B.Becker - R.Smeets

Here is probably the most even first round match and a real grass match awaits, because both have great serves. I choose the Swiss for simple reasons: He is obviously in better form and can also fight in exchanges without his serve, while Cressy is a total so-called servebot who will take risks on his second serve and most likely will make double faults.

Kazakh pleasantly surprised me with this grass swing, competed with true experts of this surface, took on Peru against Cressy, Duckworth, Faria, De Loore, and twice took a set off of Harris. He has a great serve, unlike his opponent whose serve is inconsistent. One day it's good, the next it's weak in his game. Rodionov is mentally weak at the moment and is in TERRIBLE form (9L 2W), and playing two matches on grass before today's qualifier, he lost without a fight against Searle and Goffin. It's a no-brainer to choose Beibit.