Alcaraz wins Queen's Club final to roll into Wimbledon

LONDON: Top-seeded Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz claimed his second title at the Queen’s Club in London on Sunday, ahead of Wimbledon 2025 where he will be the two-time defending champion.

World No. 2 Alcaraz, who bagged his maiden grasscourt title at the same ATP 500 event in 2023, defeated Czechia’s Jiri Lehecka 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-2 inside a packed Andy Murray Arena to extend his unbeaten streak to 18 matches.

With his fourth title on grass, the 22-year-old Alcaraz also tied Rafael Nadal and Feliciano Lopez for the most titles amongst Spanish men on the surface in the Open Era.

Lehecka, bidding to become the first Czech to win the Queen’s title since Ivan Lendl in 1990, continued going toe-to-toe with the five-times Grand Slam champion and edged the second set tie-break with some clinical tennis.

Alcaraz had more in his locker though and forged 4-1 ahead in the decider as Lehecka’s level finally began to drop. He then broke the 23-year-old Lehecka’s serve again to complete victory, letting out a roar of a delight as Lehecka struck a backhand into the net.

While Alcaraz will be seeded number two at Wimbledon behind Jannik Sinner as he bids for a hat-trick of titles there, he will arrive in red-hot form and as overwhelming favourite.

He has won 27 of his 28 matches since April, his lone loss coming against Holger Rune in the Barcelona final, and Sunday’s win was his fifth title this year. Agencies

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