Petra Kvitova versus Madison Brengle

People love a good comeback story, and they do not come much better than Petra Kvitova.  The victim of a terrifying home invasion last December, the Czech was not even initially sure if she would be able to play tennis again.  Now, nearly seven months later, she not only finds herself competing at Wimbledon but a popular pick among many to win the title.  She considers it funny that so many like her chances of winning the title, which means she is wisely not getting ahead of herself.  Even so, it is easy to see why people are willing to consider her a favorite.  She is one of the biggest ball-strikers in the sport and owns an impressive all-around game. 

Her serve is also one of the best, and she has the added advantage of being a lefty.  She is the complete package, able to make inroads on any surface, but grass is what suits her best.  It is the reason she is a two-time Wimbledon Champion.  This is the venue where she feels most confident in using her weaponry to dictate play, and that is what she should and could do on Wednesday against Madison Brengle.  Yet Brengle's chances for pulling off the upset should not be dismissed.  She may be ranked just inside the Top 100 and splitting her time between the main Tour and the ITF Circuit, but she's been gaining confidence from her tournament wins on the ITF Circuit.  Like the eleventh seed, she is most at home on grass, and she has notched wins over both Serena Williams and Jelena Ostapenko this season.  More importantly, she does hold a 2-1 edge in her rivalry with Kvitova.  As is often the case, this match is on Kvitova's racquet, but if she logs one of her more erratic performances, Brengle is more than capable of taking advantage to earn the upset.

Andy Murray versus Dustin Brown

When Andy Murray takes to the court at Wimbledon, it is virtually a guarantee that it will be a packed house.  But while most of the fans will likely be firmly in the Scot's corner when his second match gets underway, there could very well be plenty of fans eager to see his opponent, Dustin Brown.  The German is a journeyman who has languished most of his career at the Challenger level, but he is still well-known among tennis circles thanks to his reputation as a shot-maker.  He is an offensive-minded competitor, who is always looking to move forward and frequently choosing to employ the flashy over the higher-percentage shots.  With that approach, it is no surprise that his best results have come on grass, where it pays most to be aggressive and keep the points short. 

When at his best, his is a game that can unsettle even the most decorated of champions, as evidenced by his two victories over Rafael Nadal, one of which came right here at Wimbledon.  Murray will be well aware of Brown's tactics and history at this event, however, and is unlikely to be put off by it. There are some question marks surrounding the Brit's physical health and he hardly enters this Wimbledon playing anywhere near as well as he is used to.  That said, he knows he is the superior player in every facet of the game, so though Brown could certainly make this entertaining, Murray's experience, consistency, and overall willingness to grind should theoretically be enough to see him through to the third round.

Madison Keys versus Camila Giorgi

It seems hard to believe that just a few years ago, Madison Keys had hit her way to the semifinals of the Australian Open and was being touted as the successor to the Williams Sisters.  Injuries – particularly to her wrist – have taken their toll, however, and she comes into this Wimbledon flying well under the radar.  The good news for Keys is that she is once again feeling healthy, which will only fuel her confidence to start playing her best.  Added to that, Wimbledon is a venue that should be ideal for her game, which is heavy on offense and low on defense.  She can outhit most of the women on tour, often taking the racket right out of her opponent's hands.  She gets good mileage out of her serve and is none-too-shabby in the forecourt.

Many are looking forward to seeing what she could do against reigning Roland Garros Champion Jelena Ostapenko in a potential third-round showdown.  But, in order to hold up her end of the bargain in making that match happen, she has to first get by Camila Giorgi – something that is not a guarantee.  The Italian is a very quick player, who hits the ball extremely hard and flat.  It is a high-risk, high-reward style that allows her to pack a bigger punch than her size would suggest.  As a result, she has pushed a number of top players to the limit, sometimes garnering the win, and she has a victory over Keys, as well.  So, while Keys is the one in the best position to determine which way this one falls and should be favored to get through, Giorgi is in with a fighting chance.