Tommy Paul meets Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the Queen’s Club Championship quarter-finals Friday, aiming to return to his title form after straight-set wins over Botic van de Zandschulp. Both players have kept errors low through the tournament, and their he
Tommy Paul’s drive for a Queen’s Club comeback is already two matches deep, and now the next step arrives Friday: a quarter-final rematch against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
On Thursday, Paul took care of business in straight sets against Botic van de Zandschulp, winning 7-6 (7-5) 6-3. He’s three wins away from regaining his Queen’s Club title. and he’s doing it with a kind of steadiness that’s been hard to shake this year. The 2024 winner has yet to lose a set in the tournament. and through his matches he’s hit a combined 22 aces.
That sharpness hasn’t just shown up in headline numbers. Paul’s serve has been particularly reliable. Across his two matches at the 2026 Queen’s Club Championship, he has registered only five double faults combined. In his round-of-16 match. his first-serve production stood out: he won 77% of his first-serve points on Thursday and had won 87% in his previous match.
The broader picture for Paul looks just as strong. For the year, he has won over 80% of his service games across all surfaces. In Queen’s Club play, he’s only given up two break points this time around. He’s also been consistently near the business end of singles tournaments this year—Friday will be his sixth appearance in the last eight of a singles tournament in 2026. and he’s advanced beyond that stage on five occasions.
For Davidovich Fokina. the quarter-final is a sign of how far he’s pushed forward since his round of 32 exit in this tournament two years ago. He’s now in a Queen’s Club quarter-final for the third time on tour in 2026. and while that stage isn’t new. it still carries weight—only once in his last two events has he advanced beyond the last eight. reaching the semi-finals of the Adelaide Open in January.
At Queen’s Club this year, the 27-year-old has kept the margin for mistakes tight. He’s committed just two double faults overall. In two matches so far, he’s converted four break-point opportunities in each of his two contests, while allowing a total of three.
His serve has been doing the work, too. In the tournament. he has won over 70% of his first-serve points. and he limited damage in his Thursday match by conceding only one ace versus Corentin Moutet. For 2026 overall. his numbers are similarly forceful—he has hit over 100 aces and won more than 80% of his service games. both of which have helped set the tone in Queen’s Club.
Paul enters Friday with a clear path through the draw. In the round of 32, he defeated Zachary Svadja 7-5 6-3. In the round of 16, he beat Botic van de Zandschulp 7-6 (7-5) 6-3.
Davidovich Fokina’s road to the quarter-finals has included a tougher start. He beat Cameron Norrie in the round of 32, 7-6 (8-6) 6-2, then followed with a 6-4 6-3 win over Corentin Moutet in the round of 16.
The head-to-head history adds its own layer of pressure for both men. Earlier this year’s Australian Open rematch comes after a run of meetings that have often favored Paul at the biggest moments. At the Australian Open (2023) in the round of 64, Paul won 6-2 2-6 6-7 6-3 6-4. At the Miami Open (2023) in the round of 32, Paul won 6-3 7-5. At the US Open (2023) in the round of 32, Paul won 6-1 6-0 3-6 6-3.
Paul also dominated their Australian Open encounters in a more decisive way at times. At the Australian Open (2025) in the round of 16, Paul won 6-1 6-1 6-1. At the Australian Open (2026) in the round of 32, the match ended with a 6-1 6-1 score before Davidovich Fokina retired.
When they first met three years ago, Paul needed just over two hours to eliminate Davidovich Fokina. He struck seven aces and won 80% of his first-serve points. Later that year in Miami, Paul converted four break point opportunities and committed seven unforced errors, while Davidovich Fokina recorded 26. Their final meeting of 2023 brought another win for Paul at a Grand Slam event. with 15 aces and a 75% conversion rate on break points.
A year ago at the Australian Open. Paul gained control after winning the opening set tiebreaker and went on to win 79% of his first-serve points overall. In that match, before having to retire in his last meeting against Paul, Davidovich Fokina hit four double faults. Paul advanced anyway, winning 90% of his first-serve points.
On Friday. the matchup between Paul’s first-serve precision and Davidovich Fokina’s steadier error control will likely decide the tone early. Paul’s comfort at Queen’s Club. plus his experience in matches that demand control. has made him the most likely winner—something that feels especially relevant given how their past meetings at major events have often swung on serve and conversion.
Tommy Paul Alejandro Davidovich Fokina Queen's Club Championship quarter-finals Australian Open rematch Botic van de Zandschulp Corentin Moutet first serve percentage break points head to head