An exciting lineup features on Day 2 of ATP Queen’s Club, with most eyes on World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz and home favorite Andy Murray. Read on for some of LWOS picks for these matches, with other predictions found here. Tuesday’s action may arguably be one of the best opening rounds this tournament has ever seen.
ATP Queen’s Club Day 2 Predictions
Jiri Lehecka vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
Head-to-head: First meeting
Lehecka has already had a better grass court season than last, as he failed to win a grass court match in 2022. Davidovich Fokina has meanwhile established himself as a mainstay Top 30 player, with his evermore consistent game. The Spaniard picked up a huge win over 8th seed Hurkacz in the first round of last year’s Wimbledon, proving his cooperation with the grass. On a surface that many Spaniards struggle on, Fokina should have too much experience for his slightly younger opponent.
Prediction: Davidovich Fokina in 2
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Frances Tiafoe vs Botic van de Zandschulp
Head-to-head: Tiafoe 1-0
This kind of matchup would usually draw red flags for Tiafoe; the American just picked up a big title win in Stuttgart, sealing the match 10-8 in a third-set tiebreaker. With multiple long drawn-out matches played, injuries or simply residual fatigue could affect Tiafoe’s results in this match. However, Van de Zanschulp is in dreadful form, piling up losses and failing to win a match since his heartbreaking loss to Rune in Munich. As long as Tiafoe stays healthy, his grass-court tricks and tactics should get him through comfortably. The more matches he wins in the grass court tune-ups, the more fans could potentially see Tiafoe as a genuine title contender at Wimbledon.
Prediction: Tiafoe in 2
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Andy Murray vs Alex de Minaur
Head-to-head: De Minaur 3-0
Close to a 50-50 matchup on paper, this match has a lot at stake for each player. Andy Murray’s recent challenger tour wins in Surbiton and Nottingham have skyrocketed his status as a grass court dark horse. While his wins grabbed more attention of pundits (mainly the British media) and made him a Top 15 Wimbledon betting favorite, his chances of going deep at Wimbledon will plunge if he is unseeded. He’ll most likely be seeded if he can make the quarterfinals of this event, a feat that would require him to beat De Minaur and Schwartzman in the second round. However, De Minaur is a brutal first-round opponent. With his speed and crafty game, the Aussie excels on grass. Murray will have to take chances on breakpoints and serve well, something that’s gone from a weapon to an Achilles heel since his 2016 peak.
Prediction: Murray in 3
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
