Carlos Alcaraz held off a fearless challenge from Jiri Lehecka to defend his Queen’s Club crown, sealing a hard-fought 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-2 victory and sounding an ominous warning to the rest of the Wimbledon field.
The 22-year-old Spaniard was pushed to the brink by the big-hitting Czech, but once again rose to the occasion under pressure, extending his grass-court winning streak to 18 matches.
Two years ago, Alcaraz lifted the Queen’s trophy before going on to win his first Wimbledon title, and his latest triumph shows he’s peaking at just the right time once again. His win over Lehecka marked his 21st career title and showcased the grit behind the glamour.
Lehecka, bidding to become the first Czech winner at Queen’s since Ivan Lendl in 1990, matched Alcaraz blow for blow in the first two sets. At 5-5 in the opening set, though, the top seed pounced, securing the crucial break and riding his serve to take the set in 45 minutes.
The 23-year-old Lehecka refused to fade. He held his nerve in a tight second set and unleashed a string of winners to edge the tiebreak 7-5, sending the match into a decisive third.
But it was in the decider where Alcaraz shifted gears. He raced to a 4-1 lead as Lehecka’s intensity dipped, then broke once more to close out the match, letting out a guttural roar as a backhand error sealed his title defense.
Alcaraz did not face a single break point across the match and fired 18 aces, a remarkable stat on grass that underlines his evolution on the surface.
With Wimbledon just a week away, the defending champion now heads to SW19 full of confidence and with a target on his back.
