Ahead of action at the ATP 500 event, we make our predictions for the coming week.
Alcaraz vs de Minaur final…again
Twelve months ago, Alcaraz beat de Minaur in the Queen’s final – and it looks likely they will battle it out for the title once again.
World No 3 Alcaraz is the top seed at the tournament and is the favourite to defend his title, while de Minaur is the second seed and is ranked inside the top 10 after a career-best year.
Both men approach this event on winning runs, with the Spaniard fresh off his French Open triumph, while de Minaur won his ninth career title at the Libema Open on Sunday.
Based on the form they are in, it will be difficult to stop them – and we are predicting we will see the same final as a year ago.
Alcaraz defeated Dimitrov in the quarter-final of Queen’s in 2023, but the Bulgarian has proven a bogey player for him since then.
Dimitrov beat the Spaniard from a set down in Shanghai towards the tail end of last season and then stunned the world No 3 in straight sets in their Miami Open quarter-final this spring.
Champion at the Queen’s Club a decade ago, Dimitrov is the third seed this year after his resurgent form – and is projected to face Alcaraz in the last four.
A potential semi-final showdown between the two could be Alcaraz’s most dangerous match, and prove an absolute spectacle.
Draper leads home charge
Jack Draper has been a familiar face for British fans for a while, but there will be more attention on him than ever before this summer.
The 22-year-old will be the nation’s No 1 for the first time next week and comes in fresh off winning the first ATP title of his career at the Stuttgart Open.
His grass-court form in Stuttgart was hugely impressive and all eyes will be on him in London – and a potential round-two showdown against Alcaraz.
Andy Murray’s potential farewell will be a huge story – but expect plenty of attention on Draper as well.
Except for Sebastian Korda’s run to the final at the Libema Open, the start of the grass-court season was pretty bleak from a US perspective – with surprise losses for the likes of Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe on the surface.
Both men are in Queen’s action and are drawn against qualifiers, while fourth seed Taylor Fritz also has a qualifier – while Tommy Paul and Korda are also in the draw.
But after a mixed start to the grass season, can the US ATP stars turn things around? Expect mixed fortunes to continue for the US crew.
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