Tommy Paul opened the HSBC Championships with a composed performance and eliminated Zachary Svajda
Tommy Paul advanced to the second round of the singles tournament at the HSBC Championships in London after defeating Zachary Svajda 7:5, 6:3. The match was played on June 15, 2026, at the Queen's Club, on the grass of the Andy Murray Arena, and according to ESPN's official scoreboard it was part of the first round of the men's singles tournament. Paul entered the match as the eighth seed and the favorite, and with the victory he confirmed that he had adjusted well in his first grass-court appearance of the season. Although the straight-sets score suggests a controlled passage, the duel was not without dangerous moments for the American, especially in the closing stages of the second set. According to the ATP Tour report, Paul reached victory in 86 minutes, with 15 aces and without losing a service game.
The favorite decided the first set in the closing stage
The first set brought a cautious start from both players, which is common at the beginning of the grass-court season, especially when tennis players are adapting for the first time in the year to the lower bounce and faster rhythm of points. Paul had more initiative, but Svajda remained solid enough on serve for much of the set to prevent an early separation. The key moment came at 6:5 for Paul, when Svajda served to stay in the set. According to the LTA report, Paul combined firm defense and pressure on his opponent's second serve in that game, and the set was concluded after Svajda's forehand error. That ending to the first set was important because it allowed the eighth seed to continue the match with a clear score advantage and less pressure.
Paul showed in the first set what makes him a particularly awkward opponent on grass: a stable first serve, a quick transition toward attack and enough patience in rallies when the point could not be finished immediately. He did not force every opportunity, but waited for shorter balls and tried to move Svajda away from the baseline. The ATP Tour emphasized in its report that Paul played the key points well in his first head-to-head duel with Svajda, which is often more important on grass than the total number of opportunities. Svajda, meanwhile, had periods of good rhythm, but he failed to turn pressure into a score advantage. After Paul took the first set 7:5, the continuation of the match moved in a direction that suited the favorite more.
An early break in the second set opened the path toward victory
In the second set Paul quickly used the momentum from the end of the first part of the match. According to the LTA's description of the encounter, he immediately put pressure on Svajda's backhand and earned a break in his opponent's first service game, taking a 2:0 lead. That advantage changed the dynamics of the match because Svajda had to take more risks in return games, while Paul could build points around his own serve and the first shot after the serve. On grass, such an early advantage often carries additional weight because coming back against a player who serves well is significantly more complicated than on slower surfaces. Paul kept the match under control for most of the set, but in the closing stage he still had to show resilience.
Svajda's most serious attempt to come back happened when Paul was defending his lead in the second set. The LTA states that the former Queen's Club champion first had to save a break point at 4:2, and then in the next service game had to recover from a 15:40 deficit. The ATP Tour additionally stated that Paul saved all five break points he faced during the match. It was precisely that efficiency in the most sensitive moments that separated the favorite from the challenger. The final 6:3 in the second set confirmed that Paul, despite occasional dangers, had a clearer structure to his game and better execution in the decisive points.
Serve and attacking pattern brought the advantage
Paul's victory was not based only on the fact that he served better, but also on how he used his serve to open the court. According to the ATP Tour, he struck 15 aces, and according to the LTA's data he won 87 percent of points after landing his first serve. The LTA also stated that Paul was on the attack in 30 percent of the points played and that in such situations he won 72 percent of points. Those numbers explain well why Svajda failed to take control in longer rallies: Paul did not allow too many points to develop into a neutral rhythm. When he received a shorter ball, he tried to finish the point quickly or at least force his opponent into a defensive shot.
On grass, such play is especially valuable because every good first shot after the serve can practically decide the point. Paul did not have to play riskily in every game, but in the important moments he raised his level of aggression. Svajda, who entered the draw as a lucky loser, did not have enough consistency to punish more seriously the short periods of Paul's uncertainty. Still, the fact that he reached five break points shows that the match was not one-way and that the favorite had to complete several demanding service games. Paul's ability to produce his firmest shots in those moments was the most important tactical element of the victory.
A return to the place of major success
For Paul this performance carries additional weight because he returned to the tournament where he won the title in 2024. According to the ATP Tour, the American lifted the trophy at Queen's Club that year, and in 2025 he did not compete at the tournament. The LTA states that Paul missed the defense of his title last year because of injury, which gave this year's return to London both competitive and symbolic significance. In a statement after the match, carried by the ATP Tour and the LTA, Paul emphasized that he loves playing at Queen's Club and that he has fond memories of that court. He also said that the first match on grass is always demanding because time is needed to adjust to the movement and the bounce of the ball.
Paul arrived in London as a player who had already had a successful season. The ATP Tour's match report states that he came to Queen's Club with the 2026 Houston title and that in London he is seeking his second trophy of the season. That gives him additional stability in a part of the calendar that is short, but extremely important for players who want a good entry into Wimbledon. The grass-court season does not offer much time for corrections, so a first-round victory, especially without dropping a set, is important both for the result and for the feel on the surface. Against Svajda, Paul got exactly what a favorite needed at the start of the tournament: passage through, minutes on grass and confirmation that his serve functions under pressure.
Svajda did not use his chances, but showed why he can be dangerous
Zachary Svajda entered this match as a lucky loser, which means he received a place in the main draw after losing in qualifying, but also after a later opening of a position in the tournament. Such an entry often gives a player additional freedom because he does not have the same pressure of expectations as a seed, but against Paul more than occasional good return games was needed. Svajda managed to create chances on Paul's serve, especially in the second set, but he did not convert any break point into a turnaround. According to the ATP Tour, this was the first head-to-head meeting of the two American tennis players on the ATP Tour. That circumstance may also explain the more cautious beginning, because both had to recognize how familiar patterns from practice would transfer into an official match.
Svajda had a problem with pressure on his own serve in the closing stage of the first set, and in the second set he fell behind early. Still, his ability to earn five break points against a player known for good grass-court play shows that he was not without chances. The biggest difference was that Paul could rely on a stronger first serve and a higher-quality first attacking shot in important points. Svajda had to build points for longer, and that is a very demanding task against an opponent who moves well and quickly switches from defense to attack. A straight-sets defeat therefore does not erase the fact that he had periods of good tennis, but it confirms that against a seed on grass, chances must be used immediately.
HSBC Championships as a key preparation for Wimbledon
The HSBC Championships at Queen's Club is one of the most important tournaments in the short grass-court season. According to the ATP Tour, the 2026 men's tournament is held from June 15 to 21 and belongs to the ATP 500 category, with a total prize fund of 2,583,330 euros. The tournament is played on the grass courts of Queen's Club in London, and the ATP states that it was founded in 1969. It has a special place in the calendar because it allows players to transition from the European clay-court season to grass before Wimbledon. For that reason, the result in London is important not only because of ranking points and prize money, but also because of confidence ahead of the most famous grass-court Grand Slam tournament.
Queen's Club has traditionally gathered players who want to test their serve, movement and reaction to the low ball in competitive conditions. The official Queen's Club website states that it is an annual event that includes professional tournaments at ATP and WTA level, while the LTA presents the tournament as one of the central events of the British grass-court season. In its preview of the 2026 tournament, the ATP singled out Alex de Minaur, Rafael Jodar, Cameron Norrie and Jiri Lehečka among the names leading the field. Paul, although not the top seed, comes to London with a special status because of his 2024 title and because of a game that adapts well to grass. The victory against Svajda therefore immediately places him among the players who will be watched carefully for the rest of the week.
The next opponent will be Botic van de Zandschulp
Paul will play Botic van de Zandschulp in the second round. According to ESPN's scoreboard and reports by the ATP Tour and the LTA, the Dutch tennis player defeated British qualifier Harry Wendelken 6:4, 7:6(5) in the first round. Van de Zandschulp has already had a good result at Queen's Club, and the ATP Tour states that in 2022 he was a semifinalist at the tournament in west London. That means Paul does not face an easy task next, especially because the Dutch player can also use the fast surface to shorten points and attack after the serve. The second round will therefore be an important test of Paul's stability, primarily in games in which he will not be able to rely only on the first serve.
For Paul, the most important thing is that he passed the first obstacle without additional expenditure and without entering a third set. In the early phase of the grass-court season that can have great value because players are often simultaneously searching for rhythm and trying to avoid unnecessary strain. His performance against Svajda showed that there is still room for better control in moments when the opponent gets break chances, but also that he can find a solution in the key points. If he maintains a high percentage of points won after the first serve and continues to take the initiative early, Paul will have a realistic chance at Queen's Club to continue the run he began with the 2024 title. The first London victory in 2026 does not guarantee a deep tournament path, but it confirms that the former champion opened the week in line with his status as the favorite.
Sources:
- ESPN Tennis Scores – official scoreboard and result of the Paul – Svajda match and the HSBC Championships schedule (link)
- ATP Tour – report from the Tommy Paul – Zachary Svajda match and information about the next opponent (link)
- LTA / HSBC Championships – match report, statistical highlights and post-match statements (link)
- ATP Tour – official tournament preview, dates, category, schedule, prize money and tournament context (link)
- The Queen's Club – official information about the HSBC Championships in London (link)