A few first-round picks from the HSBC Championships at Queen's Club today, and it's a solid slate to open things up on the grass. We've got three matches to get through, so let's get into it.
HSBC Championships Predictions
Jakub Mensik vs Adrian Mannarino
Head-to-head: First meeting
Mensik is one of the more exciting young players on tour and grass feels like a surface that really suits him, with his big serve and the ability to finish points quickly at the net. Mannarino is a tricky customer and his slice-heavy game, arguably one of the most frustrating styles to face on this surface, can be genuinely annoying to deal with on grass, so this won't be as clean as Mensik's ranking might suggest.
That said, Mensik is the better player right now and I think he gets through this, probably dropping a set along the way to Mannarino's awkward game.
Prediction: Mensik in 3
Alexander Blockx vs Francisco Cerundolo
Head-to-head: Blockx 1-0 Cerundolo
Cerundolo is a clay specialist through and through, and asking him to perform on grass in the first round against someone who already has his number is a rough ask. Blockx is young and plays an aggressive game that translates well to fast surfaces and has that prior win already in his back pocket.
Hard to see this being competitive at all.
Prediction: Blockx in 3
Tommy Paul vs Jaume Antoni Munar Clar
Head-to-head: First meeting
Munar is a solid clay-courter who hasn't done a whole lot on grass to suggest he'll cause problems here, and Paul is comfortably the better player on this surface. Paul's serve-and-forehand combination works well on quick courts and he's been a consistent presence in the later rounds of grass events over the past couple of seasons.
I feel like this one goes three just because Munar is competitive enough to take a set, but Paul should still find a way to get through here, all things considered.
Prediction: Paul in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Loic Baratoux/ZUMA Press Wire