The second round begins, with Gregor Dimitrov and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga featuring once again.
With Andy Murray out, Queen’s will have a new champion in 2017. Here are the reports from today’s action on centre court.
Donald Young bt. Viktor Troicki (6-3, 6-4)
Donald Young beat Serbian Viktor Troicki in straight sets as he made through to the quarter-finals of an ATP Tour event for just the third time this year.
Troicki didn’t have long to recover from his mammoth match with fellow Serbian Janko Tipsarevic yesterday, and that showed against a much fresher Young.
The world number 55 was a set up against Nick Kyrgios in the first round before the Australian retired with injury.
Young broke early, and raced to a 6-3 first set win in just under 30 minutes.
The 27-year old then broke Troicki again in the second set with a cross-court forehand, in what was a comfortable victory for the American.
Gilles Muller bt. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (6-4, 6-4)
Gilles Muller’s impressive 2017 continued after he beat world number 10 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in straight sets.
The Frenchman’s elimination means only Marin Cilic is the only one of the top five-seeded players remaining in the tournament.
Muller, who is ranked 26th in the world, has already won two ATP Tour events this year. The 34-year old made a fantastic start to the grass-court season by winning last week’s Ricoh Open in the Netherlands.
Tsonga – who made the final of Queen’s back in 2011 – struggled against the Luxembourger’s movement around the court, as he became the latest victim of what has been a extraordinary tournament in London.
Muller came up with the only break of the first set, which he then won 6-4.
The 34-year old then broke Tsonga again as he raced to a 2-0 lead in the second set.
Fifth-seeded Tsonga dropped two break points himself during the second set, and the Luxembourger took full advantage by winning it 6-4.
Grigor Dimitrov bt. Julien Benneteau (4-6, 6-3, 6-4)
Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov came from a set down to beat Frenchman Julien Benneteau and keep his Queen’s title hopes alive.
The world number 12 made a slow start as temperatures reached 40 degrees on court. He lost his first service game to Benneteau, which ultimately cost him the set.
However, the Bulgarian seemed to grow into the game, and won the match in just under two hours with three consecutive aces in the final game.
World number 87 Benneteau produced a fine display despite ultimately coming up short against the sixth-seeded Dimitrov.
Tomas Berdych bt. Denis Shapovalov (7-6, 6-7, 7-5)
Tomas Berdych saw off the brave 18-year old Denis Shapovalov after a gruelling match to close proceedings on day three at Queen’s.
The match was closely fought throughout it’s two-hour duration, but the experience of seventh-seed Berdych helped him close it out with the first break of the contest in the final game.
But the performance of young Canadian Shapovalov will stand out, and he will be a name to watch out for in the years ahead.
The first two sets went to tie-breaks, with both men finding it difficult to return each other’s serve .
Berdych – a former Wimbledon finalist – remains on course to face Gregor Dimitrov in the semi-finals. Both will now have an eye on the title following the shock results of the past couple of days.
Liam Richner 