Damien Kayat previews Cameron Norrie vs Christopher Eubanks (ATP) and Paula Badosa vs Marta Kostyuk (WTA) in selected 2nd Round matches of the Wimbledon Championships, on the 7th of June 2023.
2023ATP/ WTA Tour
Grand Slam Tennis
Wimbledon Championships
All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
Selected 2nd Round Matches – 7th June
ATP Tour
Cameron Norrie 2/7 | Christopher Eubanks 51/20
That was a nervy start for 12th seed Cameron Norrie. A semi-finalist here last year, Norrie battled to a four-set victory over 108th raked Czech youngster Tomas Machac.
The Brit didn’t seem comfortable with the bounce of the ball, occasionally gesticulating at the ground in disgust. But he will be relived to have seen off that assignment as he aims to recapture the form that propelled him into the world’s top 10.
The pugnacious Brit has only reached one semi-final in ten events since claiming the Rio Open title. It’s a pretty alarming downturn for a player who has oozed consistency over the past two years. But Norrie is a proficient grass-court operator who could rediscover his best form here.
He reached the Queens final in 2021 and obviously had that brilliant run here last season. He narrowly lost to an inspired Seb Korda in this year’s Queens quarterfinals. These slightly slower grass-courts suit his counterpunching style nicely. He is able to absorb plenty of pressure and flatten out that backhand when needed.
Towering American Christopher Eubanks enjoyed a star collegiate career before making the choice to go pro. Things haven’t exactly gone to plan for the lanky American at pro level.
His decision to utilize a single-handed backhand arguably held him back in this age of thuggish baseline rallies. But the tall American is currently enjoying the best period of his professional career. The positive momentum really started when he reached his maiden Masters 1000 quarterfinal at the Miami Open (a run that included the biggest win of his career against Borna Coric).
And he came into this year’s championships fresh off of winning his maiden ATP Tour title in Mallorca. His first-round win against Monterio took his grass-court win-streak to six matches.
His massive height gives him a huge edge on grass, allowing him to rain down aces and unreturnable serves. But his movement wasn’t flawless in his opening-round match and this will be a massive step up in quality.
Verdict: Norrie to win in four – 49/20
This will be their first career meeting. Eubanks is obviously going to pose a threat with that monstrous delivery. But- despite that Mallorca title- I still think he moves more naturally on hardcourts. I think that Norrie’s flat backhand could be his key to victory here. It will rush Eubanks and test his mobility to the limit.
WTA Tour
Paula Badosa 61/100 | Marta Kostyuk 5/4
Love is in the air at this year’s Wimbledon Championships. Paula Badosa’s new high-profile relationship with Stefanos Tsitsipas has captured the tennis public’s imagination in a way that hasn’t been seen since the Graf-Agassi union.
Badosa was more far more decisive in her first-round match than her new beau was, taking down Alison Riske in straight sets while Tsitsipas laboured to a five-set win over Thiem. Former World No.2 Badosa has had an injury-interrupted season that has seen her drop outside the seedings.
There were doubts about her participation in this year’s event after she missed the French Open due to a spinal injury. But she dispelled any fears with a really professional outing against Riske.
She dominated on serve, highlighting why she has reached the 4th round here for the last two consecutive seasons. Could she ride her wave of new-found romance to victory this year?
Next up for Badosa is giant-killing Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk. The 21-year-old pulled off one of the biggest surprises of this year’s championships thus far, coming back from a set down to see off 8th seed Maria Sakkari.
The result was all the more exceptional because she got bagled in the first-set. But Kostyuk took advantage of three rain interruptions and managed to impose her will on the game. She destabilized the Greek by rushing to the net and forced Sakkari into errors by amping up the aggression.
Kostyuk actually came into this year’s championships on a three-match losing streak. But she has started to shine this season, winning her maiden WTA title in Austin before claiming the Birmingham double’s title alongside Barbora Krejcikova.
That outing against Sakkari is almost the perfect warm-up for a clash with the big-hitting Badosa. Kostyuk will have to mix it up again and prevent the Spaniard from settling into a steady rhythm.
Verdict: Badosa to win in three at 33/10
Badosa has an imperious 3-0 head-to-head advantage over the Ukrainian. That includes a comfy victory earlier this year in Rome. I think this could be a trickier match than many expect.
Badosa looked solid in her first-round match but she has still played very little tennis of late. Kostyuk grew into that match against Sakkari and won’t be a deer in the headlights again. Still, I think Badosa’s serve could ultimately prove decisive in this clash.
