ATP Queen's Club 2026 Preview, Draw Analysis & Title Predictions

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  • HSBC Championships at Queen's Club marks final Wimbledon build-up
  • Field open with no Carlos Alcaraz; top seeds: de Minaur, Lehečka, Paul, Jodar
  • Fast grass courts reward aggressive play; stream matches via leading bookmakers
Tommy Paul
Former champion Tommy Paul returns to Queen's Club looking to rediscover the form that brought him the title in 2024. (credit: Getty)
The grass-court season moves to London this week as the HSBC Championships returns to the historic Queen's Club. With Wimbledon rapidly approaching, players have one final opportunity to build momentum, gain valuable match practice, and prove their credentials on one of the sport's most demanding surfaces. 

Top seed Alex de Minaur headlines a wide-open field that also features Jiří Lehečka, Tommy Paul, Francisco Cerúndolo, and rising Spanish prospect Rafael Jodar. With defending champion Carlos Alcaraz absent and several contenders arriving with contrasting levels of form and preparation, the battle for the Queen's Club title promises to be one of the most intriguing events of the grass-court swing.

Tournament Overview

The HSBC Championships is one of the most prestigious grass-court tournaments on the ATP Tour and serves as a key stepping stone to Wimbledon. Held at the historic Queen's Club in London, the ATP 500 event has been a regular feature of the grass-court calendar for decades and continues to attract many of the world's leading players as they fine-tune their games ahead of the Championships.

CategoryATP 500
SurfaceOutdoor Grass
LocationLondon, United Kingdom
VenueThe Queen's Club
Founded1886
Edition123rd (2026)
Prize Money€2,522,220
Draw32 Singles / 32 Qualifying / 24 Doubles
Defending ChampionCarlos Alcaraz (2025)

Ranking Points & Prize Money Breakdown

As one of the final ATP 500 events before Wimbledon, the HSBC Championships offers players a valuable opportunity to earn ranking points and build momentum heading into the grass-court Grand Slam. A deep run in London can significantly improve a player's position in the rankings while also providing important match practice against elite competition.

RoundRanking PointsPrize Money (€)
Winner500€483,145
Finalist330€259,940
Semifinal200€138,530
Quarterfinal100€70,775
Round of 1650€37,780
First Round0€20,145

Playing Conditions & Court Speed

The grass courts at Queen's Club traditionally reward players who can serve effectively, take the ball early, and dictate points with aggressive first-strike tennis. The low bounce and quick pace make it one of the fastest stops on the ATP calendar, placing a premium on efficient serving, sharp movement, and the ability to finish points at the net. 

With Wimbledon only weeks away, Queen's Club provides an excellent test for players looking to fine-tune their grass-court games. Big servers, attacking baseliners, and versatile all-court players have historically enjoyed success in London, where short rallies and proactive tennis are often the key to lifting the trophy.

FactorImpact
Surface SpeedFast grass-court conditions
Court TypeOutdoor grass
Bounce LevelLow and skidding bounce
Rally LengthGenerally short points and quick exchanges
Key AdvantageStrong serving and first-strike tennis
Ideal Player ProfileBig servers, attacking baseliners and all-court players

Recent Champions

Recent editions of the HSBC Championships have been dominated by some of the ATP Tour's strongest grass-court performers. Champions such as Carlos Alcaraz, Matteo Berrettini, Tommy Paul, and Feliciano López all used their success in London as a springboard for strong Wimbledon campaigns, highlighting the tournament's importance as one of the premier grass-court events outside the All England Club.

YearChampionRunner-upScore
2025Carlos AlcarazJiří Lehečka7-5, 6-7(5), 6-2
2024Tommy PaulLorenzo Musetti6-1, 7-6(8)
2023Carlos AlcarazAlex de Minaur6-4, 6-4
2022Matteo BerrettiniFilip Krajinović7-5, 6-4
2021Matteo BerrettiniCameron Norrie6-4, 6-7(5), 6-3
2020Not HeldCoronavirus Pandemic
2019Feliciano LópezGilles Simon6-2, 6-7(4), 7-6(2)

Top 8 Seeds

The top seeds at Queen's Club reflect just how open this year's tournament appears following the absence of defending champion Carlos Alcaraz. Alex de Minaur arrives as the top seed after a strong start to the grass-court season, while Jiří Lehečka, Tommy Paul, Francisco Cerúndolo, and Jakub Menšík are among the players hoping to take advantage of a draw packed with opportunity and Wimbledon significance.

SeedPlayer
1Alex de Minaur
2Jiří Lehečka
3Jakub Menšík
4Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
5Rafael Jodar
6Arthur Rinderknech
7Francisco Cerúndolo
8Tommy Paul

Players to Watch

Alex de Minaur 
Alex de Minaur arrives in London after reaching the final in 's-Hertogenbosch, making him one of the form players of the grass-court season. The Australian has steadily improved on the surface over recent years, but managing the quick turnaround and potential fatigue could be his biggest challenge this week. 

Jiří Lehečka 
Jiří Lehečka should be full of confidence after a semifinal run in Stuttgart and enters the tournament with valuable grass-court points to defend. His powerful serve and aggressive baseline game are perfectly suited to these conditions, making him one of the leading title contenders. 

Rafael Jodar 
Rafael Jodar has made enormous progress in recent months and arrives at Queen's Club with growing expectations. Grass remains largely uncharted territory for the Spaniard, but his attacking style and willingness to take the initiative could translate surprisingly well to the surface. 

Francisco Cerúndolo 
Francisco Cerúndolo has already proven he can succeed on grass, having won the Eastbourne title earlier in his career. However, he is still searching for a breakthrough result at Queen's Club and begins his grass-court campaign this year without any competitive matches on the surface. 

Tommy Paul 
Former champion Tommy Paul knows what it takes to succeed in London, but he arrives with limited grass-court preparation and inconsistent recent form. The American's versatile all-court game remains a natural fit for the surface, though he may need time to rediscover his best level.

How to Watch – ATP London 2026

No cable? No problem. All you need is a betting account and a screen. ATP London is streamed live in HD by top bookmakers — no extra subscription needed.

🎬 Quick Setup in 30 Seconds: 
1️⃣ Sign up at [Stake] or [bet365]
2️⃣ Deposit $1 or equivalent (no need to place a bet right away) 
3️⃣ Go to Live Tennis → ATP London → Hit “Watch Live” 
That’s it. You’re watching Main Court live from anywhere. 

ATP London Live Streams

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Verdict

With Alex de Minaur potentially facing a difficult turnaround after a deep run in 's-Hertogenbosch, this year's HSBC Championships looks unusually open. Jiří Lehečka enters the tournament with strong momentum and appears well positioned to challenge for the title, while former champion Tommy Paul remains a dangerous outsider despite his recent struggles. 

Rafael Jodar is the wildcard of the field, and if his aggressive game adapts quickly to grass, he could emerge as one of the surprise stories of the week.

Best Bet1: Jiri Lehecka Tournament Winner @700.00 at Stake.com - 2 Units
Best Bet2: Tommy Paul Tournament Winner @800.00 at Stake.com - 1 Unit
Best Bet3: Rafael Jodar Tournament Winner @1100.0 at Stake.com - 1 Unit
Jiri Lehecka
Tournament Winner
@700.00 - 2 Units
25 SC no deposit & 250,000 GC
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Tommy Paul
Tournament Winner
@800.00 - 1 Unit
25 SC no deposit & 250,000 GC
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Get 25 Stake Cash & 250,000 Gold Coins when you sign up with code NEWBONUS at Stake.us. USA only. Excludes certain States including NY,NV,ID, KY,WA. 18+ only. Terms and Conditions apply.

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Rafael Jodar
Tournament Winner
@1100.0 - 1 Unit
25 SC no deposit & 250,000 GC
Use promo code NEWBONUS

Get 25 Stake Cash & 250,000 Gold Coins when you sign up with code NEWBONUS at Stake.us. USA only. Excludes certain States including NY,NV,ID, KY,WA. 18+ only. Terms and Conditions apply.

Bet at Stake.com