ATP Queen’s Club: Alexei Popyrin vs Aleksandar Vukic

ATP Queen’s Club: Alexei Popyrin vs Aleksandar Vukic – Battle of the Aussies

🧠 Form & Context

Alexei Popyrin 🇦🇺 (World No. 48)
– A rollercoaster 2025 season (11–14), with sporadic brilliance (def. Ruud, Tiafoe) overshadowed by inconsistency.
– Winless on grass this year; blew a lead vs Zizou Bergs in ’s-Hertogenbosch.
– Three straight 1R exits at Queen’s Club (2021, 2023, 2024).
– Big server, flat hitter—but movement and confidence on grass remain suspect.
Aleksandar Vukic 🇦🇺 (World No. 79)
– Gained main draw entry via qualifying, defeating Cerundolo and Walton with composure.
– 2–2 on grass in 2025, but showing clear improvements on the surface.
– Known for upsetting higher-ranked players, including Korda at the AO.
– Grasps the underdog mindset well; comes in with momentum and no pressure.

🔍 Match Breakdown

Despite being the lower-ranked Aussie, Vukic may be better suited to grass right now. Popyrin's grass struggles are well-documented, and his error count rises when he's rushed on this surface. Vukic plays flatter, gets lower to the ball, and has two solid grass wins under his belt from qualies. Key Factors: – Popyrin’s poor Queen’s history and lack of grass confidence. – Vukic’s clean baseline rhythm and match sharpness. – Mental edge: Vukic has shown better late-set resilience this season.

🔮 Prediction

Pick: Aleksandar Vukic in 3 sets 💰 Bet Tip: Over 22.5 Games – Expect a tight contest with big serves and close sets. 📉 Alt: Vukic ML @2.30 – Solid value for an in-form qualifier with surface edge and matchup insight.

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📊 Tale of the Tape

• 2025 W/L: Popyrin 11–14 | Vukic 15–12
• Career Grass W/L: Popyrin 23–25 | Vukic 9–12
• Queen’s Club Record: Popyrin 0–3 | Vukic Debut
• H2H: First Meeting (have trained together in Aussie camps)