Queen's champion Alcaraz in the groove ahead of Wimbledon
Carlos Alcaraz warned his Wimbledon rivals that he "feels great" on grass after the world number two defied his own expectations by winning the Queen's Club title for a second time.
Alcaraz battled to a bruising 7-5, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2 victory over Czech world number 30 Jiri Lehecka in the final of the Wimbledon warm-up event on Sunday.
Advertisement
The 22-year-old has extended his career-best winning streak to 18 matches, putting him in the perfect position to defend his Wimbledon title.
Alcaraz has won the French Open, the Rome Masters and Queen's during his blistering run.
But the five-time Grand Slam champion had arrived in west London concerned about his ability to make the tricky transition from the clay-court season to the unique demands of the brief grass campaign.
Underling the difficulty of the task, Alcaraz is the first player to win Roland Garros and Queen's back to back since Rafael Nadal in 2008.
"I'm going to say it's really complicated, the switch from clay to grass in just few days, because that's the time I had before the tournament began, just two days of practising," Alcaraz said.
Advertisement
"So I came here with no expectations at all. I came here with a goal to play two or three matches, try to feel great on grass, and give myself the feedback of what I have to improve.
"But I got used to the grass really quick, and I'm really proud about it. My goal was complete, and I'm not talking about lifting the trophy or making the final.
"It was just to feel great, to feel really comfortable on grass once again."
For a player raised on the clay courts of Spain, Alcaraz has become a formidable force on the lawns of Queen's and Wimbledon.
He is only the third Spanish man to win four grass-court tournaments after Nadal and Feliciano Lopez.
Advertisement
"It's great to be with Rafa and Feli, such great players from our country," he said.
"Hopefully now I will not stop here. Hopefully keep going."
- 'I had so much hate' -
A key part of Alcaraz's winning formula is his ability to switch off from tennis after tournaments to ensure he is refreshed when he returns to the court.
The former world number one partied in Ibiza after his epic five-set French Open final triumph against Jannik Sinner earlier this month.
He won't have time for a similar holiday before Wimbledon starts on June 30, but he plans to relax as much as possible in London before focusing on his bid for a third successive All England Club crown.
Advertisement
"A lot of people ask me the same question: Are you going to go back to Ibiza? I wish! As I said, I'm a player who needs days off to enjoy, days for myself to spend with my friends, with my family, just to turn off my mind," he said.
"I can't go back home. I'm going to stay here in London, hopefully enjoy it a little bit, then be back and preparing Wimbledon the best way possible."
While Sinner crashed out in the Halle second round against Alexander Bublik this week, Alcaraz's success at Queen's moved his record since losing to David Goffin at the Miami Masters in March to a formidable 27-1.
Alcaraz believes that defeat was a transformative moment in his season.
Advertisement
"I had so much hate when I lost in Miami. A lot of people started to say 'What's going on with this guy. He just lost in the first round, and he didn't practice, he didn't go to the court'," Alcaraz said.
"I think that was the key, just to have five, six days off, not grabbing a racquet, not stepping on the court. Just go to vacation with my family, to turn off my mind, to think what should I have done better?
"I just got the joy back. I started to enjoy playing tennis again, realising what is the most important thing for me."
smg/ea
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Manchester City 6 Al Ain 0 – How good is Ait-Nouri? Will Guardiola avoid Real Madrid?
Manchester City defeated Al Ain 6-0 to set up a deciding group game against Juventus to determine which side will face Real Madrid in the Club World Cup last 16. Ilkay Gundogan put City ahead when his chip from the edge of the box ended in the back of the net and Claudio Echeverri made it two with his first goal for the club, a free-kick from about 20 yards. Advertisement Pep Guardiola's side were 3-0 by half-time when Erling Haaland scored a stoppage-time penalty and though Al Ain resisted for a long period of the second half, Gundogan got his second on 73 minutes, Oscar Bobb added a fifth on 84 minutes and Rayan Cherki a sixth on 89 minutes. Juventus and City, who had further chances, now have six points each and are level on goal difference but the Italian team have scored one more goal, meaning City must win on Thursday in Orlando to finish top and avoid the top team in group H, which at present is Real Madrid. Here The Athletic's Jordan Campbell explains the games key talking points. If it occurred to him, with so many bodies around him and such little time to get his shot away, that he could dink the keeper from eight yards out, then all you can do is applaud. In reality, he was probably more likely that he caught a glimpse of several white jerseys running in at the back post and saw fit to chip the ball into their general direction. For most players, neither would have registered as a possibility but Gundogan's cerebral play in the penalty area remains even at 34 years old. The finesse he showed with his weak foot earned applause from his team-mates, particularly Nico Gonzalez who looked like he had been expecting a rifled shot across goal. Most were, considering Gundogan had picked up a headed clearance and chopped onto his left foot to evade a defender and buy himself time to get a shot off. 💫 You saw Gundo's goal… now see it from ALL ANGLES! Watch the @FIFACWC | June 14 – July 13 | Every Game | Free | | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld #MCIAIN — DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) June 23, 2025 Gundogan's future has been the subject of speculation in the last week. Guardiola did not rule out an exit on Saturday, saying 'no news was good news' but admitting that he has to cut the size of his squad somehow. City have bled experience with the last two captains Kyle Walker and Kevin de Bruyne no longer involved (Walker was left at home after being sent on loan in January) and Rodri's injury keeping him out for so long. To lose Gundogan would be another big presence but gone and one that can still provide these flashes of brilliance, which he also showed on the last day of the season when he produced an overhead kick finish and a pirouette to win a penalty for the second goal. Out with the old and in with the… West Midlands wing-backs? That was the order of the day as Guardiola started with two former Wolves players on either flank. He stayed true to his word that he would change the entire team from the side that beat Wydad 2-0 but he also trialled a back three with new signing Rayan Ait-Nouri at left wing-back and Matheus Nunes on the other side. Advertisement Much like Tijjani Reijnders on Wednesday, this was a very strong debut in which his technical polish really came to the fore. There was a clear attempt from City to switch play to the wing-backs earlier in build-up as they were pinging diagonals to Ait-Nouri whenever they could. He is so direct and two-footed that Al Ain struggled to read whether he was going down the line or cutting inside. There is such unpredictability to his dribbling, which added a new dimension to City's attacks. In the first-half the two wing-backs combined when Nunes burst past his men and overhit a cross to the back post. Ait-Nouri retrieved the ball and skipped by two players as he drove into the box but slipped at the crucial moment. It was the only time his feet deserted him. In the second half he produced an outrageous nutmeg while running to keep the ball in play but he also had several jinking runs that nearly ended in a goalscoring opportunity, including a cross which would have found Erling Haaland had he expected the ball to be crossed so early. His addition should have Haaland licking his lips, though. Rather than having to find space in a crowded penalty area, the Algerian's quicker deliveries are likely to lead to more open chances for him. The 19-year-old Argentine was thrown in at the deep end five weeks ago when he was brought on for his debut to help save the day against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final. He had City's best chances of the game towards the final whistle but squandered them, leading to many questioning the decision to bring such a young player on in those circumstances. Guardiola defended it, pointing to the chances as evidence his movement in tight areas was effective to impact such a high level game. After sitting out the opening game at this competition, Echeverri was given a start playing off Haaland. 27′ GOLAZOOOOO @ManCity ECHEVERRI scores his FIRST for Man City — a stunning free kick masterclass! 🎯⚽ Watch the @FIFACWC | June 14 – July 13 | Every Game | Free | | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld #MCIAIN — DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) June 23, 2025 He is still raw but he fizzed around relentlessly for 45 minutes and scored a well taken free-kick to make it 2-0, gently curling the ball over the wall. He has had to bide his time since he was signed in January 2024 from River Plate and loaned back for 18 months but he is being given the chance to impress now. A goal will have helped his case, even if he does have to improve his awareness at times to avoid being dispossessed with his back to goal. With Guardiola looking to cut numbers from his squad, it remains to be seen what the plan is for him but he has the quality of the ball always seemingly coming to him inside the penalty area, which is something that does not happen by chance. Thursday, June 26: Juventus, Club World Cup group stage (Orlando), 3pm ET, 8pm UK Thursday, June 26: Wydad, Club World Cup group stage (Washington), 3pm ET, 8pm UK
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
🚨Line-ups announced for Manchester City v Al Ain
Manchester City will take action in the second matchday of the Club World Cup against Al Ain, with the mission of obtaining the three points that will allow them to fight for first place in Group G. However, they will have to overcome their test with ease after Juventus' 4-1 thrashing of Wydad AC in their match today. Manchester City's XI Al Ain's XI Don't miss the details of the match with OneFootball. Advertisement This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here. 📸 CHARLY TRIBALLEAU - AFP or licensors
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Queen's champion Alcaraz in the groove ahead of Wimbledon
Carlos Alcaraz warned his Wimbledon rivals that he "feels great" on grass after the world number two defied his own expectations by winning the Queen's Club title for a second time. Alcaraz battled to a bruising 7-5, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2 victory over Czech world number 30 Jiri Lehecka in the final of the Wimbledon warm-up event on Sunday. Advertisement The 22-year-old has extended his career-best winning streak to 18 matches, putting him in the perfect position to defend his Wimbledon title. Alcaraz has won the French Open, the Rome Masters and Queen's during his blistering run. But the five-time Grand Slam champion had arrived in west London concerned about his ability to make the tricky transition from the clay-court season to the unique demands of the brief grass campaign. Underling the difficulty of the task, Alcaraz is the first player to win Roland Garros and Queen's back to back since Rafael Nadal in 2008. "I'm going to say it's really complicated, the switch from clay to grass in just few days, because that's the time I had before the tournament began, just two days of practising," Alcaraz said. Advertisement "So I came here with no expectations at all. I came here with a goal to play two or three matches, try to feel great on grass, and give myself the feedback of what I have to improve. "But I got used to the grass really quick, and I'm really proud about it. My goal was complete, and I'm not talking about lifting the trophy or making the final. "It was just to feel great, to feel really comfortable on grass once again." For a player raised on the clay courts of Spain, Alcaraz has become a formidable force on the lawns of Queen's and Wimbledon. He is only the third Spanish man to win four grass-court tournaments after Nadal and Feliciano Lopez. Advertisement "It's great to be with Rafa and Feli, such great players from our country," he said. "Hopefully now I will not stop here. Hopefully keep going." - 'I had so much hate' - A key part of Alcaraz's winning formula is his ability to switch off from tennis after tournaments to ensure he is refreshed when he returns to the court. The former world number one partied in Ibiza after his epic five-set French Open final triumph against Jannik Sinner earlier this month. He won't have time for a similar holiday before Wimbledon starts on June 30, but he plans to relax as much as possible in London before focusing on his bid for a third successive All England Club crown. Advertisement "A lot of people ask me the same question: Are you going to go back to Ibiza? I wish! As I said, I'm a player who needs days off to enjoy, days for myself to spend with my friends, with my family, just to turn off my mind," he said. "I can't go back home. I'm going to stay here in London, hopefully enjoy it a little bit, then be back and preparing Wimbledon the best way possible." While Sinner crashed out in the Halle second round against Alexander Bublik this week, Alcaraz's success at Queen's moved his record since losing to David Goffin at the Miami Masters in March to a formidable 27-1. Alcaraz believes that defeat was a transformative moment in his season. Advertisement "I had so much hate when I lost in Miami. A lot of people started to say 'What's going on with this guy. He just lost in the first round, and he didn't practice, he didn't go to the court'," Alcaraz said. "I think that was the key, just to have five, six days off, not grabbing a racquet, not stepping on the court. Just go to vacation with my family, to turn off my mind, to think what should I have done better? "I just got the joy back. I started to enjoy playing tennis again, realising what is the most important thing for me." smg/ea
