LONDON – Carlos Alcaraz won Sunday’s Queen’s Club Championships final for his first ATP title on grass and reclaimed the top spot, ensuring he competes as No. 1 at Wimbledon next month.
Despite struggling at times in the first set, Alcaraz defeated Alex De Minaur 6-4, 6-4 to claim his fifth title of the year and eleventh overall.
With that, the 20-year-old Spaniard moved ahead of Novak Djokovic in the rankings and confirmed that the US Open champion is a serious contender for the Serb’s crown at Wimbledon. Alcaraz lost to Jannik Sinner in the fourth round last year.
“The odds don’t change that much. I mean, Novak is coming to Wimbledon,” Alcaraz said. “Right now I’m better than at the beginning of the week, that’s for sure.
“Obviously it gives you extra motivation to reclaim the number 1 before Wimbledon, it gives you extra confidence going to Wimbledon. But it doesn’t change too much if I play Wimbledon as No. 2 or No. 1.
Sunday’s final was Alcaraz’s first on grass, it was only the third tournament of his young career on grass.
He had to fend off two break points in game eight of the first set, got defensive in the next game and then served out for the set.
Alcaraz won the only break point of the second set when De Minaur made a double fault and secured the title with his first match point when the Australian sent in a long return.
“It means a lot to me to have my name on the trophy,” said Alcaraz. “It was special to play here where so many legends have won. It’s amazing to see my name surrounded by the great champions.”
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