Rafael Nadal may be out, but the recipe is there for what should be an entertaining week at Queen’s Club. For a second straight season, a week in between the French Open and this tournament has given the competitors some much-needed rest (unless they played in either Stuttgart or ‘s-Hertogenbosch). And what a list of competitors it is; Andy Murray leads the way as the top seed and defending champion, with Stan Wawrinka, Milos Raonic, Nick Kyrgios, and Juan Martin Del Potro also on board.
In Halle, meanwhile, Roger Federer hopes to bounce back from a Stuttgart loss to Dominic Thiem by restoring dominance at some of his favorite stomping grounds on the pro tour. Federer’s bid for a ninth Gerry Weber Open title will be challenged by Thiem, Kei Nishikori, Tomas Berdych, David Goffin, David Ferrer, and many more.
AEGON Championships
Where: London, England
Surface: Grass
Prize money: 1,574,640 Euros
Points: 500
Top seed: Andy Murray
Defending champion: Andy Murray
Draw analysis: Look no further than a few of the first-round matchups to find out just how impressive this field is: Raonic has to play Kyrgios, Del Potro is going up against John Isner, and Richard Gasquet will likely have his hands full with Feliciano Lopez. But the biggest name, especially in London, is Murray. The second-ranked Scot, who just rehired Ivan Lendl for the grass-court swing, has captured this title four times—in every odd year dating back to 2009. While the trend indicates Murray will not triumph in 2016, current form suggests he will. His clay-court swing featured a title in Rome and runner-up performances in Madrid and at Roland Garros.
Murray will kick off his campaign against accomplished grass-courter and top-ranked doubles player Nicolas Mahut, who almost lifted the Queen’s Club trophy in 2007 before falling to Andy Roddick in a third-set tiebreaker. For the most part, though, Murray’s draw is a good one. His nearest seed is Gilles Simon, who is most comfortable on hard courts. Among the potential semifinal opponents for the crowd favorite are Gasquet, Lopez, and Marin Cilic.
A loaded bottom half of the bracket features Wawrinka, Raonic, Kyrgios, Del Potro, Isner, Roberto Bautista Agut, Fernando Verdasco, Bernard Tomic, and Gilles Muller. The Raonic-Kyrgios winner should be able to coast into the semifinals, but Wawrinka may be tested from start to finish. Verdasco is up first for the second-seeded Swiss, possibly followed by Tomic, Del Potro or Isner, and then Raonic or Kyrgios in the semis.
First-round upset alert: Nick Kyrgios over (3) Milos Raonic. A whole host of seeded players could be in trouble right off the bat, but Raonic has to be especially displeased with his draw. Although the head-to-head series stands at a relatively competitive 3-2 in Kyrgios’ favor, Raonic has lost three in a row to the Australian on three different surfaces dating back to Wimbledon last summer. It won’t help that the Canadian has been less than 100 percent physically for much of this season—despite the fact that it has been a very good one. As for Kyrgios, he has been downright scary on fast surfaces of late.
Hot: Andy Murray, Roberto Bautista Agut, Nicolas Mahut, Gilles Muller
Cold: Marin Cilic, Bernard Tomic, Grigor Dimitrov, Alexandr Dolgopolov, Janko Tipsarevic, James Ward
Quarterfinal predictions: Andy Murray over Gilles Simon, Feliciano Lopez over Richard Gasquet, Nick Kyrgios over Roberto Bautista Agut, and Stan Wawrinka over Juan Martin Del Potro
Semifinals: Murray over Lopez and Kyrgios over Wawrinka
Final: Murray over Kyrgios
[polldaddy poll=9442917]
Gerry Weber Open
Where: Halle, Germany
Surface: Grass
Prize money: 1,700,610 Euros
Points: 500
Top seed: Roger Federer
Defending champion: Roger Federer
Draw analysis: Federer is 51-5 lifetime in Halle and 44-2 in his last 46 matches there, with eight titles dating back to his fourth appearance at this tournament in 2003. The 34-year-old Swiss is the three-time defending champion and aiming to win four in a row for the second time (previously 2003-2006).
He could not have asked for a better draw through two rounds, after which Goffin could await in the quarterfinals. The 11th-ranked Belgian is playing the best tennis of his life, but a victory over Federer on grass (if the top seed is close to 100 percent physically) would constitute a major upset. Berdych, Alexander Zverev, and Marcos Baghdatis are part of the bracket’s up-for-grabs second quarter.
In the bottom half, baseliners Nishikori and Ferrer are on a collision course for the last eight. That’s a matchup more accustomed to 500-point title matches, but Ferrer has fallen out of the top 10 and thus finds himself with the No. 6 seed. Grass is by far Nishikori’s worst surface, so the door to a final spot could be open for Ferrer, Thiem, Philipp Kohlschreiber, or Ivo Karlovic. Doubles partners Thiem and Kohlschreiber, who are battling each other for the Stuttgart title, may meet again in the Halle quarters.
First-round upset alert: Alexander Zverev over (7) Viktor Troicki. This would only be an upset according to ranking and seed, as current form obviously favors Zverev. The 19-year-old German is 23-14 this season and has not lost his opening match at any tournament since drawing Murray in round one of the Australian Open. Although Zverev is a relative grass-court novice, he played well enough on the surface last summer. In his first grass event as a professional, he lost to Troicki 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-3 last year in Stuttgart. Fast forward 12 months and Zverev is more than ready to turn the tide.
Hot: Dominic Thiem, David Goffin, Philipp Kohlschreiber, Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz
Cold: Roger Federer, David Ferrer, Brian Baker
Quarterfinal predictions: Roger Federer over David Goffin, Alexander Zverev over Tomas Berdych, Ivo Karlovic over Dominic Thiem, and David Ferrer over Kei Nishikori
Semifinals: Federer over Zverev and Ferrer over Karlovic
Final: Federer over Ferrer
[polldaddy poll=9443297]
who ya got?
Kyrgios will go out in the first round.
Winner of him and Raonic should make a deep run
Ironic isn’t it? Federer v Ferrer final? The cold ones? Not that I disagree much – just confused at the moment ?
Murray over Kyrgios is what I picked for London!
Queen’s has a kickass lineup. Halle’s is not as stacked but still really good. Rafa would of course make Queen’s even better but still awesome lineup at both tournies.
I Just love watching grass court tune ups especially Queens been a Bit ….
Wonder if Margot is there! Not if, but which days she’ll go…
I think that Murray and Fed are the obvious favorites for their respective tournaments.
But I think there are some interesting match ups. I want to see how Thiem does on the grass, also kygrios and zverev.
Hope the weather holds up.
Well Thiem is already in a final on grass if that tells you anything. I think he will be worn down, so I don’t look for him to make a deep run.
Yep
Exactly my thinking @ ricky
The most entertaining final: Murray vs Nick!
That is of course if Nick is determined to actually play this tourney like a professional instead of acting like a spoiled brat most of the time…
Halle:
QF-
Fed over Goffin
Zverev over Dreddy
Kohlschreiber over Gabashvili
Nishikori over Fritz
SF-
Fed over Zverev
Kohlschreiber over Nishikori
Final-
Fed over Kohlschreiber
Not gonna make predictions for Queen’s yet because there are some qualifiers who could actually do a bit of damage like Anderson vesely pospisil etc.
I mean guys in qualies. Obviously they’re not qualifiers yet cuz they haven’t finished final round yet.
Fed will win Halle for ninth time. His final opponent should be Kohlschreiber (if he’s not to tired) or Nishikori. Murray is a big favorite to win Queen’s, but he night as well go out with Mahut. I see Nick Kyrgios getting a deep run, and Fernando Verdasco upsetting Stan in the 1st.
Thiem, Kohli, and Mahut will be tired
Yeah I’m thinking maybe I shouldn’t have Kohl in final but he is playing well. So is Thiem but I actually am going bold and saying he loses out to Gabashvili in the second round because he is more fatigued than anyone for Suarez. Then again maybe he’ll surprise like in Stuttgart. Thiem now has the most wins of anyone this season and is only player to win titles on all surfaces. Epic. #TeamThiem
Don’t know why that “for Suarez” this was in there lol. Stupid autocorrect.
you are a closet Carla Suarez Navarro fan. 🙂
manwerty,
Thanks and nice to see made it into the WTA bracket challenge 🙂
Ostapenko, Watson, Hantuchova winners on the day is good and
Allez Caroline Garcia!
Since there’s no chat space on the ‘Group’, I’ll post bracket updates here: https://tenngrand.com/social/wta/
People have been talking for weeks about how Thiem has been overplaying. So far he has survived, albeit by the skin of his teeth. including taking the title this morning. It was Kohlbi who looked tired. Like a several of the YoungGen Thiem is chasing ranking points like mad and I imagine he is also hoping he might even get to the WTF.
One thing is certain. There will rain, rain, and more rain.
Picked both Thiem and Kohlschreiber deep in Halle against instincts that they preserve themselves and go out early.
Kohls to the semi, if I recall… and he beats Thiem along the way. Sounds like fiction but they are both so good.
RC I missed all the good tennis today because of work, and what bits i did see were rained off ….
Bummer. I hate that when it happens 😉
And we trade places — time for me to be off to work. The highlights of Thiem v Kohls are worth a look. Bon Soir…
RC No disrespect to you, but im hoping someone else other than Novak wins SW19, i would certainly be more than happy for you if he did it, but some of those other, Novak fans on TX are begining to get right up my nose, thankfully the fans seem alot more sane here, and alot less rabid ….
No worries! I’m good either way, alison. Nole already has the title I’d waited so long for him to win. Andy winning Wimble? I’m all for it! Just wish Rafa was in the mix. And since a certain fan already thinks I’m a Rafa fan with three sock puppets…Vamos Rafa! hahahaha I’ll take it as a compliment 😀 It was strangely peaceful ‘over there’ tonight when I checked. No tennis for me in the morning, tho. You’ll have to the forts, okay, cheers 🙂
hold the forts…should say. It was a dad favorite, “Hold the forts!”
@ Alison Hodge.
As you are probably aware I occasionally drop by there to chat with Margot (who I miss badly since she jumped ship) but apart from handful of people there I can’t stomach the jejune banality of the endless backbiting. I am equally allergic to the soppy groupie fandom of the Rafa Brigade although it is a good source of up-to-the minute info which fortunately NNY usually re-posts here for us.
You do???? Recently?
Who are you?
You’ll have to suss that one out by yourself 🙂
Actually somebody has already blown my cover but your eagle eye must have missed it Elina.
How often do you post?
Usually only when Andy is in the Finals. I have been an honorary member of his fan club for many years – even before I became a Rafa groupie.
OK, I think I got it now H__fl___a__e.
Don’t you? Or do you. 🙂
#TheGameIsAfoot!
Oui monsieur
Impressed?
Bon Soir RC, dont work too hard 😉 ….
RC Not alot of tennis for me today either, with work this afternoon, and Tai Chi this morning, anyway the sensible posters over there all know me well enough to see, ive always been honest about who i am, if and when im asked, enough said about him anyway, adje Nole for you too RC LOL ….
Ed true, suffice to say, i dont believe for one minute, that any fan group is any better / worse than any other, they all have their fair share of fanatics, i believe it comes and goes depending on the success of said player, and as a Rafa fan but mainly a tennis fan, i would hope im more of a tennis fan as a whole instead ….
+1
Well said HC.
I will chime in and say that I miss Margot immensely. She posted a good bye post to me when she left. I enjoyed chatting with her on both TT and even TX back when I posted there.
She was one of the most gracious, kindest people I had the pleasure of chatting with on a tennis forum.
Yeah she’s cool.
She has a bit more of an edge to her on TX.
A big loss to TG unfortunately but that’s the cost of a few bad apples.
No doubt it’s a big loss for those who can’t stand U.Toni.
No, it’s a big loss for those of us who enjoyed her thoughtful perspective.
I don’t have a problem with someone not liking Uncle Toni. It’s not a capital offense. She has her opinion. I think she has a right to say what she thinks.
Nativenewyorker JUNE 14, 2016 AT 5:35 PM,
.
I have also a right to say what I think, including the right to say that Toni has NOT been awful.
I replied to her:
[augusta08 APRIL 20, 2014 AT 11:54 AM:
“Don’t worry, it wasn’t awful. If it had been awful, his parents would have found other opportunities to train Rafa. Rafa comes from a wealthy family. His parents wanted uncle Toni to be his coach.”]
https://tenngrand.com/2014/04/18/monte-carlo-sf-previews-and-picks-djokovic-vs-federer-wawrinka-vs-ferrer/comment-page-4/#comment-23280
Hawkeye,
Yes, I have read her posts on TX many times. I think she may have a bit more of an edge because she feels more comfortable there.
Instead of deucey’s wit and tennis knwledge, we get endless regurgitated flotsam and jetsam from the database poster as evidenced at:
https://tenngrand.com/2016/06/12/queens-club-halle-previews-predictions-4/comment-page-1/#comment-123017
Sad substitute. Our loss is T-X’s gain.
Instead of meaningful comments, we are endlessly getting attempts to bully – for example AT 6:48 PM. LOL
Nope. You are the only bully here.
You’ve driven good people away from this site.
Thanks Hawkeye ….
Ed to add, i like Margot very much, and i miss her fair and wise posts, i noticed she hasnt posted since RG, i dont know if this has anything to do with the vitriolic comments, or because shes gone to watch Andy at Queens ? ….
We shared the same sense of humour and were partners in crime winding up two of the notorious trolls who invaded TT and caused mayhem.
Ah, the good old days! 🙂
CB is in the house 🙂
CB got smoked 6-2 in the 1st.
He will benefit the most from the rain delay. It will give him time to regroup and for Nando to lose his focus.
Another bloody rain delay. It’s bucketing down. You have to love the Brits though, the stands are packed in spite of the weather. Makes a change after RG when they were practically paying people to get bums on the seats.
Slightly off subject but the Eurosport coverage has had an overhaul. The camera work, which has always been good, is particularly interesting now with wide angle lenses and overhead shots. I don’t know how many cameras they are using but they manage to capture all the action and give instant close-up replays for the best moments.
Pity the commentating teams are largely unchanged i.e.for the most part ranging from mediocre to inept – with the exception of Sue Barker who strikes the right balance 🙁
On the tennis channel they said that Nando and Stan are out on the court warming up for the resumption of their match.
It’s now 5-5 in the second set, Stan in a tight service game.
Stan holds and it’s 6-5. Nando’s turn to hold and send it to a tb.
Stan down in the to 5-1. Unreal.
Insane DTL forehand from Nando to get to match point.
Nando beats Stan.
CB needs to find his grass feet asap.
Buh-bye CB.
Andy was complaining to the chair umpire about the slick conditions on one of the changeovers. The tennis channel replayed it after the commercial break.
He’s down a break in the second set after winning the first set in a tb.
Mahut up 5-2. This looks to be going three sets unless Andy can break back. Tennis channel commies saying that Andy is still not happy about the court conditions.
Totally forgot to put Queen’s predictions up but will have them in a few. Not much has happened yet and most of my picks have been right. And I don’t think I had my wrong picks going far except Stan.
Queen’s:
QF-
Murray over Simon
Feli over Gasquet
NK over RBA
Stanimal over Muller
SF-
Murray over FLo
NK over Stan
Final-
Murray over Kyrgios
Actually so many upsets have happened like Gasquet Simon and Stan losing. For the hell of it here is what I think is gonna happen as of now:
QF-
Murray over Edmund
Cilic over Mannarino
NK over RBA (now gonna be Raonic over RBA cuz what just happened?)
Muller over Tomic
Giving up the daily picking for London, except Murray – still think he’ll make it.
Btw at this point I think the semis will be Murray over Cilic and Raonic over muller then Murray over Raonic
Woot! The Dominant Thiem train is rolling 😀 He’s got the 1st set v Sousa.
But my girl Aga is being out-powered by Coco so far. #servebotted