Alex de Minaur defeated Canada’s Gabriel Diallo in straight sets. | Photo Credit: Getty Images

Australian top seed Alex de Minaur maintained his strong form on the ​grass as he moved past Canada’s Gabriel Diallo into ‌the last 16 at the Queen’s Championships ​on Tuesday.

De Minaur slipped down an ⁠early break of service but hit his stride for a 7-6(8), 6-3 victory and set up a ‌clash with another Canadian in the shape of Denis Shapovalov.

Victory snapped a losing ‌run at Queen’s for the world number ‌six ⁠who had fallen at the first hurdle ⁠for the last two years.

“That was a big challenge, it wasn’t the most pretty match but today was all ​about surviving,” De Minaur, ‌who reached the final on grass in ‘s-Hertogenbosch last week, said on court.

“This is my favourite part of the year and I love ‌being in London. Hopefully I can win ​a lot of tennis matches this grass-court swing.”

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De Minaur saved two set points ⁠in the opening-set tiebreaker and then broke serve in a 15-minute fourth game of the second ‌set to seize control.

Third seed Jacub Mensik’s Wimbledon preparations got off to a disappointing start though as the big-serving 20-year-old was out-foxed by wily French left hander Adrian Mannarino, losing a marathon clash 5-7 7-6(3) 7-6(5).

The 37-year-old Mannarino ‌led 5-2 in the opening set only to lose it ​but gradually wore down the French Open semi-finalist with his unique groundstrokes frustrating ⁠the Czech.

He will face British wildcard Arthur Fery next.

Corentin ⁠Moutet ended a dismal run of five successive first-round defeats as he tamed ‌fellow Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 6-7(5), 6-4, 7-6(5) in a match that was suspended on ​Monday because of fading light.

Published on Jun 16, 2026