Wimbledon is just a couple of days away and the heat is firmly on some players to step up and perform in an opportunistic draw. So with that in mind here are four ATP players that need a first round win come Monday or Tuesday.
David Ferrer
The Spaniard ranked number 39 in the world will be hoping for some match wins and soon if he wants to survive in the top 50. The 35 year old veteran has only won 8 of his 21 ATP World Tour matches this season and time is running out for Ferrer to notch up some big wins before he retires. He will be hoping that his least favourite surface can be that spark that he is hoping for and get his season back on track. However his first round match is not a favourable one in specialist grass court player, Richard Gasquet. It will be vitally important that he gets off to a good start otherwise it could be a long Tuesday afternoon for the Spaniard. Even though Ferrer leads the head to head 9-3, Gasquet should get the win however Ferrer’s desperation to get a match win could take him to heights that he has never reached.
Bernard Tomic
Tomic, who is now outside the World’s top 50 is a man struggling for motivation and passion. Critics have often criticised him either for his style of play, his off court behaviour or his ability to give up in some matches. However the world number 60 is a former Quarterfinalist here and needs to remember how he used his ability to reach that stage of the tournament in 2011. The controversial Australian plays serve and volleyer Mischa Zverev in the first round this year and will need to be patient and return to the best of his ability if he wants to win this match. If the former world number 17 can execute these qualities accurately he can pull off the upset on Tuesday.
Ernests Gulbis
The Latvian has been out of the conversation lately when talking about grand slams. Injuries and lack of confidence have hindered his progress and has seen him dip to the world number 576. The former Roland Garros Semifinalist has had to adjust his forehand swing slightly due to injuries but is still as effective. The opportunistic Latvian has a golden opportunity to gain some valuable ranking points on Tuesday when he takes on the Dominican Republic’s Victor Estrella Burgos. This is a great opportunity as his opponent is more of a clay courter and is not as effective on the grass courts. Should Gulbis capitalise his ranking should shoot up which is good to see, hence why the Latvian needs to win this match.
Jerzy Janowicz
Finally the giant server from Poland needs a first round win at Wimbledon. The world number 1411 needs a victory to build some consistency on his favourite surface. This is the last tournament he is using his protected ranking and will need to take this opportunity if he wants to qualify automatically for future grand slam main draws. However which Janowicz will turn up? Will it be the one who reached the last four in 2013 and beat Grigor Dimitrov in Stuttgart a couple weeks ago or will it be the one that lost to Franko Skugor in Eastbourne qualifying last weekend. On Monday he will play Canadian rising star Denis Shapovalov who thrives on this surface. This will be their first meeting on the main tour, although they met in a challenger in Mexico earlier this year where the Canadian won in a last set tiebreak. This is a golden opportunity for Janowicz, if he can win his opening match on this surface you never know where he can go in these two weeks….
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