Carlos Alcaraz has expressed his contentment with being back in London, especially following his recent triumph at the French Open. The young Spanish tennis star made his return to competitive play at the Queen’s Club Championship, specifically during the first round on a rainy Tuesday afternoon, where he faced off against Adam Walton, an Australian lucky loser. In a match characterized by high stakes, Alcaraz emerged victorious with a score of 6-4, 7-6(4), showcasing his resilience as he battled through a tie-break to close out the match. Alcaraz’s performance, however, was not without its challenges; he managed to break Walton’s serve only once throughout the contest, forcing him to dig deep for the win.
After the match, Alcaraz took a moment to address the audience, expressing his joy at returning to the thriving city of London. He was particularly enthusiastic about competing on grass, a surface where he will soon pursue his ambition of clinching his third consecutive Wimbledon men’s singles title. “Good to be back here in London, back on the grass,” he stated, playfully correcting himself for mistakenly addressing the crowd as “Wimbledon,” instead of London at the outset of his speech. This light-hearted error brought laughter to the crowd, encapsulating his amiable personality.
Elaborating further on his experience, Alcaraz shared his feeling of being welcomed and loved in the city, declaring it a second home to him. He acknowledged the difficulty of transitioning from clay to grass, mentioning that the “first match on grass is never easy.” Nevertheless, he expressed satisfaction with his performance, highlighting that there are still numerous areas for improvement and development as he adjusts to the new surface. The Spanish star emphasized the need for mental resetting and physical rest following his French Open triumph, noting that the turnaround time to switch to grass was surprisingly short. “After the French Open, it’s just a week to switch to grass, so I don’t have too much time,” he shared.
Looking ahead, Alcaraz is set to meet Jaume Munar in the second round of the Queen’s Club Championship, raising expectations for how he will perform as he gears up for the prestigious Wimbledon tournament starting on June 30.
In another noteworthy match earlier that same day, British rising star Jack Draper had an impressive outing against American player Jenson Brooksby. Draper secured a decisive victory, winning 6-3, 6-1 at the newly rebranded Andy Murray Arena, the center court at Queen’s, named after the three-time Grand Slam champion who retired last year. Reflecting on his preparation, Draper admitted that it had not been ideal, with “a couple of niggles” affecting his training routine. Nevertheless, he mentioned that he was grateful to be competing on home turf, allowing him the comfort of sleeping in his own bed.
Draper expressed heartfelt admiration for Andy Murray, noting, “I definitely miss him on the Tour. Thank you Andy, this court deserves to be named after you.” The atmosphere in west London was electric, especially on that hot summer afternoon, further enhancing the excitement of the tournament.
As the competition at Queen’s unfolds, both Alcaraz and Draper have proven that they are more than ready to face the challenges leading up to Wimbledon. The buzz around the upcoming Grand Slam event is undoubtedly building, setting the stage for an exhilarating fortnight of tennis in July. Those eager to catch all the action of the 2025 tennis season can tune into TNT Sports and discover for live coverage.
