Alcaraz extends winning streak, Draper into semifinals at Queen's
LONDON: Carlos Alcaraz was relieved to overcome the challenge of Arthur Rinderknech in straight sets to reach the semifinals at Queen's Club and extend his career-best winning streak to 16 matches on Friday.
In his first tournament since winning the French Open in remarkable fashion against Jannik Sinner, the world No. 2 had been forced to come through a grueling three-set battle against Jaume Munar in Thursday's second round.
But Alcaraz was ruthless with his opportunities against world No. 80 Rinderknech as the Spaniard took his only two break point chances for a 7-5, 6-4 win inside 90 minutes on court.
'I thought I was going to feel much worse, but we are tennis players, we have to do whatever we have to do to feel good,' said Alcaraz after his three-and-a-half-hour battle against Munar.
'I'm glad that today was one hour and 20 minutes, a bit more like grass.'
Alcaraz, who won the Wimbledon warm-up event in 2023, will face Spanish compatriot Roberto Bautista Agut in Saturday's semifinals after he beat fourth seed Holger Rune 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (4/7), 6-2.
'I'm feeling great, and I'm just happy to play at such a good level today. It was a big challenge today, but I'm happy with the way I played and felt today,' added Alcaraz.
Jack Draper, who ended Alcaraz's defense at Queen's last year, reached the semifinals for the first time and secured a top-four seed at Wimbledon with a tense 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 win over American Brandon Nakashima.
The 23-year-old had twice lost in the last eight at Queen's, but now he is just two wins away from joining Andy Murray as only the second British champion at the tournament in the Open area.
Draper will move above Novak Djokovic and Taylor Fritz in the world rankings next week to a career-high of four.
That means at Wimbledon, which starts on June 30, Draper will avoid defending champion Alcaraz and world No. 1 Sinner until the semifinals.
'Last year I went there ranked 40th and now I'm fourth. To get to that position is an incredible feeling,' Draper said.
'It is testament to the work me and my team have done and I'm proud of that.'
Draper will face Jiri Lehecka in the last four on Saturday after the Czech world No. 30 beat beat British No. 2 Jacob Fearnley 7-5, 6-2.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
2 hours ago
- Arab News
Alcaraz sets up Queen's final clash with Lehecka
LONDON: Carlos Alcaraz reached the Queen's Club final for the second time as the world No. 2 eased to a 6-4, 6-4 win over Roberto Bautista Agut on Saturday. Alcaraz extended his career-best winning streak to 17 matches in a semifinal played in sweltering conditions at the Wimbledon warm-up event in west London. The five-time Grand Slam champion hit 36 winners and 15 aces to dispatch his fellow Spaniard in 90 minutes. Top seeded Alcaraz will face Jiri Lehecka in Sunday's final after the Czech world No. 30's shock 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 win against British star Jack Draper in the other semifinal. Playing his first tournament since his epic French Open victory against Jannik Sinner two weeks ago, the 22-year-old is through to his fifth successive final after lifting titles on clay in Paris, Rome, Barcelona and Monte Carlo. Alcaraz signalled his emergence as a grass-court force by winning Queen's in 2023, clinching the Wimbledon title for the first time just weeks later and defending his All England Club crown last year. He is one victory away from becoming only the second Spaniard to win Queen's twice, after Feliciano Lopez's victories in 2017 and 2019. 'I'm playing great tennis. After every match I'm feeling more comfortable. Making the final here is so special once again,' Alcaraz said. 'I love making the crowds enjoy watching my games. Whenever I put a smile on my face I play my best tennis. 'I try to have fun and bring joy on the court. That is why I'm making good results.' Alcaraz wasted little time taking control against Bautista Agut, unfurling a deft drop-shot to break in the third game of the match. That was all the encouragement Alcaraz needed as he held serve with ease to close out the first set. Bautista Agut, 37, enjoyed a surprise win over Danish fourth seed Holger Rune in the last eight. But Alcaraz never looked like suffering the same fate and he delivered the knockout blow in the second set. A whipped forehand down the line earned a break-point that he converted to move 3-2 ahead. The nerveless Alcaraz finished off the win in typically ruthless fashion to the delight of the fans waving Spanish flags to salute their hero. Earlier, Lehecka ended Draper's bid for a maiden Queen's final appearance. Lehecka, who will be playing in his first ATP grass-court final, is the first Czech to reach the men's title match at Queen's since Ivan Lendl lifted the trophy in 1990. The 23-year-old said: 'It means a lot. You don't meet a player like Jack every day, he's an amazing competitor.' Draper was hoping to become the first British singles champion at Queen's since five-time winner Andy Murray's most recent victory in 2016. But the world No. 6 will have to wait at least another year to get his hands on the silverware after claiming a bout of tonsillitis played a role in his defeat. 'I haven't felt good all week. I'm proud of the way I went about things, considering, but it's tough,' he said. 'You're an entertainer, an athlete, and you have no choice. No one cares, you know. So you've just got to go out there and do the best you can. 'Today's probably the worst I've felt. Did I think about withdrawing? No, not at all. I'm in the semifinals at Queen's. I'd probably go on court with a broken leg.' Lehecka had already ended the hopes of one Briton at Queen's after beating Jacob Fearnley in the quarter-finals on Friday. He also defeated world number 12 Alex de Minaur in his opening match of the tournament, but knocking out Draper was his biggest scalp yet.
Arab News
9 hours ago
- Arab News
Medvedev defeats old rival Zverev to reach Halle Open final, Bublik awaits
HALLE, Germany: Daniil Medvedev ended home favorite Alexander Zverev's hopes of grass-court glory with a 7-6 (3), 6-7 (1), 6-4 win in their Halle Open semifinal on Saturday. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport Medvedev recovered from squandering three match points on Zverev's serve at 5-6 in the second set and took nearly 3 hours to get past his old rival and reach his first final in 15 months. 'I could have done much better when I had the break in the second but it is normal,' Medvedev said. 'The same happened in the third set that when I had the break, he started playing better, returning better. I am happy that in the third set I managed to stay more composed and managed to save those break points.' It's Medvedev's fourth consecutive win over Zverev and it extended his lead to 13-7 in their head-to-head series. The Russian player will face Alexander Bublik — who beat top-ranked Jannik Sinner in the second round — in Sunday's final. Bublik, the 2023 champion, fired 18 aces as he defeated Karen Khachanov 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 in the other semifinal. Medvedev hasn't played a final since March 2024, when he lost to Carlos Alcaraz at Indian Wells. Zverev, who had been bidding to reach the Halle final for the third time, will have to wait for his first title on grass.
Al Arabiya
10 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Medvedev Defeats Old Rival Zverev To Reach Halle Open Final, Bublik Awaits
Daniil Medvedev ended home favorite Alexander Zverev's hopes of grass-court glory with a 7–6 (3), 6–7 (1), 6–4 win in their Halle Open semifinal on Saturday. Medvedev recovered from squandering three match points on Zverev's serve at 5–6 in the second set and took nearly 3 hours to get past his old rival and reach his first final in 15 months. 'I could have done much better when I had the break in the second, but it is normal,' Medvedev said. 'The same happened in the third set that when I had the break he started playing better, returning better. I am happy that in the third set I managed to stay more composed and managed to save those break points.' It's Medvedev's fourth consecutive win over Zverev, and it extended his lead to 13–7 in their head-to-head series. The Russian player will face Alexander Bublik – who beat top-ranked Jannik Sinner in the second round – in Sunday's final. Bublik, the 2023 champion, fired 18 aces as he defeated Karen Khachanov 4–6, 7–6 (5), 6–4 in the other semifinal. Medvedev hasn't played a final since March 2024, when he lost to Carlos Alcaraz at Indian Wells. Zverev, who had been bidding to reach the Halle final for the third time, will have to wait for his first title on grass.
