Murray Faces Tough Path For More London History
Murray Faces Tough Path For More London History
Andy Murray will go for more history at the Aegon Championships at The Queen’s Club. The ATP World Tour 500 tournament in London starts on Sunday. But the Scot could have to beat three Top 15 players, including World No. 3 Stan Wawrinka, if he wants to win an unprecedented sixth Queen’s Club crown.
View Draw
Last year, Murray became the first player to win five titles at the tournament, which was established in 1890.
Aegon Championships Title Leaders
| Andy Murray | 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016 |
| Andy Roddick | 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007 |
| Lleyton Hewitt | 2000, 2001, 2002, 2006 |
| Boris Becker | 1985, 1987, 1988, 1996 |
| John McEnroe | 1979, 1980, 1981, 1984 |
| Roy Emerson | 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966 |
| Anthony Wilding | 1907, 1910, 1911, 1912 |
| Major J.G. Ritchie | 1902, 1904, 1906, 1909 |
The Brit is once again the top seed at his home tournament and will face a compatriot in the first round, Aljaz Bedene, who reached his second ATP World Tour final earlier this year in Budapest. Murray could next face the big-serving American Sam Querrey, who famously upset Novak Djokovic in the third round at Wimbledon last year.
Prevail in those two matches and Murray’s path gets only harder. The 30 year old could meet fifth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who’s already won three titles this season and pushed Murray to five sets in last year’s Wimbledon quarter-final. In the semi-finals, the dangerous Nick Kyrgios or fourth seed Marin Cilic could await.
The second-seeded Wawrinka opens against a grass-court veteran in 35-year-old Feliciano Lopez, who has served and volleyed his way to the MercedesCup final in Stuttgart. Lopez faces Frenchman Lucas Pouille for the title on Sunday.
Seventh seed and 2010 Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych could lurk in the quarter-finals, with sixth seed Grigor Dimitrov or third seed and 2016 finalist Milos Raonic possible semi-final opponents for Wawrinka.
The 32-year-old Swiss No. 1 is coming off his second Roland Garros final and is making his fifth appearance at the historic London club. He is 4-4 overall at the tournament and reached the semi-finals in 2014 (l. to Dimitrov).
Raonic, whose only two grass-court losses last season came against Murray in title matches, will look to get his season rolling on the quick surface. The 6’5” Canadian has yet to win a title this season and recently split with coach Richard Kraijcek after less than six months together.
The 26-year-old right-hander opens against wild card and #NextGenATP Aussie Thanasi Kokkinakis. Raonic could meet Frenchman Nicolas Mahut or #NextGenATP Russian Daniil Medvedev in the second round.
Fans of booming serves and quick points will want to watch Cilic’s opening match. The Croatian faces 6’10” John Isner of the U.S. Cilic could battle another American in Steve Johnson in the second round.
Read More: Federer Looks To Rebound With Ninth Halle Crown