Wimbledon 2013: The best First Round Men's matches to follow at SW19

While all eyes will be on the Big Four when Wimbledon gets underway in London today, the real tennis fans will be scouring the grounds for the exciting matches, which do not necessarily involve the top players. Here’s our pick of the five best first round matches for the men.

Lleyton Hewitt hits a backhand shot during the Men’s Singles semifinal round match against Marin Cilic of Croatia at Queens Club on June 15, 2013 in London, England. He takes on Wawrinka in what is the pick of all the first round men’s matches at Wimbledon this year. (Getty Images)

(10) Marin Cilic vs. Marcos Baghdatis – H2H Cilic leads 3-1 (first meeting on grass)

This match would be a whole lot more interesting if Baghdatis did not come into Wimbledon on the back of a ten-match losing streak on the ATP circuit. The 28-year-old Baghdatis has struggled throughout his career with fitness and motivation and, at this stage, it seems unlikely he will ever become a top player again. But he still is capable of playing spellbinding tennis for a few sets or even a few rounds.

The 24-year-old Cilic has had a steady year and reached the finals at Queens last week. His big serve and game should suit the grass courts well but he has never gone beyond the round of 16 here. Baghdatis, who reached the semis at Wimbledon in 2006 and the quarters in 2007, will put on a show but Cilic will likely prove to be too solid for the Cypriot.

Prediction – Cilic to win it in four sets

(11) Stanislas Wawrinka vs. Lleyton Hewitt – H2H Wawrinka leads 2-1 (1-0 on grass)

This is the pick of all the first round men’s matches at Wimbledon this year. Wawrinka is the man in-form, returning to the top 10 this season for the first time in four and a half years. The Swiss reached the finals in s-Hertogenbosch last week, where he was surprisingly beaten by Frenchman Nicolas Mahut. But Wawrinka has not had much success at Wimbledon in the past, making it to the last 16 only twice in his career.

His opponent, tennis’ version of ‘Unbreakable’, Lleyton Hewitt is a former champion and has made the second week nine times during the 2001-2010 decade. At 32, Hewitt is probably on his ninth and final life. After barely playing during the clay court season, the Australian, now ranked no. 70 in the world beat Grigor Dimitrov, Sam Querrey and Juan Martin del Potro to reach the semis in Queen’s last week. Hewitt has a tendency to play long five-set matches at the slams and if his body holds up for the entire match, he could have too much grass court experience for Wawrinka.

Prediction – Hewitt to win it in four sets

Kyle Edmund serves during his Men’s Singles first round match against Grega Zemlja at Queens Club on June 11, 2013 in London, England. The 18-year-old, ranked 385 in the world and a wild card entrant, will take on Janowicz in the first round. (Getty Images)

(21) Sam Querrey vs. Bernard Tomic – H2H Tomic leads 1-0 (first meeting on grass)

Two years ago, Bernard Tomic became the youngest ever Wimbledon quarter-finalist since Boris Becker in 1986. But barring a good run earlier this year in January, Tomic had made more headlines off the court than on it – the latest being the assault case against his father, which has led Tomic Sr. to being banned by the ATP. That Tomic has refused to hire a new coach and continues working with his father shows the deep, not necessarily healthy, bond between the two.

His opponent in the first round is the big serving American Sam Querrey, who only boasts a meagre 6-5 lifetime record at SW19. Querrey seems to be match-tougher and more motivated right now and his big serve should help him on the grass courts. Tomic will do well again at Wimbledon sometime in the future but for now, he’s likely headed for another early exit.

Prediction – Querrey to win it in straight sets

(24) Jerzy Janowicz vs. Kyle Edmund – First meeting

Tim Henman and Andy Murray both made headline grabbing wins at Wimbledon early on in their careers to pierce into the British sporting consciousness and now it might be time for 18-year-old Kyle Edmund, ranked 385 in the world and a wild card entrant. Edmund won a round at Eastbourne last week and is the reigning US Open and French open junior boys’ doubles champion.

Janowicz is a giant on the court. At 6ft 8 inches, his serve is a monster and is backed up by blinding groundstrokes. But the Polish player is prone to flying off the handle every now and then. With the crowd behind him and the familiarity with grass, Edmund may be ready to make a splash of his own this year.

Prediction – Edmund to win it in straight sets

Michael Llodra vs. Jarkko Nieminnen – H2H tied at 1-1 (first meeting on grass)

Anytime you get a chance to see Michael Llodra play, make sure you take it. They just don’t make them like him anymore. The Frenchman is 33-years-old and probably the last survivor of the near extinct serve-n-volleyer species. Llodra plays entertaining tennis almost every time he steps on court but does not always manage to win (he has gone past the second round only once at Wimbledon – in 2011 when he made the last 16).

His opponent is the 31-year-old Finnish player Jarkko Nieminen, who is also a southpaw. Niemeinen reached the quarters way back in 2006 and at no. 38, is ranked 15 places above the Frenchman. Both players have had decent runs so far this year (Llodra is 11-7 while Nieminen is 23-16). The result may not matter much in the larger scheme of things but their tennis will surely be fun to watch.

Prediction – Nieminen to win it in four sets