Into week two, and the start of the ATP500 Championships here at The Queen’s Club. First on court to start off a busy day of tennis, we had Boltic van de Zandschulp. The Dutchman reached the semi-final here back in 2022. Up against him, British qualifier Harry Wendelken, making his ATP tour debut. The first set went with serve until the Dutchman got the break through to love on Wendelken’s serve to finish it 6-4. The second set was another close affair, this time a tie-break was needed to separate the pair. Wendelken looked in a good position at 5-2 but the Dutchman’s serve helped him to a straight sets victory, winning the tie break 7-5.
Into match two, we had our 2024 Champion, Tommy Paul, facing fellow American Zachary Svajda who joined the main draw as a lucky loser. Svajda did well to stay with Paul in the first set, and it came down to a 12 point game on Svajda’s serve at 6-5 to decide it. Paul finally got the break through, hitting four winners in that game to settle the set 7-5. The second set was more comfortable for Paul who got an early break and a 3-0 lead. The 2024 Champion had to dig deep in his final service game but eventually came out on top to finish the match 7-5, 6-3, and looking comfortable back on the grass.
The third match today saw British wildcard, Jack Pinnington-Jones, take on former top 10 player, and all round talent, Denis Shapovalov. The first set was close but the Canadian showed his quality in the Brit’s final service game to get the break and clinch it 6-4. In the second set, Pinnington-Jones was the one to get the break through on Shapovalov’s serve and saw it out to win that set 6-4 and take us into a decider. The Brit then started the final set just as he would have wanted, breaking his opponent’s serve in the first game; however, this proved futile when Shapalov got things back on level terms at the first time of asking. The set went with serve to 5-5, when Pinnintgon-Jones had three break points and converted on the third to set himself up to serve for the match. However, the Canadian came in clutch to take it into a tie-break. Shapovalov’s composure proved the difference in the tie break, he played an outrageous diving volley to get himself match point and didn’t falter. The Canadian moves onto the next round after a three set thriller on Centre Court!
Into the evening, our final match of the day was an all-French affair between Corentin Moutet and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. Their nationality though is probably the only thing these two players have in common, their size and style being completely contrasting. At 6’7”, Mpetshi Perricard’s biggest weapon is by far and away his serve. He actually broke the record here last year with 153mph, so it was always going to be important for Moutet in this match to try to keep his opponent at bay on his own serve. He managed this well in the first set and a tie break was needed. It was Perricard who came out on top here, hitting a 143mph second serve to get himself set point. In the second set, both players were again looking almost unbreakable, until at 5-4 Moutet played a couple of tremendous points on his way to taking us into a decider. With the light beginning to dim, the third set got underway. Moutet seemed to be on the front foot coming into the final set. Vitally though, Perricard saved two break points to make it 1-1. The match has now been suspended for bad light and will resume tomorrow!
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** Image is Getty Images for LTA **