2019 Eastbourne International – Pierre-Hugues Herbert vs Feliciano Lopez Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
Where is Pierre-Hugues Herbert vs Feliciano Lopez taking place? Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club
When is Pierre-Hugues Herbert vs Feliciano Lopez on and what time does it start? Tuesday 25th June, 2019 – (not before) TBC (UK)
What is the expected weather for Pierre-Hugues Herbert vs Feliciano Lopez? Sunny spells and a temperature of 23c
What channel is Pierre-Hugues Herbert vs Feliciano Lopez on? BBC have the rights to this tournament so it is worth checking their schedule
Where can I stream Pierre-Hugues Herbert vs Feliciano Lopez? If the match is televised then it can be streamed live via BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and the BBC Sport app
Where can I get tickets for Pierre-Hugues Herbert vs Feliciano Lopez? https://www.lta.org.uk/major-tennis-events/british-major-events/nature-valley-international/tickets-2019/
THE LOWDOWN
HEAD-TO-HEAD
All-time meetings: Feliciano Lopez 2-1 Pierre-Hugues Herbert
Last meeting: Feliciano Lopez beat Pierre-Hugues Herbert 7-6, 6-3
PIERRE-HUGUES HERBERT
- Pierre-Hugues Herbert is getting tennis pundits talking this year with some excellent displays and it took Halle’s undisputed king Roger Federer to knock him out in the semi-finals last week.
- The Frenchman played out two intense and difficult five-set matches at Roland Garros before that and enters the Eastbourne International for the first time here as practice for his next Grand Slam challenge at Wimbledon next week.
- Herbert has beaten his first-round opponent Feliciano Lopez once before in Rotterdam back in 2017 but is on the wrong end of a 2-1 head-to-head with the veteran.
FELICIANO LOPEZ
- Feliciano Lopez looked to be on the brink of an invisible retirement this year before his heroics at Queen’s last week brought him back into the spotlight as he won both the singles and doubles titles on the same day.
- The 37-year-old partnered up with a recovering Andy Murray to take the doubles title from Joe Salisbury and Rajeev Ram immediately after defeating Gilles Simon in the singles.
- It remains to be seen if Lopez will have anything left, even his participation in this tournament is questionable, but he is a firm favourite at Eastbourne having won the title twice in 2013 and 2014.
THE PREDICTION
In an odd twist of fate, Feliciano Lopez will face Andy Murray’s doubles partner for Wimbledon, Pierre-Hugues Herbert, just after winning the Queen’s doubles with the Brit on Sunday. This match will attract a lot of attention as Lopez is a favourite on the South Coast while Herbert is partnering the returning Andy Murray in the doubles next week at Wimbledon and will garner plenty of support for that reason alone. This match might well be called off at the last moment if Lopez cannot recover from his exertions and if the Spaniard can play, his fitness must be called into question if he does not win the first set. With this in mind, a more refreshed Herbert can take advantage.
