Matteo Berrettini and Tommy Paul will clash in the Queen’s Club quarterfinals on Friday. Meanwhile, Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp battles Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in a battle of rising stars.
(2) Matteo Berrettini vs. Tommy Paul
Matteo Berrettini is a grass-court force, a pre-tournament favorite to get to the business end of Wimbledon. The issue is that he has been out for several months following hand surgery. He missed the entire European clay swing and went into Stuttgart with plenty of rust in the gears. With the Stuttgart title in his bag and a good look at the final weekend at Queen’s Club, it’s probably safe to say the rust is gone.
Tommy Paul has enjoyed a productive week in London. He posted an upset win over Denis Shapovalov in the first round and he defeated three-time major champion Stan Wawrinka in the second. Paul won his only match against Berrettini in Acapulco earlier this year, but the Italian retired with an abdominal injury–so it wasn’t a comprehensive victory for Paul.
With the way Berrettini has been playing, it’s hard to imagine him going down to the American–who had been in a rough patch until his success this week.
Cheryl pick: Berrettini in 2
Ricky pick: Berrettini in 2
Botic van de Zandschulp vs. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
Grass-court tennis often serves up surprise results. This week, one of the surprises is Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina’s success at Queen’s Club. The world No. 44, not known for his grass-court prowess, has had a rough month. He crashed out of the French Open in the first round after making the final in Monte-Carlo. But earned his spot in the quarters this week after dispatching Albert Ramos-Vinolas and Alex de Minaur.
Botic van de Zandschulp lost his first grass-court match of the season in the opening round in s’Hertogenbosch to Emil Ruusuvuori, but he seems to have righted the ship in London. He has taken out qualifier Paul Jubb and Grigor Dimitrov so far and has a good shot at a semifinal berth.
Van de Zandschulp is better suited for grass with his big game and groundstrokes. Expect the Dutchman to find his way to the final four.
Cheryl pick: Van de Zandschulp in 2
Ricky pick: Van de Zandschulp in 3
Berrettini looking good
Btini in 2; BDVP in 3.