Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the ATP Wimbledon match.
Wildcard recipients Daniel Evans and Jay Clarke will face off in an all-British first-round encounter at Wimbledon. Evans arrives as an established main draw competitor, while Clarke has struggled to make an impact at ATP level in recent years.
Daniel Evans
The 34-year-old Evans comes into the tournament in solid form, having won 6 of 10 grass-court matches this season - including victories over world No.12 Frances Tiafoe and No.13 Tommy Paul. His 6:3, 6:1 demolition of Clarke at the 2020 Battle of the Brits exhibition tournament suggests another one-sided affair. Despite requiring a wildcard entry, Evans' impressive 112-73 career grass-court record makes him the clear favourite.
Jay Clarke
Clarke's preparations have been disastrous, suffering five consecutive defeats since mid-May — four on grass. The 26-year-old has lost to opponents outside the top 300 (Lloyd Harris, Robert Strombachs, Leandro Riedi) during this slump. His grass-court deficiencies are particularly evident in serve statistics — just 60% first serves in and a 36% second serve win percentage. Clarke's career grass record (11-35) further highlights his struggles on the surface.
Daniel Evans vs Jay Clarke Prediction
With superior form, experience and grass-court pedigree, Evans should cruise to a straightforward victory.
