The cinch Championships continues this week in London as Seb Korda faces Rinky Hijikata, while in the Terra Wortman Open Christopher Eubanks goes up against Z.Z. Zhang. Damien Kayat previews the action.
2024 ATP Tour – ATP 500
Cinch Championships/Terra Wortman Open
The Queen’s Club/Gerry Weber Stadium
Selected Ro16 matches – 21 June
Cinch Championships
Seb Korda 1/6 | Rinky Hijikata 4/1
Seb Korda has emerged as one of the surprise hits of this year’s grass-court circuit. He had endured a pretty non-descript season coming into this swing, reaching only one quarter-final prior to last week’s Libema Open.
But he was exceptional last week, going down to de Minaur in his first final of the year. And he has continued that grass-court brilliance in London, overcoming a devilish draw to reach the quarter-final stage.
He took down Karen Khachanov in his opener before a stunning three-set win over Grigor Dimitrov. He really battled hard against the Bulgarian, committing just nine unforced errors to Dimitrov’s 17.
He has been serving brilliantly and using that sliced backhand to maximum effect. His willingness to come to the net has been a real feature of his recent success.
Korda’s career has been overshadowed by the stunning success of golf-pro sister Nelly and he seems determined to wrestle back some of that family prestige.
Speaking of surprises, 23-year-old Aussie Rinky Hijikata has come out of nowhere to reach only his second tour-level quarter-final of the season (his first coming at Delray Beach).
The Aussie has struggled to establish himself in top-tier tennis (he has yet to reach a tour-level final). He is perhaps best known for winning last year’s Aussie Open doubles title alongside compatriot Jason Kubler.
But grass does have a habit of galvanising hidden talent (just look at Christopher Eubanks last year). He had to come through qualifying this week, seeing for Henry Searle and Arthur Rinderknech in straight sets. He was leading the powerful Frances Tiafoe until the American was forced to withdraw from their round of 32 clash due to injury.
He just squeezed past Arnaldi in two tight tiebreaks and he will have nothing to lose here. He has served accurately this week and- much like Korda- has shown a real willingness to come to the net.
The Verdict: Korda to win in straight sets 52/100
This will be the first career meeting between these two. This one just seems obvious to me. Korda is playing some elite grass-court tennis at present and Hijikata has benefitted from some decent fortune this week.
These two will both look to come to the net in a game that should please grass-court purists. But I think Korda should easily progress.
Terra Wortman Open
Christopher Eubanks 11/10 | Z.Z. Zhang 69/100
Christopher Eubanks needed this. The 28-year-old has enjoyed an absolutely miserable season that has seen him drift down the world rankings.
But the big-serving American has suddenly come to life in Germany, perhaps drawing on his fantastic 2023 grass-court campaign for inspiration.
Eubanks emerged as one of the breakout stars of 2023, winning a maiden title in Mallorca before a stunning quarter-final run at Wimbledon. He likes to play a brand of incisive first-strike tennis, leaning on a huge serve and forehand to dominate opponents.
He also isn’t afraid to attack the net and that has served him well this week. He eased past Pedro Martinez in his opener before stunning defending champion Alexander Bublik in three sets.
He used that sliced backhand to neutralise Bublik’s huge delivery and create some solid openings on return. A title run here could herald yet another deep run at SW19.
Nominally a hardcourt specialist, Z.Z. Zhang doesn’t really have much grass-court pedigree to speak of (though he did reach the quarter-finals in Eastbourne last year).
But he just picked up arguably the biggest win of his career, surviving a nervy third set tiebreak to end Daniil Medvedev’s title aspirations. This will be his third quarter-final of the season following runs in Marseille and Rome.
Zhang is almost the polar opposite of Eubanks, content to hug the baseline and use a variety of drop-shots to destabilise opponents. Zhang enjoyed some decent success last year, winning the gold medal at the Asian Games and also reaching a maiden ATP semi-final in Hamburg.
He will be delighted with his work this week and will be desperate to reach a first grass-court semi-final.
The Verdict: Eubanks to win in straight sets 26/10
This will also be the first meeting between these two. I just think that this is starting to look a lot like Eubanks’ title-winning run in Mallorca last season.
He came alive during last year’s grass-court campaign and he has just beaten two high-class opponents. Medvedev has always struggled on grass and I wouldn’t put too much stock in that Zhang upset win. Eubanks should have the firepower to ease past the Chinese baseliner.
