Alex De Minaur's hopes of a first Queen's title were ended in the quarter-finals after he was beaten in straight sets by Brandon Nakashima on Friday. 

De Minaur, a beaten finalist in 2023 against Carlos Alcaraz, was beaten 7-5 6-3 by Nakashima, whose triumph saw him reach his third tour-level semi-final of the year. 

The top seed struggled to break down his American opponent in a tight first set, with both players holding comfortably on serve and not giving up a break point opportunity. 

However, when a tie-break looked set to decide the opening set, Nakashima got the better of De Minaur's serve to take the early lead, and from there, he took control of the match. 

After saving the only break point he faced in the third game of the second, Nakashima reeled off the final three games and sealed his win after De Minaur sent a backhand long. 

"Any time you beat a top player, it is a huge accomplishment," Nakashima said. "I have been feeling good on the grass in all the matches here. I am happy I am playing well."

Off the charts good @b_nakashima advances to his 12th tour-level semi-final after a sensational straight-set victory over de Minaur!@QueensTennis | #HSBCChampionships pic.twitter.com/h7dMgwPiUD

— ATP Tour (@atptour) June 19, 2026

Nakashima's reward for his victory is a clash against Francisco Cerundolo, with the Argentine edging a three-set thriller against home hopeful Arthur Fery. 

Creundolo needed two hours and 37 minutes to register a 7-6 (7-1) 3-6 6-4 victory at Andy Murray Arena, and he will be joined in the next round by 2024 champion Tommy Paul. 

Paul beat fourth seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-3 7-6 (7-4) and will face Ugo Humbert for a spot in the final, after the Frenchman won two matches in one day. 

Humbert saved two match points to down Hamad Medjedovic 2-6 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-5) after their match on Thursday was interrupted by darkness, before taking to the court again later in the day to quickly dispatch Rinky Hijikata 6-1 6-2. 

Paul the King of Queen's with another victory

After winning the 2024 edition of Queen's with a straight-sets victory over Lorenzo Musetti, Paul was forced to withdraw from last year's competition through injury, but he has returned like he never left after reeling off yet another win here. 

The American has not dropped a set on his way to the semi-finals, while also extending his winning run at the tournament to eight matches. Should he win the title again, he would join an elite group of compatriots to win the competition at least twice.

Andy Roddick (four), John McEnroe (three) and Jimmy Connors (two) are the Americans to have won the Queen's crown more than once in the Open Era.