And just like that–as fast as Alexander Bublik can go from zero to hero on the ATP Tour–Wimbledon is only one week away. Just two more grass-court tournaments in the buildup to the year’s third Grand Slam remain, taking place in Eastbourne and Mallorca. Although many of top players in the world have already taken their talents to the All-England Club for a week of rest and practice, these two ATP 250 tournaments are actually quite strong. Among those in action are Bublik, Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, Joao Fonseca, Ben Shelton, and Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Eastbourne Open
Where: Eastbourne, Great Britain
Surface: Grass
Prize money: 756,875 Euros
Points: 250
Top seed: Taylor Fritz
Defending champion: Taylor Fritz
Draw analysis: Fritz has won Eastbourne every other year dating back to 2019. If the fifth-ranked American goes back-to-back for the first time, it will mark his fourth title in his last five appearances at this ATP 250 event. Needless to say, this has to be considered Fritz’s best tournament outside of the United States. His draw, however, is not an easy one. He will kick off his campaign against the winner of a marquee first-round matchup between Fonseca and Zizou Bergs before possibly meeting Flavio Cobolli in the quarterfinals and Jakub Mensik in the semis.
The bottom half is wide open, mainly because Paul has dealt with a leg injury since the French Open and Ugo Humbert–even though he is dangerous on grass–has been struggling. Bublik and Cameron Norrie are among the unseeded floaters who could capitalize, although the Kazakh will more than likely withdraw and Norrie has to face the huge-serving Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in round one.
Hot: Flavio Cobolli, Alexander Bublik, Jake Fearnley, Zizou Bergs
Cold: Ugo Humbert, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, Dan Evans
Quarterfinal predictions: Taylor Fritz over Flavio Cobolli, Jakub Mensik over Aleksandar Vukic, Cameron Norrie over Lorenzo Sonego, and Miomir Kecmanovic over Francisco Comesana
Semifinals: Mensik over Fritz and Norrie over Kecmanovic
Final: Mensik over Norrie
Mallorca Championships
Where: Mallorca, Spain
Surface: Grass
Prize money: 596,035 Euros
Points: 250
Top seed: Ben Shelton
Defending champion: Alejandro Tabilo (not playing)
Draw analysis: Mallorca is in Spain, of course, but from the looks of the draw you would think this tournament is in North America. Among the top title favorites are Shelton (USA), Auger-Aliassime (Canada), Alex Michelsen (USA), and Gabriel Diallo (Canada). The field of 28 also includes Americans Ethan Quinn, Brandon Holt, and Nishesh Basavareddy.
Perhaps the most surprising name in the main draw is Bernard Tomic, who successfully qualified over the weekend. The 32-year-old Australian will go up against compatriot Rinky Hijikata in round one before possibly running into Queen’s Club semifinalist Roberto Bautista Agut in round two, Michelsen in the quarterfinals, and Shelton in the semis. At the bottom of the bracket, Auger-Aliassime seems to have a favorable path until he potentially meets Diallo or Tallon Griekspoor in the last four. That being said, Arthur Rinderknech and Roman Safiullin have games that translate very well to grass.
Hot: Gabriel Diallo, Damir Dzumhur, Ethan Quinn
Cold: Bernard Tomic, Brandon Holt, Fabio Fognini
Quarterfinal predictions: Corentin Moutet over Ben Shelton, Alex Michelsen over Roberto Bautista Agut, Gabriel Diallo over Tallon Griekspoor, and Roman Safiullin over Arthur Rinderknech
Semifinals: Michelsen over Moutet and Diallo over Safiullin
Final: Michelsen over Diallo
who ya got?
Fritz over Paul, Shelton over Diallo