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

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