Twenty-four-hours before The Championships got under way we asked the wimbledon.com writers and some of the broadcasters here at the All England Club to pick a player they thought might sneak under the radar and into the second week.
Emails were sent, WhatsApp messages dispatched and we were left with a list of 20 players across both singles draws that they felt could upset the seedings and still be around on the second Monday.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Julia Goerges, Daniel Evans and Danielle Collins were a few of the names that fell just short of a place in the last 16 but with six days completed four of those original 20 competitors are still alive.
Broadcaster and former pro Barry Cowan chose big-serving American Sam Querrey while fellow commentator and former top 20 ATP doubles player Colin Fleming went for Italian Matteo Berrettini in the men’s draw.
ESPN’s Sam Gore stayed patriotic with his prediction that fellow American Alison Riske would make it through her first three matches, and wimbledon.com’s Alex Sharp is very happy with his pick, the US teen sensation Cori Gauff who faces Simona Halep on Monday for a place in the quarter-finals.
Fleming, working for the BBC this Fortnight, had been impressed with Berrettini’s form coming into the Championships.
“I’m not surprised at all to see him make the fourth round having come into the tournament with a grass court title to his name and with the big game he possesses,” said the Scot.
“Saving three match points to come through against a tough player like Diego Schwartzman shows he’s mentally tough as well. It’ll be interesting to see what he’s got left in the tank when he takes on Roger Federer on Monday but he’s got nothing to lose and I’m sure he will impress the crowd.”
Likewise, Gore felt confident that Riske’s grass court pedigree would serve her well and that she could perhaps improve on three third round appearances in SW19.
“Alison has been riding the momentum of her grass title in the Netherlands to storm into the last 16,” said the ESPN analyst.
“She’s played three long singles matches, as well as doubles. Her will to win and superb fitness have been on display and have helped her get this far.
“However, I think even with a day’s rest, beating Ashleigh Barty on Monday may be too much to expect. I picked her to make the second week and she did, but despite my patriotism, my objective analysis says Barty wins and moves into the quarter-finals.”
Cowan had done his homework before the Fortnight began when he watched Querrey reach the final at the ATP 250 event on grass in Eastbourne.
“Sam served 75 aces during the first week here, and was broken just once, and has continued his good form from Devonshire Park,” said Cowan. “I thought he looked fit and strong the week before The Championships and he’s looked the same here.
“I expect him to beat Tennys Sandgren in the last 16 and he’s done well to sneak through in the bottom half that’s opened up during the first week. He has the previous experience of reaching the semis here and that will help him too.”
The chance to watch Gauff last season in Paris was enough to convince Sharp that the 15-year-old could build on her passage through Qualifying where she won three matches without losing a set.
“I saw Coco courtside lift the Roland-Garros girls' trophy and then ignite Team USA to defend their junior Fed Cup title last September,” he said.
“Even then it was clear Gauff was a unique talent. Her game is pretty complete and of course it will develop, but the remarkable factor during the teenager's run here has been her composure.
“The hype, the crowds, the higher-ranked opponents - none of it has seemed to faze the American. It has all been taken in her stride.
“Playing with freedom, greeting everything with a smile, Coco will go out to absorb and enjoy the occasion when she plays Simona Halep on Monday. If the Romanian is slightly off kilter then Gauff could provide another huge shock.”
