Four Essential First Round Matches
The column arrives early this week as Wimbledon, undoubtedly the least leftist major, waits for no tennis leftist. I’m also switching up the formula a little for this rendition of the tried and true ATP Insider Grand Slam Preview Post. For one thing, I’ll be taking a break from predictions[1]. But, fear not, anyone who has read my French Open Report on the methodology of Dialectical Prognostication knows my system can be reproduced by any leftist tennis fan willing to take some time with the theory. Furthermore, I will also be expanding the scope of my coverage Outside the ATP (drum fill) to include the women’s side[2].
Bellow, you’ll find my four must watch first round Wimbledon match-ups. For the most part, I’ve stayed away from the top seeds and big names—the sorts of matches sure to be on Centre and Court One. As a general rule, I encourage tennis fans new and old to redistribute their attention away from the main broadcast feed to the action on the outer courts. That’s where you’ll find wild cards fighting for their lives. Aging stars making a final go. The largely anonymous fixtures of the tour, players in 50s and 60s of the world rankings, putting on five set thrillers with the fans practically on top of them. It’s a much better (and more leftist) viewing experience than, say, Novak pummeling some poor lucky loser while Johnny Mac absolutely phones in his booth banter. For those without access to a Television/Streaming package that offers multiple court options…well you definitely shouldn’t find an illegal stream.
The ATP
Corentin Moutet v. Richard Gasquet
In this extremely French celebration of the silent T, two of the tour’s finest and most flawed ball strikers face off. Gasquet, who somehow, at 37, is still in the top 50, thrives on grass despite his extravagant forehand. He’s been a Wimbledon semi-finalist[3] and already took out Tsitsipas this year at Stuttgart. Moutet, on the other hand, hasn’t won a match since Roland Garros and hasn’t seemed to enjoy playing tennis since the Obama administration. It’s hard to say what the biggest draw here is: Gasquet’s one-hander, the over/under on Moutet tantrums (I have t he line at 2), will they set the single match drop shot attempts record, etc. Expect electric tennis and even more electric gesticulation.
JJ Wolf v. Enzo Couacaud
I am elated to report that Fan Boat JJ is back. American tennis’s favorite young conservative has re-entered the mullet business and looks ready to ball out now that clay court season is over. This will be Wolf’s first foray into the main draw at Wimbledon and I’m excited to see how the British crowd reacts to his potently American aura. Perhaps he’ll start a dangle-y earring craze in house of lords. Maybe the onlookers will pelt him with strawberries and cream. Only time will tell.
What is certain is that Wolf possesses one of the most dynamic and original slice serves on the tour. Despite only standing at a (media guide) six-foot-flat, he puts extreme curve on the ball, particularly up the T on the add side. To hit these serves, JJ turns aggressively and tosses the ball well out into he court. It’s the sort of technical flourish players without the elastic hips of an ‘80s karate movie villain simply couldn’t pull off. I’m excited to see how his serve reacts to the slick, fresh first round grass. I don’t think this one will be close, but it will be fun as hell.
The WTA
Venus Williams v. Elina Svitolena
This pick definitely breaks my no big name rule, but extenuating circumstances make this Wild Card v. Wild Card showdown an essential watch. I simply don’t know how many more chances there will be to see Venus Williams play professional tennis, and Wimbledon Venus is peak Venus. It is, after all, the tournament where she’s won five of her seven singles slams. Also, in recent years, as her presence on tour has waned and the Serena retirement extravaganza of 2022 dominated the tennis news cycles, the legacy of the now 43-year-old elder Williams sister has gotten a bit distorted. Her reputation is due a revisionist critique.
Venus has become, in my estimation, both overrated and underrated. I’ve seen more than a few casual fans claim she’s the second-best women’s player ever (behind Serena)[4], a bit of a reach to put it mildly, but I also think her longevity has obscured the excellence of her peak. It’s not unlike the Agassi late career, when he was bald fixture in the second week of majors, but not really competing for titles anymore. Let’s cherish the last days of Venus, but also remember her for what she is—a top 2-3 player of her generation and an inner circle all-time great. I hope she summons some magic to make a deep run this year, but don’t take her talents for granted and miss this one.
Alison Riske-Amritraj v. Paula Badosa
This match is about something bigger than tennis. It’s about love. Specifically, the supremacy of tennis power couples. While I’m sure all my readers are, at this point, well versed in Tsitsidosa lore, some tennis leftists may not know that Riske-Amritraj is a part of perhaps the greatest multi-national tennis dynasty, the Amritrajs. For uninitiated, brothers Vijay, Ashok, and Anand Amritraj, who stared on tour in the 70s, were the original greats of Indian tennis. Their progeny includes Riske’s husband Stephen (a former ATP pro) as well as ex-top 200 player and current extremely-vascular T.V. host Prakash. Most of these guys also live, these days, in my own ancestral home, the San Fernando Valley, and, much my like the gaggle of Tsitsipas’s dotting the tennis landscape, they are no strangers to hair product.
Neither Badosa nor Riske-Amritraj is in peak form, but I think the contrast of Badosa’s power baseline game with Riske-Amritraj’s scrappy, all-court style[5] will produce a tight contest with ample off court resonance. Will I be scanning the crowd for a brooding Stefanos? Yes. Will I read whatever ludicrous poem he writes after this match and then want to run full speed into a brick wall? Also yes. Is there a non-zero chance Paula Badosa knows what Dimes Square is? Almost certainly. For that reason, I give the former world number-two a slight edge.
Wrapping Up:
It has just come across my desk that the first round will not include last year’s finalist Nick Kyrgios—he’s withdrawn with a wrist injury. While I can’t say I’ll miss Nick all that much, he was unfortunately the most likely player in the field to, in a blind rage, accidentally kill the king with a thrown Yonnex. Maybe someone else can step up in his absence…
The column’s early arrival this week means I’ll be off the air until next Wednesday. By then, Wimbledon will be well in its second week, and I’ll have some more opinions to share about the extremely British environment at the All England Club. Until then, enjoy the tennis.
[1] It will, admittedly, also be a bit shorter than past previews.
[2] Applications remain open for a full time CLT WTA Insider.
[3] Not particularly recently, but still.
[4] There was also a take around the release of King Richard that she was the second greatest female athlete ever.
[5] She’s also an excellent doubles player.
Love it. Kudos, Jackson.