Sofia Kenin and Daria Kasatkina are among the players in action on day 2 at the 2025 Wimbledon Championships. Who will thrive and make it out for the first round? Our panelists offer their predictions and analysis of all of the first round matches.
Elena Rybakina vs Elina Avanesyan
Manuel: Despite a disappointing grass season so far, Rybakina is a former champion here at Wimbledon and definitely one of the favorites for this year’s tournament. She should definitely advance here with relative ease. Prediction: Rybakina in 2
Damian: Rybakina’s draw is full of traps and this could be one of them with Avanesyan loving to mess up her opponents with slices and mixing up height on the ball. But she’s also so out of rhythm right now and on grass, the 2022 champion has a better chance at handling games like that. She’s still one of the best players in the world on this surface. Rybakina in 2
Yesh: This could be a good battle. Rybakina is one of the best in the world on grass, so she should probably win, but Avanesyan won’t be a pushover. Prediction: Rybakina in 2
Daria Kasatkina vs Emiliana Arango
Manuel: Kasatkina has had a disastrous grass court season thus far but she got quite a kind draw here (at least on paper) and should be able to advance to the second round and gain some confidence and momentum here. Prediction: Kasatkina in 2
Damian: Kasatkina has had a tough season, including a 0-3 record on grass. But she’s done well at the Slams, reaching the second week in Melbourne and Paris. Her draw seems pretty pleasant and she could be in for a repeat if she finds her groove at the big event again. It’s not an altitude event, so Arango shouldn’t be too much of a threat. Kasatkina in 2
Yesh: Kasatkina seems to have found some form again. She’s not quite as consistent as a few years ago, but she’s winning lots of matches again. She should be easily favored in this one.
Prediction: Kasatkina in 2
Caroline Dolehide vs Elena-Gabriela Ruse
Manuel: Neither player particularly enjoys playing on grass, but Dolehide is clearly the better and more comfortable player on this surface. Under normal circumstances, she should be able to win this one.
Prediction: Dolehide in 2
Damian: Funnily enough Rus has played on grass quite a bit over the years, mostly in appearances on home soil in Hertogenbosch or at Wimbledon. But it was never a surface that suited her heavy topspin game and Dolehide has the playstyle to probably punish that, even if she’s yet to win a main draw match at this venue. Dolehide in 3
Yesh: Arantxa Rus is probably at the tail end of her competitive career, but this is a winnable matchup for her. It could be a fun one, and should definitely be close. Prediction: Dolehide in 3
Sofia Kenin vs Taylor Townsend
Manuel: Kenin is very far from her Slam winning days but she has been steadily climbing up the rankings and is looking to have at least a solid run here at Wimbledon. She should at least make it through this first round.
Prediction: Kenin in 2
Damian: Townsend could be a deadly qualifier to face, especially if she turns on the serve-and-volleying with her net aggression. Her record against Kenin is 3-3 and while she lost to the 2020 Australian Open champion on grass two years ago, she’s definitely in the running to win this match. Townsend in 3
Yesh: Taylor Townsend’s singles career never materialized as expected, though she’s more than made up for it in doubles. She should like the grass, and has the skillset to cause problems for Kenin, who has cracked under pressure in recent years. Prediction: Townsend in 3
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images