First-round motion on the Cinch Championships will proceed on Tuesday, when Carlos Alcaraz and Andy Murray are amongst these in motion. Listed here are my previews and picks for 2 of the schedule’s finest matchups.
(1) Carlos Alcaraz vs. Francisco CerundoloAlcaraz received the French Open a few weeks in the past and now turns his consideration to grass, on which he triumphed at each Queen’s Membership and Wimbledon final summer season. His title protection on the former occasion begins on Tuesday afternoon towards Cerundolo. Their solely earlier assembly got here 5 years in the past on the purple clay of the Palmanova Challenger, the place Alcaraz cruised 6-2, 6-4.
Cerundolo could also be at his finest on clay, however he’s succesful on all surfaces–grass included. The Twenty sixth-ranked Argentine lifted the trophy in Eastbourne final summer season. He’s in nice type in the meanwhile, too, having reached the final 16 at Roland Garros (misplaced to Novak Djokovic in 5 units). Sadly for Cerundolo, that is clearly a horrible draw. Alcaraz is purple scorching and dropped only a single set throughout his journey to the 2023 Queen’s Membership crown.
Choose: Alcaraz in 2
(WC) Andy Murray vs. (Q) Alexei PopyrinMurray is the undisputed king of Queen’s. The 37-year-old Scot is the all-time chief in singles titles with six (2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016) in a historic event that has been round since 1881. Possible calling it quits on his profession later this summer season at both Wimbledon or the Olympics, Murray is thus making his last look on the Cinch Championships. Though he can by no means be written off at this occasion, success for the three-time Grand Slam champ in 2024 is unlikely. Murray has received only a single match for the reason that Miami second spherical and that was by way of retirement at a Challenger event. He misplaced his opening match in Stuttgart this previous week by the hands of Marcos Giron (6-3, 6-4).
It has already been a productive keep at Queen’s Membership for Popyrin, who certified for the principle draw with wins over Otto Virtanen and Mackenzie McDonald. The Forty eighth-ranked Australian additionally performed nicely final week in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, the place he beat Rinky Hijikata earlier than falling to Tommy Paul in three tight units. At this level in Murray’s profession, this simply seems like just a little bit too robust of a check.
Choose: Popyrin in 3
Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and in addition maintains his personal tennis web site, The Grandstand. You possibly can observe him on Twitter at @Dimonator.
