World number two Carlos Alcaraz battled through soaring temperatures and a spirited challenge from Jaume Munar to reach the quarter-finals of the Queen’s Club Championships.
The Spaniard triumphed 6-4, 6-7 (7-9), 7-5 in a physically demanding contest that lasted three hours and 26 minutes.
Under intense heat more akin to a Spanish summer than a London afternoon, Alcaraz was pushed to the brink by his compatriot.
After winning the first set, he failed to convert two match points during the second-set tiebreak, including a double fault that handed Munar a lifeline.
In the final set, Alcaraz found himself a break down but mounted a determined comeback to secure victory.
The win marks Alcaraz’s 15th consecutive victory, the longest winning streak of his career to date.
It comes just over a week after his dramatic win at the French Open, where he saved three championship points in the final to defeat Jannik Sinner and retain his title.
Despite the switch from clay to grass, Alcaraz was drawn into a match of clay-court length and intensity.
The oppressive heat took a clear toll on both players, with signs of physical fatigue evident as the match wore on.
Alcaraz advances to the Queen’s Club quarter-finals as he continues preparations for Wimbledon.
After such a demanding encounter, questions will now turn to recovery and whether he can maintain his momentum as the tournament progresses.
Regardless, his performance again highlighted the grit, endurance, and resilience that have become hallmarks of his young career.
