tennis | Monday, June 26, 2023 7:55 AM (Revised at: Monday, June 26, 2023 8:01 AM)

Monday Tennis Best Bet: ATP Eastbourne, Miomir Kecmanovic vs Yibing Wu

Jon Reid

Miomir Kecmanovic vs Yibing Wu Best Bet: Monday, June 26th

I don’t think I’ve seen a top-3 player look so thoroughly average and be outplayed as easily as Daniil Medvedev was against Roberto Bautista Agut in quite some time. The 1-1 days for slight losses continue.

This week, we’ve got a pair of events on the main tour to look at, as well as Wimbledon qualifying taking place from Roehampton. For Monday’s selection, we’ll look at the match between Miomir Kecmanovic and Yibing Wu from Eastbourne.

In this article:

Miomir Kecmanovic vs Yibing Wu Preview
Miomir Kecmanovic vs Yibing Wu Best Bet

Miomir Kecmanovic vs Yibing Wu Preview

June 26th, 12:30 (UK Time)

Despite being just 1-2 on the season on grass courts, Wu has actually played some pretty good tennis. His losses have both been in three sets against strong grass courters in Andrey Rublev and Marton Fucsovics, while his win came against one of the best in the game on this surface in Nick Kyrgios. It should be said that it was Kyrgios’ first match back and he looked far from being at his best physically as that match wore on.

It makes sense as well. Wu plays a very aggressive style and hits a very flat ball. That combination of characteristics is best suited to play quick points. It’s a lower margin for error style, so the longer the points get, the more likely an error is to be committed.

Contrast his game with that of Kecmanovic, who has a bit of pop, but isn’t really a power player and would probably be at his best on slower surfaces.

To me, the courts are a big plus for the young man from China in this matchup.

Then there’s the fact that Wu just has more raw talent. His career has been marred by injuries and the pandemic though, and that’s what has really kept him from reaching the same kind of level rankings-wise as Kecmanovic.

He may not have racked up the rankings points or tour-level wins, but on a grass court, this is a match Wu should win more often than not.

Miomir Kecmanovic vs Yibing Wu Best Bet

With that in mind, it’s hard not to consider the 23-year-old from Hangzhou value in this spot.

He’s more talented, has bigger weapons and is much more comfortable on quicker courts than Kecmanovic. Yet the market has given these guys an equal chance to win? To me, that doesn’t make much sense and I’m keen to get involved backing Wu.