It happens every year at Wimbledon. A few of the top tennis players in the world get ousted in Round 1 by a player you've never even heard of.
This year won't be any different.
As it is in every sport, the best players don't always win. Sometimes it's because they are dealing with a nagging injury that they aren't telling anyone about, sometimes it's because they woke up on the wrong side of the bed and sometimes the "better" player simply isn't better.
Here are the three upsets I won't be surprised to see in Round 1 of this year's Wimbledon.
John Isner (11) vs. Alejandro Falla
There are two reasons I won't be surprised to see Isner lose to Falla.
The first reason: Isner hasn't exactly been a world-beater in major championships. He's lost in the first round five times in the last five years, and he's never made it out of the quarterfinals in any major.
The second reason: Falla is a veteran player who may not have a flawless game, but has been around the block enough times to not become overwhelmed by the big stage. It's been a while, but Falla has gotten out of the first round three times at Wimbledon.
Isner should beat Falla. God knows he's a decent player who has the skills to get into the quarterfinals this year. That being said, his track record speaks for itself. He doesn't show up at majors.
Angelique Kerber (8) vs. Lucie Hradecka
Kerber is a good player who has recently gotten as far as the quarterfinals at Roland Garros earlier this season. She doesn't have a good track record at Wimbledon, though, and out of the four times she's appeared in the tournament, Kerber has only gotten out of the first round one time.
Hradecka is more of a doubles player. She has been a past champion at Roland Garros as a doubles player, and she is coming off of two semifinal performances at the Australian and French Opens.
Hradecka has never gotten out of the first round at Wimbledon, but she and Kerber will be a good matchup. Neither of them is a strong player on grass, and it will be anyone's match to win.
Janko Tipsarevic (8) vs. David Nalbandian
Tipsarevic is a good player who's amassed more than $5 million in career earnings while winning two singles tournaments.
He isn't a big fan of Wimbledon, though, getting ousted in the first round the last two years.
Nalbandian, on the other hand, has gotten through to the third round at Wimbledon the last two years, so I won't be surprised at all to see him knock off Tipsarevic this year in Round 1.
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1233607-wimbledon-tennis-2012-upsets-waiting-to-happen-in-round-1
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