ATP Tour

Alcaraz on deep Queen's run: I'll take all the matches I can get

Carlos Alcaraz was very frustrated with his serve after Thursday’s win over Jaume Munar. Therefore, the No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings woke up on Friday determined to pay close attention to his delivery during the warm-up for his quarter-final clash.

The Spaniard asked Fran Rubio, one of his physios, to stand at the net so he could dial in his aim a few hours before taking to the centre court at the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club in search of a place in the semi-finals.

“As I said yesterday, in today’s warm-up I was really going to focus on my serve so that I could do it as well as possible in the match, and I don’t think it could have gone any better,” explained Alcaraz after defeating Arthur Rinderknech in two sets.

“My serve was a really important weapon today and one of the keys to victory,” continued the Spaniard, who ended the match with 60 per cent of first serves in, of which he won 92 per cent of points, including eight aces.

By progressing to the semi-finals at Queen’s Club, Alcaraz extended his winning streak to 16 matches and improved his career record on grass to 27-3. After 30 matches on grass courts and just three defeats (with two titles at Wimbledon and one at Queen’s), it could be said that the 22-year-old enjoys himself on the surface like few others.

“Enjoyment and suffering, it’s a bit of everything,” explained the Spaniard. “Ultimately, it’s a surface we don’t play many matches on each year and you have to learn from every experience on it, from every match you play.

“Every player is different, with a different style, especially on grass. So, you have to keep learning and getting to know yourself; what suits you and what doesn’t. And that’s what we’re doing. We’re growing, we’re getting to know ourselves and, above all, you have to keep learning, even when the numbers are in your favour. You have to keep learning in every situation possible.”

Of course, although Alcaraz is in London, he has one eye on the goings-on in Halle, where Alexander Bublik sprung a surprise on Jannik Sinner on Thursday. According to the Spaniard though, from his personal experience, the World No. 1 should not be worried.

“Honestly, not at all,” he said. “Last year I lost in the second round and then Wimbledon went very well. Whether or not you do well at the previous tournament doesn’t mean you’ll do better or worse later. You always have to be positive. Right now he’ll have time to rest, to practise, to prepare well for Wimbledon.

“In my case, the more matches I play, the more feeling of competition I’ll have in my body for Wimbledon. Above all, I’ll have more feedback for Wimbledon on what I need to improve.”

Alcaraz won Queen’s in 2023, taking down Alex de Minaur in the final, before going on to claim his first Wimbledon title at the All England Tennis Club.