Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the ATP Wimbledon match.
Wimbledon on home soil marks a major milestone for Jack Draper, who enters the tournament as the world No. 4 for the first time. Right from the opening round, he faces a stylistically awkward opponent in Argentina’s Sebastián Báez. How confidently Draper clears this initial hurdle could dictate the pace of his run through the draw.
Jack Draper
Draper is cementing his place among the elite — earlier this year, he captured his maiden Masters 1000 title in Indian Wells and broke into the world’s top five on merit. On grass, he plays with aggression, a booming serve, and firm control from the baseline. He already boasts a history of strong performances at Wimbledon, winning his opening rounds in both 2022 and 2023. Overall, Draper has won 12 of his last 15 matches on this surface over the past two seasons.
Sebastián Báez
Báez, by contrast, is a clay-court specialist whose best form came back in February and April. Since his final in Bucharest, his level has dipped significantly, with few quality performances. This will be his fourth appearance in Wimbledon’s main draw, and he has only once reached the second round. His style isn’t well-suited to grass, where pace, serve, and aggression are critical. Draper has beaten him twice already, including a routine win on hard courts last year.
Jack Draper vs Sebastián Báez Prediction
Given Draper’s current level and experience on grass, he should have little trouble here. Báez isn’t likely to mount a serious challenge — Draper holds the edge in surface comfort and will have the crowd firmly behind him. Expect a commanding victory with a double-digit game margin.
