2021 Wimbledon Championships First Round – Karen Khachanov vs Mackenzie McDonald Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
Where is Karen Khachanov vs Mackenzie McDonald taking place? Karen Khachanov vs Mackenzie McDonald will take place at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon, England
When is Karen Khachanov vs Mackenzie McDonald on and what time does it start? Karen Khachanov vs Mackenzie McDonald will take place on Monday 28th June, 2021 – not before 12:15 (UK) / 07:15 (US EST)
What surface is Karen Khachanov vs Mackenzie McDonald being played on? Karen Khachanov vs Mackenzie McDonald will be played on an outdoor grass court
Where can I get tickets for Karen Khachanov vs Mackenzie McDonald? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Karen Khachanov vs Mackenzie McDonald
What channel is Karen Khachanov vs Mackenzie McDonald on? Coverage of Wimbledon is shared between BBC and Eurosport
Where can I stream Karen Khachanov vs Mackenzie McDonald? If televised on BBC, this match can be streamed live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website. If the match is televised on Eurosport, subscribers can stream the match live on Eurosport Player
THE LOWDOWN
KAREN KHACHANOV
World number 29 Karen Khachanov has struggled to reach the heights of his career-high 8th in the world achieved in 2018 when he won three of his four ATP titles. The Russian’s best success to date was winning the 2018 Paris Masters on his favoured hard surface but that was his last really notable campaign. A quarter-final defeat to Dominic Thiem at Roland-Garros in 2019 is the 25-year-old’s best Grand Slam showing to date but the Russian is only a spark away from snapping back into his best form.
MACKENZIE MCDONALD
26-year-old Mackenzie McDonald is true enigma on the ATP tour as a player seemingly far better-suited to the five-set format of Grand Slams. The American has plenty of pedigree at the majors, where he has reached the round of 16 twice before having had very little success on the tour. McDonald lost in four sets to Milos Raonic in the round of 16 in Wimbledon in 2018 and he repeated the feat this season at the Australian Open, where it took then world number four Daniil Medvedev to oust him. Even in Wimbledon qualifiers last week he fought back heroically from two sets down to usurp Maxime Cressy into the main draw.
THE PREDICTION
On the surface this looks like a solid, winnable fixture for the 25th seed Karen Khachanov but world number 108 Mackenzie McDonald is a different animal at a Grand Slam. The American rarely panics if he drops a set in the five-set format and can often be counted to grab at least a set even in defeat, like he did against Milos Raonic here three years ago in the round of 16. 25-year-old Khachanov is also no stranger to a five set slog and so this match is as good a candidate as any to opt for five sets as a one-off punt. Otherwise, take McDonald to win at least a set here against Khachanov who often needs to be backed up against a wall before his best tennis comes out.
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