Matteo Berrettini will try to book his second consecutive final (Stuttgart last week) as he takes on Botic van de Zandschulp in Queen’s Club on Saturday. The resurgent Marin Cilic will also be in action against Filip Krajinovic.
(2) Matteo Berrettini vs. Botic van de Zandschulp
Matteo Berrettini leads the charge at Queen’s Club this week. He returned to the tour in Stuttgart last week and came away with the title. Berrettini is going for title two of the season this week, but he will have to get through Botic van de Zandschulp to earn his spot in the final.
Van de Zandschulp had a patchy start to the grass-court season–losing in the first round in s’Hertogenbosch to Emil Ruusuvuori–but he’s made up for it this week. The Dutchman went three sets to British qualifier Paul Jubb, but he breezed through Grigor Dimitrov and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina to book his place opposite Berrettini in the semis.
Berrettini is the more experienced grass-court player and he won their only other match, a 2021 second-round encounter at Wimbledon. The Italian has gotten a bit better with each match since his return from hand surgery last week. Berrettini’s game is likely to be too big and too consistent for the underdog.
Cheryl pick: Berrettini in 3
Ricky pick: Berrettini in 2
(7) Marin Cilic vs. Filip Krajinovic
Marin Cilic is one of the biggest stories of the spring. The world No. 17 came somewhat out of nowhere to make the semifinals of the French Open. He upended Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev before going down in the semis to Casper Ruud. Queen’s Club is Cilic’s first foray onto grass since his run at Roland Garros.
Krajinovic played well to earn his spot in the semifinals, but he has also benefitted from a favorable draw. The Serb hasn’t faced a single seed this week, with wins over Jenson Brooksby, Sam Querrey, and Ryan Peniston. But the world No. 48 now runs into an inspired Cilic.
With the form Cilic has displayed in the past month, this semi might be over quickly. The Croat is a two-time Queen’s Club champion and generally a great grass player.
Cheryl pick: Cilic in 2
Ricky pick: Cilic in 2
WWW?
Looking forward to a Berrettini- Cilic final.
It’s very annoying that we are now forced to listen to Inverjerk ‘s tennis commentary. He used to ruin the 6 Nations, then he fronted for ITv at RG as a result of which he has become a tennis commentator including most horribly at wimby.
Everyone detests him yet he is ubiquitous.
At least the others have decent tennis credentials.Im not sure what his are
Still haven’t got over him commentating on wimby with Mac and comparing one of the player’s game to a souffle! I had to put the commentary on mute…
I thought Mac was going to pass out at one point…
The BBC had to apologise for Bartoli comments.
I tolerate him in the Wimby highlights programme but never actually commentating
I can’t stand Castle either. Endless gossip, rabbiting on and on and a close study of the bleeding obvious.
Fleming is my favourite. Love his dry humour. Also like Lester who seems to commentate on tennistv and Prime.
Castle goes on and on and on… He is like some wind up toy.
Also talks utter rubbish e.g. his infatuation in the past with Dimitrov and utterly wild claims about him..
Gosh Matteo is charming as well as gorgeous. Ajla is very lucky..
Cilic played rubbish, don’t know why.
Am beginning to like the gorgeous Mateo’s chances at Wimbledon.
Why does he wear that cap on backwards all the time? Did it even inside being interviewed.
It’s remarkable the difference in how handsome he looks without that cap.
He wasn’t playing very well earlier on but looked like a real contender yesterday. Zandschlup gave him a lot of help though…Am still not convinced he is mentally strong enough and has the bh and ros to beat the best..
I actually see Felix as the player set to make a break through. He has become a big match player raising his game in slams and he has more skills than Berretini. Not sure the break through will mean he wins the whole thing but I can see him in the final.
The odd than my about this year is that neither the 3 or 4 seed is a contender.