An early scare for Roger Federer, an early exit for Garbine Muguruza, a Nick Kyrgios banter-fest, and a Bernard Tomic tank-fest – there was certainly plenty happening on day 2 at Wimbledon.
That said, perhaps the biggest news to come on Tuesday was the official announcement of Serena Williams and Andy Murray’s partnership in the mixed-doubles. It’s always cool when worlds collide, and it can only be good for the game to see more attention for something other than singles.
Also it’s worth mentioning that for all the meaning a title here would have for Murray, it would also mark a pretty incredible milestone for Serena as well. The last time she won a mixed-doubles major was the 1998 US Open, nearly twenty-one years ago – that would have to be some sort of record.
Here’s your three to see on day 3 at Wimbledon:
Stan Wawrinka (SUI) [22] v Reilly Opelka (USA) – First on No. 2 Court
After two years of injury woes, Stan Wawrinka finally seemed on the path back to his ball-thumping best with his recent quarterfinal run at Roland Garros, so naturally his perseverance has been rewarded at his least-favourite major with an early round matchup against a guy who lives for this particular surface. A junior Wimbledon champion and the tallest player on tour, 6’11 Reilly Opelka has – you guessed it – a massive serve that Wawrinka will struggle to get a look-in on, and the ability to hit with brutally flattened groundies that will make it hard for the Swiss to load-up on his own shots in rallies. If Wawrinka wants to get through this one, he’s going to have to play a more tactically astute game that attacks Opelka’s backhand and footwork, and yet with the latter’s ability to race to (and through) tiebreaks, he’ll have to work very hard to fend off the upset.
Karen Khachanov (RUS) [10] v Feliciano Lopez (ESP) – Second on No. 1 Court
Roger Federer may be the first name that comes to mind when people talk about old dudes still making waves on the ATP tour, but 37-year-old Feliciano Lopez isn’t doing too bad either. A titlist in Queen’s, Lopez comes into this contest with Karen Khachanov as one of the draw’s more dangerous floaters, and having pushed the Russian to three sets in Indian Wells already this year, knows he has the potential to cause trouble. Expect Lopez to make full use of the surface, using plenty of slice and ambitious forays to the net to keep Khachanov off-balance – will it be enough, to break through the big hitting Russian? Maybe, maybe not, but it would be no surprise if it takes five sets to find out.
Sofia Kenin (USA) [27] v Dayana Yastremska (UKR) – Third on Court 18
Two youngsters who have made a name for themselves on the WTA tour in 2019, Sofia Kenin-Dayana Yastremska is as much a tantalising clash now as it is an intriguing glimpse at the future. Seven ranking spots higher and with a recent title on grass in Mallorca, Kenin comes into this one the favourite, but her opponent knows how to play on the surface too, and it wouldn’t be that big a surprise to see the 2016 Girls’ finalist give the American a serious run for her money. Whoever wins, the contrast between Kenin’s more patient, measured game and the big hitting of Yastremska should make this a fun one, with the added bonus that the victor will be in pole position to take advantage of the early departure of Naomi Osaka.
