Wimbledon 2023: Andy Murray vs Ryan Peniston preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick

Fixture: Andy Murray vs (WC) Ryan Peniston.

Date: July 4, 2023.

Tournament: Wimbledon 2023.

Round: First round (Round of 128).

Venue: London, United Kingdom.

Category: Grand Slam.

Surface: Grass.

Prize money: £44,700,000.

Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel & ESPN | Canada - TSN & RDS | UK - BBC & Eurosport | India - Star Sports.

Andy Murray vs Ryan Peniston preview

Murray opens his campaign against a qualifier.

Two-time champion Andy Murray will open his bid for a third Wimbledon title against British wildcard Ryan Peniston.

The 39th-ranked Murray has had an 8-9 start to the season but has mostly played on the Challenger Tour recently, claiming titles on the grasscourts of Surbiton and Nottingham. However, he fell in the opening round at Queen's to Alex de Minaur, which scuppered his chances of being seeded at the Championships.

Back from a potentially career-ending hip surgery in 2018, Murray is playing some of his best tennis post the surgery this season. He notably made a spirited run to the final in Doha, where he fell to Daniil Medvedev.

Outside the Doha run, the 36-year-old has struggled to win consecutive matches this season. However, he holds a formidable 60-12 record at Wimbledon, where he made the second round last year.

Meanwhile, World No. 267 Peniston has won only one of his two matches this season, with that win coming at Queen's last week. He has mostly played on the Challenger Tour this year, making the semifinals at Noumea and Tenerife 3.

The 27-year-old needed a wildcard to enter the Wimbledon main draw but faces a baptism by fire in the form of his compatriot Murray.

Andy Murray vs Ryan Peniston head-to-head

This is a first-time matchup, so their head-to-head record stands at 0-0.

Andy Murray vs Ryan Peniston odds

Player	Moneyline	Handicap Bets	Total Games (over/under)
Andy Murray	-1000	-1.5 (-450)	Over 32.5 (-110)
Ryan Peniston	+575	+1.5 (+280)	Under 32.5 (-125)

All odds sourced from BETMGM.

Andy Murray vs Ryan Peniston prediction

Both Murray and Peniston like to dominate opponents from the baseline, but the similarities in their game styles end there.

Murray, especially in his heydays, was one of the game's finest counterpunchers. He comfortably edges his opponent in terms of experience, consistency and pedigree, especially on grass, where he has won 117 matches and eight titles. Sixty of those wins and two titles have come at Wimbledon.

Peniston, by contrast, is a greenhorn on grass, going 6-4, including a 1-1 record at the grasscourt Major.

Considering the above, Murray should take the win, especially considering his recent grasscourt form.

Pick: Murray in four sets.

About the author

Bhargav is a veteran sports journalist and editor at Sportskeeda, with a rich professional experience of 17 years, working for the likes of Siemens and Bombay Dyeing. An avid football and tennis follower for over three decades, Bhargav uses his vast knowledge and experience, attention to detail, an unbiased yet interesting writing style, and thorough research to craft insightful articles, which have raked in over 20 million reads so far.

Bhargav supports Italy at national level, a team steeped in tradition and history according to him. He still harbors the heartbreak from the Azzurri’s 1994 FIFA World Cup final defeat against Brazil, and protagonist-turned-antagonist from the game, ‘Divine Ponytail’ Roberto Baggio is his all-time favorite player. His favorite manager is Marcelo Lippi, who ended Italy’s 24-year wait for the World Cup trophy, winning it in 2006.

Outside Europe’s top five leagues, he follows the MLS following Lionel Messi’s move in 2023 but favors Cristiano Ronaldo in the G.O.A.T. debate. During his free time, Bhargav enjoys driving off to new places and singing.

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Edited by Anantaajith Raghuraman