Carlos Alcaraz has given his verdict on matching a Rafael Nadal achievement with his latest title.
Returning to Queen’s this year, there were mixed expectations given he had enjoyed no grass-court preparation leading up to it.
Heading straight from the French Open final to Ibiza, his holiday dominated headlines, and perhaps detracted from the ease with which he acclimatised to this surface.
All in all, he swanned to the title. And, in doing so, has moved alongside the 22-time major winner.
Carlos Alcaraz matches Rafael Nadal achievement with Queen’s title
Speaking in his post-match interview, the Spaniard held his huge Queen’s trophy with pride.
The second of his career, Carlos Alcaraz’s stunning week of slowly improving tennis has given him the perfect preparation ahead of his Wimbledon title defence later this month.
And, he was celebrated further for managing to match a key Rafael Nadal achievement too with this latest title: a fourth on grass, as many as his legendary compatriot managed across an entire career.
Asked to comment on his latest triumph, Alcaraz noted: ‘Well, honestly, I don’t pay so much attention on that statistics. Obviously once I know them, obviously it’s pretty good, I’m not gonna lie, being the third Spanish player to achieve that. Achieve four tournaments on grass, I think it’s great to be with Rafa, to be with Feli, such great players from our country, from tennis.
‘I have done it in just 22. Sometimes you have to sit down and think a little bit about it and realize, okay, this is a great thing, and I appreciate that.
‘Hopefully now I will not stop here. Hopefully keep going. But it’s great stats to know.’
Alcaraz was told he copied one Nadal trait during the week, which helped to fix one weakness in his game.
Carlos Alcaraz’s road to the Queen’s title
Alcaraz’s road to the Queen’s final was one that started with a bit of upheaval, as his compatriot Alejandro Davidovich Fokina pulled out late. Instead, Australian Adam Walton took his place, and troubled the Spaniard at times despite losing in straight sets.
Next came by far the toughest test of his week, as another compatriot, Jaume Munar, pushed him to the brink.
Playing some of the best tennis of his life, whilst Alcaraz’s serve struggled, they fought deep into a third set, where the 22-year-old snatched victory late on.
Arthur Rinderknech was next up and posed little threat, before he then swept aside Roberto Bautista Agut in the semi-finals.
Jiri Lehecka awaited, fresh from defeating Alex De Minaur in the first round and the new world number four Jack Draper in his own backyard in the semis.
He was a little erratic at times throughout the final, but had to be in order to unsettle Alcaraz with heavy blows.
And, as he took the second set, it seemed to be working.
Alas, the fact that he could not really trouble the Alcaraz serve proved costly, as the five-time Grand Slam champion did not face a break point and ran away with the match in the third set.
