Tomas Barrios Vera in a fourth-set tiebreaker on Monday, has won only five matches in 2021.
Djokovic just won seven matches at the French Open alone, capturing his 19th slam title (second in Paris). There is no reason to think the two-time defending Wimbledon champion will suddenly slow down in London. Djokovic dropped a set to Jack Draper in round one, but he woke up to roll the rest of the way for a 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 victory. The world No. 1 is 9-1 lifetime against Anderson (a Laver Cup loss not included), highlighted by a 3-0 mark at Wimbledon. It’s impossible to see anything changing in this one.
Pick: Djokovic in 3
(Q) Oscar Otte vs. (WC) Andy Murray
There are legitimate concerns over Murray’s body holding up over back-to-back best-of-five matches, but at the same time you have to like this matchup for him. Otte is 6’4” German who has a big serve and forehand but does not move particularly well. Murray won’t have to play long points and the return of serve has always been one of the best parts of his game. Even if Otte is serving well, he is going to see a ton of balls come back in play.
To say Murray’s first-round match was a mixed bag would be a gross understatement. The 34-year-old Scot impressed on his way to a two-set and 5-0 lead against Nikoloz Basilashvili, but the ensuing third-set collapse–losing seven games in a row–was alarming. Murray righted the ship in the fourth for a 6-4, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 win, but having to play an hour longer than necessary cannot help. On the bright side for the two-time Wimbledon champ, Otte went to 13-12 in the fifth against Arthur Rinderknech and had to finish the marathon on Tuesday instead of Monday. Murray has made a career out of breaking down one-dimensional opponents and he should have enough left in the tank to do that once again on Wednesday.
Pick: Murray in 3
WWW?
Come on Andy! Let’s do this!
so if Naydull can’t do it himself (too tired), someone also should do it for him. Pathetic from Naydull fangirls.
NNY don’t bite my friend just ignore him/her don’t give him the satisfaction….
Alison,
Are they coming over from tennis-x? That’s what they used to say all the time about Rafa.
I try to ignore them but it’s just annoying when people don’t have a life. It’s a pretty sad comment on where they are at.
But I will tame your reminder to heart. I don’t want to encourage these morons.
TAKE your reminder to heart!
Djokovic 3
Seppi in 4
Schwartzman in 4
Fucsovics in 5
Fognini in 5
Rublev in 4
Pospisil in 5
Khachanov in 4
Evans in 3
Korda in 3
Shapovalov in 4
Murray in 5
Kwon in 5
Bautista Agut in 4
Tuesday
Berrettini in 3
Cilic in 3
Norrie in 4
Mager in 5
Humbert in 5
Garin in 5
These are just best approximations with the time I had available this evening.
Chardy in 4
Moutet in 5
Ruud in 5
Nishikori in 4
Ivanska in 4
van de Zandschulp in 4
Isner in 3
Probably should’ve gone Isner in 4 (or even 5).
Querrey in 4
Tsonga in 5
Alcatraz Garfia in 5
Giron in 5
Joker in 3; Murray in 4…I hope!!!!
Verdasco in 5 (cant believe Dimitrov has gone this far backwards)
Duckworth in 5
Sonego in 3
Bublik in 5
Johnson in 5
Auger-Aliassime in 3
Oh Andy! Brain cramp with that missed overhead! He has lost the plot in the second set. He was up a break and now it’s Otte who is up a break.
It is hard for me to watch Andy v Otte. Andy is starting to break down, I’m afraid. ☹😞
That is enough, I can’t watch the rest of this match. I love you, Andy Murray!
I had to stop watching the match. It’s too hard to see him like this.
I didn’t realize that the match is still going on. I did not want to see Andy lose to this guy. But he won the fourth set and is up 4-1 in the fifth.
NNY!
Andy won the match! I was typing about my WTA final picks and had put Andy away from my mind to spare my nerves. He beat Otte, whoever that is. I’m so happy Andy made it to play another round!
Congrats Andy!
RC,
Yes! Once I realized that they were still playing, I turned it on. I am SO happy for Andy! I have no idea who that other guy was. Never heard of him. Andy is not the player he once was, but there were moments in that fifth set where he hit some shots that were vintage Murray!
This really made my day!
😀
Good to see some “Murray Magic” again!:)
I just couldn’t watch Andy playing this guy! But he won in the 5th. He *cannot* keep playing 5 setters though! Grats to him and to the fans who managed to last through it.
Makes me think of Rafa in his 2013 comeback, playing so badly in SA 250 clay events (winning, yes, but looking like a shadow of himself). I’d wonder how he could stand it. But when he got to Acapulco, I finally understood, that he *knew* he’d play better. Maybe Andy has that hope too.
Ramara, Andy must keep that kind of hope. He is one of the GREATS, and he reminds us! I love him for having such a heart!
RC, If you want some good tennis analysis, try Gill Gross on YouTube! He’s unbiased and really excellent. No glitz, no smart aleck stuff. Never a pro player (high school, I think) but a real student of the game. He is a professional announcer, Syracuse U, basketball mainly, I think. Tennis on YouTube is kind of his hobby, I think. His most recent show was a live about Andy’s match with Otte, but he does a lot of other Wimbledon stuff in it.
Ramara.
I do love Andy for putting it out there and trying his best. He had the crowd with him all the way! What a moment when he won. He thanked the crowd,
I have always liked Andy. Love seeing him out there!
@RC and NNY,
Yup, I feel the same way about Andy.
Another roller coaster! Andy destroying his fans. Wimbledon back to “normal.” What’s not to like?
M!…Congrats for Andy win!…Fuyoo!!…It was like we c Andy of old!hehe…
If only he got more time to prepare himself,i bet we could c him going very far this Wimby!…I hope we will c him again next year!….C’mon Andy!
Egg on my face, my dear. I had him going out first round. Oh the shame…;)
Ohh that’s alright M!…I understand exactly y u had him out early!…If i in yor shoes,i will do the same!..
Don’t be too hard on yourself k?❤