Tommy Paul is back at the court where he won two years ago, facing Botic van de Zandschulp in the Queen’s Club second round. Corentin Moutet heads into the last 16 with customary controversy and a potential six-figure fine from the ATP.
(8) Tommy Paul vs. Botic van de Zandschulp
Paul opened his HSBC Championships campaign with a tidy 7-5, 6-3 win over fellow American Zachary Svajda, running his record at this tournament to six straight wins. He didn’t defend his title in 2025 due to injury, so this is his first time back since lifting the trophy in 2024 — and he is playing like he intends to repeat the experience. Paul has had a solid 2026 overall, pocketing a clay title in Houston along the way — and grass is where he looks most at home.
Van de Zandschulp is ranked 56th and got his first Queen’s Club win since 2022 by dispatching qualifier Harry Wendelken 6-4, 7-6(5). He made the semis here in 2022, so the surface isn’t foreign to him. The one time these two played (in a Paris hard-court match three years ago), the Dutchman won. But that’s one data point. Now, Paul is seeded, on a winning streak, and on a surface where he has proven he can win at this level. Look for Paul to move through convincingly.
Cheryl pick: Paul in 2
Ricky pick: Paul in 2
(4) Alejandro Davidovich Fokina vs. Corentin Moutet
After Moutet survived a three-set, two-day affair against fellow Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (6-7, 6-4, 7-6), he spoke with BBC’s Jenny Drummond on court for the post-match chat. When asked how he handled Mpetshi Perricard saving a match point with a 142 mph second serve, Moutet dropped an F-bomb. Drummond said “no F-bombs please.” Moutet said “f***, f***, f***.” She tried again, asked him to keep the last question clean. He said “f***, f***, f***.” The ATP is reportedly eyeing a fine somewhere in the five-to-six-figure range. Moutet later posted on Instagram that he was just joking.
Davidovich Fokina slid past Cameron Norrie in the first round 7-6, 6-2, which is a solid way to open a grass-court tournament. He leads Moutet 2-0 head-to-head and hasn’t dropped a set in either meeting. Moutet is ranked 36th and can be a real handful when he is dialed in, but after a physically demanding first round and whatever he now has swirling around him off the court, this feels like a tough spot. ADF should take this one, and Moutet can work out the rest of it later.
Cheryl pick: Davidovich Fokina in 2
Ricky pick: Davidovich Fokina in 3