Following on from a second day in which we saw the competition really take off, the entertainment should continue on day three at the ATP Queen’s Club. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the slate in west London. But who will advance?
ATP Queen’s Club Day 3 Predictions
Brandon Nakashima vs Ignacio Buse
Head-to-head: first meeting
Brandon Nakashima came through his first match here in style and generally has the game to be successful on grass. Ignacio Buse emerged on the winning side of a hard-fought first match at ATP Queen’s Club against Marcos Giron that went down to the wire. Against Nakashima, it’s going to be an even tougher outing for the Peruvian. The American is very steady once he finds his groove. It looks a tough ask for Buse, and it’s highly unlikely he comes out on the right side of this time out.
Prediction: Nakashima in 2
Adrian Mannarino vs Arthur Fery
Head-to-head: first meeting
Adrian Mannarino continues to show off his love for the grass courts and, in dispatching the hard-hitting Jakub Mensik, appeared to have navigated what seemed like his first big hurdle – albeit the Czech was perhaps still recovering from his exploits at the French Open. In Arthur Fery, Mannarino faces a similarly player who could pose a real threat and looked very sharp in his first round win over his countryman Toby Samuel. The French veteran is, however, a wily old fox, and despite the best efforts of the home crowd, the inexperienced Brit looks set to be second best.
Prediction: Mannarino in 2
Jenson Brooksby vs Francisco Cerundolo
Head-to-head: first meeting
Francisco Cerundolo is the better player overall, but isn’t at his best on grass, and under different circumstances, one might fancy Jenson Brooksby’s chances. However, the American won only his first match since March against a player ranked outside the top 100. While that victory should provide him with a much-needed boost, it’s difficult to overlook his current form, and on that basis, I’m backing the Argentine to win this.
Prediction: Cerundolo in 3
Alex de Minaur vs Denis Shapovalov
Head-to-head: de Minaur 5-0 Shapovalov
On first glance, the head-to-head makes this feel a bit like a mismatch. However, with Denis Shapovalov being one of the most up-and-down players on tour against one of the steadiest guys on tour in Alex de Minaur, it’s not hard to see why this data exists. However, it must also be pointed out that none of these matches were played on grass courts where you expect the Canadian and his brand of first-strike tennis to have more success.
That said, Shapovalov has been in really bad form and he made hard work of what normally should have been an easy first outing here at the ATP Queen’s Club. In contrast, de Minaur has also settled nicely into this grass season and looked sharp in his opener. An extension in the head-to-head for de Minaur looks the most likely outcome.
Prediction: de Minaur in 3
