Wimbledon 2013: The best Second Round Men’s matches to follow at SW19

Not many would have called out the Rafael Nadal-Steve Darcis match as one to watch out for in the first round. Yet, that match turned out to provide the biggest shock in recent times at Wimbledon.

There could be an upset or a classic lurking in any bracket of the draw. But here’s our pick of the best men’s second round matches to watch at the All-England Club.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga celebrates match point during his Gentlemen’s Singles first round match against David Goffin on day one of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 24, 2013 in London, England. (Getty Images)

(6) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs. Ernests Gulbis – H2H Tsonga leads 3-0 (first meeting on grass)

This is probably the most anticipated second round match on the men’s side. Tsonga and Gulbis both play go-for-broke tennis. Their shot-making ability is on par with the best. But so is their ability to fly-off-the-handle.

Gulbis has had a terrific season, moving back into the top 40. But the Latvian has never had much success on grass, winning only three matches in five previous visits to London.

On the other hand, Tsonga has had his most consistent slam results at Wimbledon, the quarters in 2010 and the semis in 2011 and 2012. With new coach Roger Rasheed working on his mental approach, 28-year-old Tsonga could be ready to reach another Grand Slam final. And his flair for attacking the net should help him win this one.

Prediction – Tsonga in four sets

James Blake vs. Bernard Tomic – First meeting

Veteran baseline basher vs. young versatile junk-ball specialist: James Blake and Bernard Tomic are at the opposite spectrums of their careers.

33-year-old Blake is playing for fun these days, and that attitude has helped him return to the top 100. With a limited schedule, Blake has even gone back to playing Challengers in order to get some matches under his belt. Blake put on a vintage performance in the first round, making just 7 unforced errors in his win over Thiemo De Bakker.

Meanwhile, Tomic needed five sets and a lengthy medical time out to upset 21st seed Sam Querrey in the first round. The 20-year-old Australian is still caught up in the controversial situation his father created in Madrid. Tomic certainly has the game to unsettle the American and if he has recovered from his first round match, he should be able to win this one.

Prediction – Tomic in four sets

Lleyton Hewitt vs. Dustin Brown – First meeting

You have to be a real tennis junkie to be familiar with Dustin Brown, the dreadlocked Jamaican-born player who switched nationalities and now plays for Germany. The 6 ft 5 inch Brown plays serve-n-volley tennis and is a showman born to perform on the big show courts, with a back-story that is the stuff fiction novels could be made of.

Frustrated with lack of funding to play tournaments, his mother bought him a camper to travel around Europe and play futures tournaments. The camper was bigger than some apartments, with a kitchen, a bathroom and three beds. Soon it became home for Brown as he persevered with his dream.

On Wednesday, that dream will come true as he meets former champion Lleyton Hewitt on Wimbledon’s Show Court no. 2. Hewitt was in sublime form in the first round taking out Stanislas Wawrinka, and that straight sets win will also mean that he is physically fresh for the second round.

Prediction – Hewitt in four sets