Carlitos plays marathon man again at Queen's Club
Top seed Carlos Alcaraz has been pushed all the way by fellow Spaniard Jaume Munar in a thrilling contest before clinching a 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 7-5 win and advancing to the Queen's Club Championships quarter-finals.
It was only 11 days ago when Alcaraz came out on top in his epic five-and-a-half hour French Open final against Jannik Sinner, and while this second round clash in London may not have reached those same dizzying heights on the hottest day of the year, the British crowd were still served up an enthralling battle on Thursday.
The world No.2 was never quite at his stellar best and was a break down in the deciding set -- but he showed his strength of will once more, stretching his winning run to 15 matches, the longest streak of his career, after a marathon three-hour 23 minute duel.
"3:30 hours? Were we on clay?" scribbled Alcaraz on the TV camera lens after being relieved to get through.
"It was a really tough battle that we had today," he added on the court.
"He's a great competitor and he showed how difficult it is to beat him."
Alcaraz, the 2023 champion, looked well in control as he eased to take the opening set, and after saving four break and set points at 5-4 down in the second he forced Munar to a tiebreaker.
The pair traded early breaks with neither player holding serve over the first four points, before a Munar double fault allowed Alcaraz to take a 5-4 lead. He smashed an ace but then hit a double fault of his own on match point.
Munar made him pay this time to force a deciding set.
After Alcaraz went 2-0 up, the French Open champion was broken in his next two service games and Munar grasped a 4-2 lead.
But Alcaraz was not done yet, and two more breaks of serve sealed a hard-earned victory as he continued his preparations for Wimbledon, where the Spaniard will be aiming to complete a hat-trick of triumphs.
"I'm proud of the level I showed today. It's just my second match on grass this year," Alcaraz said.
"There were moments I struggled a lot mentally and physically. I still don't know how I'm standing here. But I'm really happy I've given myself another chance in the quarter-finals."
Alcaraz will face either French lucky loser Arthur Rinderknech or American Reilly Opelka next up.
British No.2 Jacob Fearnley reached his first ATP Tour quarter-final with a 6-3 2-6 6-2 win over French qualifier Corentin Moutet, and will next face Alex de Minaur's Czech conqueror Jiri Lehecka, who beat Canada's Gabriel Diallo 6-4 6-2.
Top seed Carlos Alcaraz has been pushed all the way by fellow Spaniard Jaume Munar in a thrilling contest before clinching a 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 7-5 win and advancing to the Queen's Club Championships quarter-finals.
It was only 11 days ago when Alcaraz came out on top in his epic five-and-a-half hour French Open final against Jannik Sinner, and while this second round clash in London may not have reached those same dizzying heights on the hottest day of the year, the British crowd were still served up an enthralling battle on Thursday.
The world No.2 was never quite at his stellar best and was a break down in the deciding set -- but he showed his strength of will once more, stretching his winning run to 15 matches, the longest streak of his career, after a marathon three-hour 23 minute duel.
"3:30 hours? Were we on clay?" scribbled Alcaraz on the TV camera lens after being relieved to get through.
"It was a really tough battle that we had today," he added on the court.
"He's a great competitor and he showed how difficult it is to beat him."
Alcaraz, the 2023 champion, looked well in control as he eased to take the opening set, and after saving four break and set points at 5-4 down in the second he forced Munar to a tiebreaker.
The pair traded early breaks with neither player holding serve over the first four points, before a Munar double fault allowed Alcaraz to take a 5-4 lead. He smashed an ace but then hit a double fault of his own on match point.
Munar made him pay this time to force a deciding set.
After Alcaraz went 2-0 up, the French Open champion was broken in his next two service games and Munar grasped a 4-2 lead.
But Alcaraz was not done yet, and two more breaks of serve sealed a hard-earned victory as he continued his preparations for Wimbledon, where the Spaniard will be aiming to complete a hat-trick of triumphs.
"I'm proud of the level I showed today. It's just my second match on grass this year," Alcaraz said.
"There were moments I struggled a lot mentally and physically. I still don't know how I'm standing here. But I'm really happy I've given myself another chance in the quarter-finals."
Alcaraz will face either French lucky loser Arthur Rinderknech or American Reilly Opelka next up.
British No.2 Jacob Fearnley reached his first ATP Tour quarter-final with a 6-3 2-6 6-2 win over French qualifier Corentin Moutet, and will next face Alex de Minaur's Czech conqueror Jiri Lehecka, who beat Canada's Gabriel Diallo 6-4 6-2.
Top seed Carlos Alcaraz has been pushed all the way by fellow Spaniard Jaume Munar in a thrilling contest before clinching a 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 7-5 win and advancing to the Queen's Club Championships quarter-finals.
It was only 11 days ago when Alcaraz came out on top in his epic five-and-a-half hour French Open final against Jannik Sinner, and while this second round clash in London may not have reached those same dizzying heights on the hottest day of the year, the British crowd were still served up an enthralling battle on Thursday.
The world No.2 was never quite at his stellar best and was a break down in the deciding set -- but he showed his strength of will once more, stretching his winning run to 15 matches, the longest streak of his career, after a marathon three-hour 23 minute duel.
"3:30 hours? Were we on clay?" scribbled Alcaraz on the TV camera lens after being relieved to get through.
"It was a really tough battle that we had today," he added on the court.
"He's a great competitor and he showed how difficult it is to beat him."
Alcaraz, the 2023 champion, looked well in control as he eased to take the opening set, and after saving four break and set points at 5-4 down in the second he forced Munar to a tiebreaker.
The pair traded early breaks with neither player holding serve over the first four points, before a Munar double fault allowed Alcaraz to take a 5-4 lead. He smashed an ace but then hit a double fault of his own on match point.
Munar made him pay this time to force a deciding set.
After Alcaraz went 2-0 up, the French Open champion was broken in his next two service games and Munar grasped a 4-2 lead.
But Alcaraz was not done yet, and two more breaks of serve sealed a hard-earned victory as he continued his preparations for Wimbledon, where the Spaniard will be aiming to complete a hat-trick of triumphs.
"I'm proud of the level I showed today. It's just my second match on grass this year," Alcaraz said.
"There were moments I struggled a lot mentally and physically. I still don't know how I'm standing here. But I'm really happy I've given myself another chance in the quarter-finals."
Alcaraz will face either French lucky loser Arthur Rinderknech or American Reilly Opelka next up.
British No.2 Jacob Fearnley reached his first ATP Tour quarter-final with a 6-3 2-6 6-2 win over French qualifier Corentin Moutet, and will next face Alex de Minaur's Czech conqueror Jiri Lehecka, who beat Canada's Gabriel Diallo 6-4 6-2.
Top seed Carlos Alcaraz has been pushed all the way by fellow Spaniard Jaume Munar in a thrilling contest before clinching a 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 7-5 win and advancing to the Queen's Club Championships quarter-finals.
It was only 11 days ago when Alcaraz came out on top in his epic five-and-a-half hour French Open final against Jannik Sinner, and while this second round clash in London may not have reached those same dizzying heights on the hottest day of the year, the British crowd were still served up an enthralling battle on Thursday.
The world No.2 was never quite at his stellar best and was a break down in the deciding set -- but he showed his strength of will once more, stretching his winning run to 15 matches, the longest streak of his career, after a marathon three-hour 23 minute duel.
"3:30 hours? Were we on clay?" scribbled Alcaraz on the TV camera lens after being relieved to get through.
"It was a really tough battle that we had today," he added on the court.
"He's a great competitor and he showed how difficult it is to beat him."
Alcaraz, the 2023 champion, looked well in control as he eased to take the opening set, and after saving four break and set points at 5-4 down in the second he forced Munar to a tiebreaker.
The pair traded early breaks with neither player holding serve over the first four points, before a Munar double fault allowed Alcaraz to take a 5-4 lead. He smashed an ace but then hit a double fault of his own on match point.
Munar made him pay this time to force a deciding set.
After Alcaraz went 2-0 up, the French Open champion was broken in his next two service games and Munar grasped a 4-2 lead.
But Alcaraz was not done yet, and two more breaks of serve sealed a hard-earned victory as he continued his preparations for Wimbledon, where the Spaniard will be aiming to complete a hat-trick of triumphs.
"I'm proud of the level I showed today. It's just my second match on grass this year," Alcaraz said.
"There were moments I struggled a lot mentally and physically. I still don't know how I'm standing here. But I'm really happy I've given myself another chance in the quarter-finals."
Alcaraz will face either French lucky loser Arthur Rinderknech or American Reilly Opelka next up.
British No.2 Jacob Fearnley reached his first ATP Tour quarter-final with a 6-3 2-6 6-2 win over French qualifier Corentin Moutet, and will next face Alex de Minaur's Czech conqueror Jiri Lehecka, who beat Canada's Gabriel Diallo 6-4 6-2.
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La Rochelle surprisingly missing the Top 14 finals means Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt will have Skelton for a full preparation rather than being parachuted in just before a Test. His French form has been down which meant his Test selection was no guarantee but his formidable experience and stature - 203cm and 145kg - made him hard to ignore."I don't think you're ever sure (about selection). You can have conversations with the coaches throughout that time, but you never know," Skelton said. "It's probably my first time in a while that I've been selected in the squad and been able to relish that moment beforehand. "To be able to prep well with the boys in the first campaign of 2025, I think that's really special and I'll keep that close to my heart." Skelton had praise for Wallabies squad newcomer Nick Champion de Crespigny, with the pair going back to Shute Shield days while the Force star also played against in the Top 14. "I played with him at Sydney Uni actually. At training he'd always put shots on, so I'll be watching out for him in camp and hopefully he doesn't hurt me before the games come," said Skelton, who was the Test captain at the 2023 World Cup in France. "He's always has that drive. He was always a worker .… and I saw in France that he had what it took."He'd be real physical in those games and his ruck work was outstanding so for him to be back and getting into the squad, it's a really proud moment for him and his family and it's well deserved." Already boasting a bulging trophy cabinet, Wallabies giant Will Skelton says a series triumph over the British and Irish Lions will the "pinnacle" of his rugby career. The 33-year-old was the only overseas-based player included as Australia prepare to warm up for the northern hemisphere tourists with a Test against Fiji in Newcastle on July 6. It will be Skelton's first Lions campaign, only facing them during the last series in 2013 with the Waratahs as a rookie 21-year-old. He has amassed a Super Rugby title with NSW, is a four-time European champion, and won two English premiership trophies with Saracens and two Top 14 gongs with his French club La Rochelle but says the Lions series is something special. "I was very raw, I didn't understand the magnitude of the (Lions) tour as I do now with all the experience I've had," Skelton said in Sydney. "It's a massive, massive occasion for rugby and especially rugby in Australia ... it will be the pinnacle. "It's very special and a lot of players have been putting their hand up to try and play in those games." La Rochelle surprisingly missing the Top 14 finals means Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt will have Skelton for a full preparation rather than being parachuted in just before a Test. His French form has been down which meant his Test selection was no guarantee but his formidable experience and stature - 203cm and 145kg - made him hard to ignore."I don't think you're ever sure (about selection). You can have conversations with the coaches throughout that time, but you never know," Skelton said. "It's probably my first time in a while that I've been selected in the squad and been able to relish that moment beforehand. "To be able to prep well with the boys in the first campaign of 2025, I think that's really special and I'll keep that close to my heart." Skelton had praise for Wallabies squad newcomer Nick Champion de Crespigny, with the pair going back to Shute Shield days while the Force star also played against in the Top 14. "I played with him at Sydney Uni actually. At training he'd always put shots on, so I'll be watching out for him in camp and hopefully he doesn't hurt me before the games come," said Skelton, who was the Test captain at the 2023 World Cup in France. "He's always has that drive. He was always a worker .… and I saw in France that he had what it took."He'd be real physical in those games and his ruck work was outstanding so for him to be back and getting into the squad, it's a really proud moment for him and his family and it's well deserved."
