The draws for Wimbledon 2021 were out on Friday. Here are five exciting first-round matches to watch out for:
Nick Kyrgios vs 21-Ugo Humbert
Nick Kyrgios and Ugo Humbert booked a blockbuster rematch of their epic Australian Open clash.
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When these two met in Melbourne, they delighted Aussie fans with a marathon five-setter that went down to the wire, with Kyrgios upsetting the Frenchman 5-7, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(2), 6-4.
🇦🇺 Nick Kyrgios v. Ugo Humbert 🇫🇷 is one to watch in the opening round. 👀 #Wimbledon
— ATP Tour (@atptour) June 25, 2021
Andy Murray vs 24-Nikoloz Basilashvili
Two-time former Wimbledon champion Andy Murray will be in for a battle after drawing the in-form Nikoloz Basilashvili in the opening round.
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It will be Murray’s first time playing singles at Wimbledon since 2017 and his second grass-court event of the season.
The big-hitting Basilashvili has lifted two ATP Tour trophies this year at Doha and Munich. The Georgian reached the third round at Wimbledon in his 2015 main draw debut, but has not been past the second round since.
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Murray will have the edge in grass-court experience, with eight of his 43 tour-level titles coming on the surface, including two Grand Slams and an Olympic gold medal.
1- Ashleigh Barty v Carla Suárez Navarro
Top seed Ashleigh Barty, who had to pull out of French Open due to injury, is set to open her campaign against the inspirational Carla Suarez Navarro.
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Suárez Navarro, who is competing in her final Wimbledon after a successful battle against cancer over the past year.
Barty has not played any tune-up events on grass as she was recovering from a hip injury.
7- Iga Swiatek v Hsieh Su-Wei
2020 French Open champion Iga Swiatek faces a tricky first round against Hsieh Su-Wei.
Hsieh’s unconventional and unpredictable game always maker her a dangerous prospect at majors. She reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open this year.
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Swiatek struggled for form during the Eastbourne International, the only grass event she has played before heading into the Championships. After coming through a tough first round against Heather Watson, she went down 6-4, 0-6, 1-6 to Daria Kasatkina.
10-Petra Kvitova v Sloane Stephens
In the battle of two Grand Slam champions, Petra Kvitova will take on Sloane Stephens.
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Kvitova picked up a freak injury at the French Open and had to withdraw after her second round match.
The 31-year-old Czech has a 1-2 head-to-head record against Stephens, whose best previous Wimbledon result was making the quarter-finals in 2013.
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Stephens, a former world No.3 but down to No.69 in the rankings, is also dealing with her own injury woes as she pulled out of singles and doubles in Hamburg this week due to a foot problem.
