Queen’s Club R1 previews and predictions: Rune vs. Cressy, Tiafoe vs. Van de Zandschulp

It’s a loaded draw at Queen’s Club, as Holger Rune takes the court against serve and volleyer Maxime Cressy and recent Stuttgart champion Frances Tiafoe battles Botic van de Zandschulp on Tuesday.

Maxime Cressy vs. (2) Holger Rune

This is a tricky first-round match for Holger Rune. The world No. 6 comes off an ever-so-slightly disappointing showing at the French Open. The Dane went down in the quarterfinals to eventual finalist Casper Ruud, but he was one of a handful of players who was given decent odds at taking the title. Furthermore, Rune didn’t win a single match on grass last season despite three tries in Halle, Eastbourne, and at Wimbledon. A grass-court specialist he is not.

American Maxime Cressy is a bit of a throw-back player. The 26-year-old is an actual serve-and-volley enthusiast, a style that works best on the quick, low-bouncing grass courts at Queen’s Club. Cressy has been in a bad way this season, however. He is on a nine-match losing streak, including a first-round ouster in s’Hertogenbosch last week at the hands of Marc-Andrea Huesler.

Under normal circumstances, this would spell upset potential–but Cressy’s form is badly compromised at the moment. Expect Rune to advance.

Cheryl pick: Rune in 2

Ricky pick: Rune in 3

(4) Frances Tiafoe vs. Botic van de Zandschulp

Newly minted men’s world No. 10 Frances Tiafoe is no doubt glowing from his tournament win in Stuttgart last week. The American won the title over Jan-Lennard Struff in impressive style, 10-8 in the third-set tiebreaker. And while fatigue may be a factor later in the tournament, it’s hard to imagine Tiafoe would go into this first-round match physically unprepared.

Botic van de Zandschulp had a great run in Munich earlier in the clay season. The Dutchman advanced to the final and served for the championship three times over an injured Rune and could not get it done. Since that disappointment, Van de Zandschulp has lost three matches in a row–including a miserable first-round loss at the French Open to world No. 153 Thiago Agustin Tirante.

Tiafoe holds a 1-0 head-to-head record over Van de Zandschulp (in Washington, D.C. last year). Given the form Tiafoe is enjoying and Van de Zandschulp’s recent struggles, this one should go to the fourth seed in fairly routine fashion.

Cheryl pick: Tiafoe in 2

Ricky pick: Tiafoe in 2