Carlos Alcaraz strikes fear into Wimbledon rivals | Sports News

Carlos Alcaraz, the reigning Wimbledon champion, is favored to retain his title after a profitable warm-up on the HSBC Championships. Despite going through a difficult grasscourt match towards Jiri Lehecka, Alcaraz emerged victorious with a rating of 7-5 6-7 6-2.

The closing was reminiscent of the high-quality French Open closing towards Jannik Sinner earlier this month, the place Alcaraz additionally triumphed. Lehecka, who defeated Brits Jacob Fearnley and Jack Draper to succeed in his first grasscourt closing, put up a robust battle.

Alcaraz goes into Wimbledon as a heavy favourite contemplating the nature of his win at Roland Garros, coming from behind to beat Sinner. He solely added to that type with a pretty comfy match at Queens.

The Spanish celebrity’s distinctive serving expertise had been on full show as he misplaced solely two factors on his highly effective first serve within the opening set and didn’t face a break level.

The five-time Grand Slam champion demonstrated his prowess within the closing set, securing his second title at Queen’s Club and setting himself up for Wimbledon on June 30 with an 18-match successful streak. Alcaraz has now reached 5 consecutive finals and boasts a report of 27-1 since April, together with his solely loss coming towards Holger Rune within the Barcelona closing.

His post-Paris break in Ibiza, the place he partied with Spurs defender Sergio Reguilon, proved to be the proper preparation for the 22 yr outdated. He needed all his power for the entertaining closing.

At 2-2 within the first set, Lehecka saved the primary break level of the match with a 138mph ace. The world No. 30 regarded poised to make his transfer when he went 0-30 up with Alcaraz serving at 4-5 down. However, the five-time Grand Slam champion responded by successful 12 of the following 15 factors on the essential finish of the set.

First, he secured his serve with an ace, a forehand winner, and two service winners. At 5-5, the Spaniard compelled the primary break when Lehecka’s forehand hit the online, ending a baseline rally. Alcaraz wrapped up the primary set with a service winner on a second serve.

The second set was largely dictated by serve, however Lehecka had a vital alternative at 5-6 on the Alcaraz serve. The Czech participant delivered a highly effective forehand return deep into the courtroom, which the Spaniard may solely reply to with a backhand half volley. Lehecka rushed ahead to the short ball however despatched his forehand over the baseline.

DON’T MISS

Until the second set tiebreak, Alcaraz had solely misplaced 10 factors on his serve. However, at 5-5 within the break, he dedicated a double fault, and Lehecka seized his first set level with a service winner. The match was tied after one hour and 41 minutes.

But Alcaraz demonstrated his talent within the closing set. He broke to steer 3-1 after his highly effective baseline hitting prompted a Lehecka forehand to hit the online.

And the Spaniard claimed his first Championship level after two hours and eight minutes when Lehecka drove a backhand into the online.