The pre-Wimbledon week is set to begin in Eastbourne on Monday, highlighted by an exciting first-round match between Zizou Bergs and Joao Fonseca. Alongside them, players Miomir Kecmanovic and Dan Evans will also be taking the court.
Zizou Bergs and Joao Fonseca face a challenging draw at the Eastbourne Open. The winner of their match will quickly encounter the tournament’s top seed and three-time champion, Taylor Fritz. This marks the debut of 18-year-old Fonseca in Eastbourne. Ranked 57th, the Brazilian has limited experience on grass, with a record of 2-5 from just seven professional matches. However, he demonstrated his potential in a closely contested match against Flavio Cobolli, where he lost 5-7, 7-6(3), 7-6(8) in Halle last week.
Bergs, ranked 50th, is in his third consecutive grass-court event, notably finishing as a runner-up to Gabriel Diallo in ‘s-Hertogenbosch before facing an early exit in Halle against Karen Khachanov. While he may have the advantage of recent grass-court experience, Fonseca’s youthful drive and offensive play could edge the match in his favor.
In another notable match-up, Miomir Kecmanovic takes on Dan Evans for the third time in their careers. Kecmanovic, having won both previous encounters, will be looking to maintain his winning streak. The 35-year-old Evans, currently ranked 170th, has struggled this season, primarily competing on the Challenger circuit. However, he recently qualified for the second round in ‘s-Hertogenbosch and faced a tough match against Brandon Nakashima in Queen’s Club. Despite Evans’ experience, Kecmanovic’s solid play on grass positions him well for success.
As these matches commence, fans can look forward to a thrilling start to the Eastbourne Open, setting the stage for an exciting lead-up to Wimbledon.