Latest news with #AdamWalton
RTHK
3 days ago
- Sport
- RTHK
Alcaraz kicks off grass season with win in Queen's
Alcaraz kicks off grass season with win in Queen's Alcaraz with Australia's Adam Walton after winning his opening match at the Queen's in London. Photo: Reuters Carlos Alcaraz came through a testing first-round match against Adam Walton at the Queen's Club Championships, as the top seed returned to action for the first time since his dramatic French Open triumph. But two of the world's top 10 crashed out as Americans Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton lost to French duo Corentin Moutet and Arthur Rinderknech respectively. Alcaraz, back on grass for the first time since winning his second Wimbledon title last year, beat his 86th-ranked opponent 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) on a sweaty day in west London. The Spaniard, who overcame Jannik Sinner in a five-set thriller at Roland Garros just nine days ago, broke in the seventh game and went on to clinch the first set against lucky loser Walton, who replaced Alejandro Davidovich Fokina after he withdrew due to illness. The 2023 Queen's champion appeared to have found his rhythm only for Walton to rally impressively, carving out two set points on his opponent's serve in the 10th game. But the Australian failed to convert either of them and Alcaraz levelled, coming out on top in the subsequent tie-break. "First match on grass is never easy to get used to the competition again, to get used to the grass again," he said. "So, I just want to say thank you for helping me a little bit." The world number two faces compatriot Jaume Munar in the last 16. World number four Fritz failed to convert a match point against Moutet before losing 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (9/7), 7-5. Moutet held on in the second set tie-break before securing the only break of serve in the match in the final game. Sheldon also stumbled to a shock early exit to Rinderknech in two tie-breaks 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/4). Earlier, British second seed Jack Draper dispatched American Jenson Brooksby 6-3, 6-1 to reach the second round. The left-hander, who has previously beaten Sinner and Alcaraz at Queen's, won 93 percent of first-serve points and did not face a break point in a dominant display. Draper is chasing his second title on grass after winning in Stuttgart last year, and will next face Alexei Popyrin after the Australian beat compatriot Aleksandar Vukic. "Feels amazing, no place I'd rather be," said Draper. "We travel the world playing tennis, never get to come home or spend much time with my family but to be on this court in front of you guys, my people, my family, thank you." (AFP)
Forbes
3 days ago
- Sport
- Forbes
Alcaraz Brings Ibiza Sun To Queen's Club In First Round Win
Carlos Alcaraz is certainly a good advert for the power of R and R in Ibiza. He opened his 2025 grass court campaign at Queen's Club by beating lucky loser Adam Walton 6-4, 7-6 (4). Alcaraz's original opponent, compatriot Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, withdrew with illness just hours before the match. The Australian used the element of surprise to his advantage in an encounter that topped 100 minutes. The top seed sparkled sporadically in a tough two-setter with an opponent who just refused to fade away. Alcaraz wore his lucky black and white top from the French Open in temperatures that challenged the Balearic Islands for blistering heat if not beaches. There was at least one medical incident in the crowd during Jack Draper's victory that preceded this match. The 26-year-old from Brisbane stayed solid on his serve as the first six games were shared. Alcaraz pounced in the seventh, stepping into the ball and upping the intensity to force the break as his groundstrokes went through the gears and burnt the grass. The Spaniard produced some classic drop shots and touch, mixed in with transition rust after a clay-court swing that finished with that epic win over Jannik Sinner in Paris. He eventually broke with his third opportunity and the set was done. Walton wasn't going anywhere though. The Queenslander has been active on the Challenger Tour and had a head start on grass after taking Dan Evans to three sets at the Libema Open last week. He has also claimed a Wimbledon first-round win over Federico Coria in 2024 and was comfortable on the natural surface. Walton even threatened to take the match all the way as Alcaraz served at 4-5 and 15-40. The five-time major champion rediscovered his serve and precision at the right time to push through a tiebreak 7-4 and claim a place in the last 16. Alcaraz won the Queen's title in 2023 and within a month was lifting the Wimbledon trophy after an epic five-set tussle with Novak Djokovic. Twelve months later, he defended the title with a more emphatic straight sets win over Djokovic. The Murcia man has now found a love of grass although his free time choices between the clay and grass season have raised some eyebrows and voices among his team. Alcaraz's 72-hour 'Ibiza swing' is now a fixture after he temporarily relocated there in 2023 following his French Open semifinal collapse against the Serb. "I made the most of it because I knew I might not get another three days like that. When I got back, of course, I won Queen's and Wimbledon. I'm not saying partying helped me win, but taking that time off was good for me,' Alcaraz said in his Netflix documentary which aired in May. In 2024, Alcaraz returned with his brother and friends after his first Roland Garros triumph over Alexander Zverev. Agent Albert Molina Lopez and coach Juan Carlos Ferrero were not totally on board with this downtime and their charge duly lost in the second round at Queen's to Draper. The My Way docuseries was a fascinating insight into a player who could achieve anything he wanted. The question left hanging was how much he wanted it. It appears suboptimal to ask when the man in question has won five major finals and seven ATP Masters 1000 events. Ferrero was more forgiving of the third instalment of the Ibiza trilogy after the draining near six-hour epic against Sinner. He told his charge to go and enjoy himself, but to remember his status as a tennis player. Alcaraz has spoken up about the ever-increasing schedule of the ATP Tour, at one point suggesting that 'they are trying to kill us in some way.' With the tough love of Ferrero, it's a course that requires dedication to ensure the Spanish Armada doesn't drift off course when it hasn't got its guns facing in the right direction. The world No. 1 now faces fellow countryman Jaume Munar in the last 16. Munar beat him at the Andalucian Open in 2021 and has some form on the green patch, beating John Isner at Wimbledon in 2023 and taking Cameron Norrie to five sets the previous year. The Wimbledon champion thanked London in his post-match interview. The heat is on but he looks chilled enough to deal with anything right now. Thirty slams? Better to enjoy the moment as most 22-year-olds do.
Khaleej Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Alcaraz battles past lucky loser Walton to advance at Queen's Club
Top seed Carlos Alcaraz got his grasscourt campaign up and running with a 6-4 7-6(4) victory over Australian Adam Walton to move into the last 16 at the Queen's Club Championships on Tuesday. Playing in his first match since his epic 5-1/2 hour French Open final victory over world number one Jannik Sinner nine days ago, Alcaraz was tested by Walton who had set points in the second set before the Spaniard recovered and won the tiebreak. Alcaraz was meant to play compatriot Alejandro Davidovich Fokina but the Spaniard withdrew due to illness, giving lucky loser Walton the chance to play the French Open champion as he warmed up for his Wimbledon title defence. "I realised that I was going to play against Adam after my warm-up... He has played a few matches already before this one. I think he played really great tennis," said Alcaraz, the champion at Queen's Club in 2023. "It surprised me a little bit. So I knew that I was going to struggle a little bit today, but just really happy to get the win. "I feel super happy to be back on grass. It is a special surface, a special place to me." Walton is ranked number 86 in the world and the Australian did not seem overawed by the occasion as he showcased some attacking tennis to hold serve until Alcaraz finally got to grips with the surface and broke to take a 4-3 lead. Alcaraz used serve and volley to good effect, showing finesse with some exquisite drop shots while he was also virtually unstoppable on serve, sealing the opening set with an ace. But Walton held serve well in the second set and nearly broke Alcaraz with his first break points -- which were also set points -- when he was 5-4 up but the Spaniard held on. Once he forced a tiebreak, there was no looking back as Alcaraz wrapped up the contest. Earlier, second seed Jack Draper warmed up the home crowd when he claimed an impressive 6-3 6-1 victory over American Jenson Brooksby for his first win on grass this season. Draper had beaten defending champion Alcaraz in the second round last year and the Briton is hoping to improve on his quarter-final run. "It's tricky coming onto the grass after clay, to adapt, I'm hitting the ball a bit late, not on time," Draper said. "The more matches and time I have on practice courts, I'll get better and better. It's definitely a surface I really enjoy playing on." Australia's fifth seed Alex de Minaur also bowed out of the tournament after a 6-4 6-2 loss to Jiri Lehecka while Alexei Popyrin beat Aleksandar Vukic 6-2 6-7(9) 7-6(3) in an all-Australian battle. American sixth seed Ben Shelton, who had reached the semifinals in Stuttgart last week, was also knocked out in a 7-6(5) 7-6(4) loss to French qualifier Arthur Rinderknech.
CNA
3 days ago
- Sport
- CNA
Alcaraz battles past lucky loser Walton to advance at Queen's Club
LONDON :Top seed Carlos Alcaraz got his grasscourt campaign up and running with a 6-4 7-6(4) victory over Australian Adam Walton to move into the last 16 at the Queen's Club Championships on Tuesday. Playing in his first match since his epic 5-1/2 hour French Open final victory over world number one Jannik Sinner nine days ago, Alcaraz was tested by Walton who had set points in the second set before the Spaniard recovered and won the tiebreak. Alcaraz was meant to play compatriot Alejandro Davidovich Fokina but the Spaniard withdrew due to illness, giving lucky loser Walton the chance to play the French Open champion as he warmed up for his Wimbledon title defence. "I realised that I was going to play against Adam after my warm-up... He has played a few matches already before this one. I think he played really great tennis," said Alcaraz, the champion at Queen's Club in 2023. "It surprised me a little bit. So I knew that I was going to struggle a little bit today, but just really happy to get the win. "I feel super happy to be back on grass. It is a special surface, a special place to me." Walton is ranked number 86 in the world and the Australian did not seem overawed by the occasion as he showcased some attacking tennis to hold serve until Alcaraz finally got to grips with the surface and broke to take a 4-3 lead. Alcaraz used serve and volley to good effect, showing finesse with some exquisite drop shots while he was also virtually unstoppable on serve, sealing the opening set with an ace. But Walton held serve well in the second set and nearly broke Alcaraz with his first break points - which were also set points - when he was 5-4 up but the Spaniard held on. Once he forced a tiebreak, there was no looking back as Alcaraz wrapped up the contest. DRAPER ADVANCES Earlier, second seed Jack Draper warmed up the home crowd when he claimed an impressive 6-3 6-1 victory over American Jenson Brooksby for his first win on grass this season. Draper had beaten defending champion Alcaraz in the second round last year and the Briton is hoping to improve on his quarter-final run. "It's tricky coming onto the grass after clay, to adapt, I'm hitting the ball a bit late, not on time," Draper said. "The more matches and time I have on practice courts, I'll get better and better. It's definitely a surface I really enjoy playing on." Australia's fifth seed Alex de Minaur also bowed out of the tournament after a 6-4 6-2 loss to Jiri Lehecka while Alexei Popyrin beat Aleksandar Vukic 6-2 6-7(9) 7-6(3) in an all-Australian battle. American sixth seed Ben Shelton, who had reached the semi-finals in Stuttgart last week, was also knocked out in a 7-6(5) 7-6(4) loss to French qualifier Arthur Rinderknech.
Reuters
3 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Alcaraz battles past lucky loser Walton to advance at Queen's Club
LONDON, June 17 (Reuters) - Top seed Carlos Alcaraz got his grasscourt campaign up and running with a 6-4 7-6(4) victory over Australian Adam Walton to move into the last 16 at the Queen's Club Championships on Tuesday. Playing in his first match since his epic 5-1/2 hour French Open final victory over world number one Jannik Sinner nine days ago, Alcaraz was tested by Walton who had set points in the second set before the Spaniard recovered and won the tiebreak. Alcaraz was meant to play compatriot Alejandro Davidovich Fokina but the Spaniard withdrew due to illness, giving lucky loser Walton the chance to play the French Open champion as he warmed up for his Wimbledon title defence. "I realised that I was going to play against Adam after my warm-up... He has played a few matches already before this one. I think he played really great tennis," said Alcaraz, the champion at Queen's Club in 2023. "It surprised me a little bit. So I knew that I was going to struggle a little bit today, but just really happy to get the win. "I feel super happy to be back on grass. It is a special surface, a special place to me." Walton is ranked number 86 in the world and the Australian did not seem overawed by the occasion as he showcased some attacking tennis to hold serve until Alcaraz finally got to grips with the surface and broke to take a 4-3 lead. Alcaraz used serve and volley to good effect, showing finesse with some exquisite drop shots while he was also virtually unstoppable on serve, sealing the opening set with an ace. But Walton held serve well in the second set and nearly broke Alcaraz with his first break points -- which were also set points -- when he was 5-4 up but the Spaniard held on. Once he forced a tiebreak, there was no looking back as Alcaraz wrapped up the contest. Earlier, second seed Jack Draper warmed up the home crowd when he claimed an impressive 6-3 6-1 victory over American Jenson Brooksby for his first win on grass this season. Draper had beaten defending champion Alcaraz in the second round last year and the Briton is hoping to improve on his quarter-final run. "It's tricky coming onto the grass after clay, to adapt, I'm hitting the ball a bit late, not on time," Draper said. "The more matches and time I have on practice courts, I'll get better and better. It's definitely a surface I really enjoy playing on." Australia's fifth seed Alex de Minaur also bowed out of the tournament after a 6-4 6-2 loss to Jiri Lehecka while Alexei Popyrin beat Aleksandar Vukic 6-2 6-7(9) 7-6(3) in an all-Australian battle. American sixth seed Ben Shelton, who had reached the semi-finals in Stuttgart last week, was also knocked out in a 7-6(5) 7-6(4) loss to French qualifier Arthur Rinderknech.
