Latest news with #JaumeMunar
CNN
2 hours ago
- Sport
- CNN
‘I still don't know how I'm standing': Carlos Alcaraz comes through brutal three-and-a-half-hour epic at Queen's Club
Carlos Alcaraz overcame an inspired opponent and the sweltering London heat to reach the quarterfinal at Queen's, beating compatriot Jaume Munar 6-4, 6-7(9), 7-5 in an epic contest that lasted three hours and 23 minutes. It was the longest match at the west London tournament, a prestigious warm-up event for Wimbledon, since 1991 and led to Alcaraz wryly writing on the camera lens after his win: 'Were we on clay?' It was far from Alcaraz's most distinguished performances as the Spaniard struggled with his serve all match and hit a whopping 53 unforced errors. Alcaraz could – and perhaps should – have ended the match much sooner but doubled faulted on match point when serving at 6-4 in the second-set tiebreak. The 22-year-old, who recently won his fifth grand slam by coming from two sets down to beat Jannik Sinner in the longest French Open final in history, then had to fight back from 4-2 down in the third set, eventually sealing the win on his third match point. 'Jaume is a great competitor,' Alcaraz told the BBC. 'I think you saw today how difficult it is to beat him. There were a lot of things going on in the match, but I'm just really, really happy. 'In the third set, there was a moment where I struggled a lot mentally, physically. Honestly, I still don't know how I'm standing here, but I'm just really, really proud and happy to give myself another chance to work harder.' Alcaraz, who extends his winning streak to a career-best 15 matches, admitted that even he didn't know how he came through that match, a similar sentiment to the one he shared after beating Sinner in Paris. 'I just kept fighting,' Alcaraz said. 'I guess I didn't give up. Honestly, I could show that I was out mentally, but I stayed there, I tried to fight. But, as I said, I still don't know.' While Alcaraz is rightly considered a clay-court phenom, he is proving to be just as adept on the faster grass and now boasts a 22-1 record on the surface since 2023, per the ATP, including the Queen's title last year and back-to-back Wimbledon triumphs. Elsewhere, beaten French Open finalist Jannik Sinner was stunned by world No. 45 Alexander Bublik in the second round of Halle in Germany. The Kazakh won 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to end Sinner's reign as Halle's defending champion and earn his first career win over a world No. 1. The shocking win caused Bublik to comment on an Instagram Reel of his win: 'I got him guys.'
Khaleej Times
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Alcaraz overcomes Munar marathon to reach Queen's quarters
Top seed Carlos Alcaraz was pushed all the way by fellow-Spaniard Jaume Munar in a thrilling contest before clinching a 6-4 6-7(7) 7-5 win and advanced to the Queen's Club Championships quarterfinals on Thursday. Alcaraz recently came out on top in an epic French Open final against Jannik Sinner, and while this second round clash in London may not have reached those same dizzying heights, the British crowd were served up an enthralling battle. The world number two was a break down in the deciding set but showed his strength once more as Alcaraz stretched his winning run to 15 matches, the longest streak of his career. "It was a really tough battle that we had today," Alcaraz said after more than three hours on court. "He's a great competitor and he showed how difficult it is to beat him." Alcaraz, the 2023 champion, looked well in control as he eased to take the opening set, and after saving four break and set points at 5-4 down in the second he forced Munar to a tiebreaker. The pair traded early breaks with neither player holding serve over the first four points, before a Munar double fault allowed Alcaraz to take a 5-4 lead. He smashed an ace but then hit a double fault of his own on match point. Munar made him pay this time to force a deciding set. After Alcaraz went 2-0 up, the French Open champion was broken in his next two service games and Munar went into a 4-2 lead. Alcaraz, however, was not done yet, and two more breaks of serve sealed a hard-earned victory as he continued his preparations for Wimbledon, where the Spaniard will be aiming to complete a hat-trick of triumphs. "I'm proud of the level I showed today. It's my second match on grass this year," Alcaraz said. "There were moments I struggled a lot mentally and physically. I still don't know how I'm standing here. But I'm really happy I've given myself another chance in the quarter-finals." Alcaraz will face either French lucky loser Arthur Rinderknech or American Reilly Opelka. British number two Jacob Fearnley reached his first ATP Tour quarterfinal with a 6-3 2-6 6-2 win over French qualifier Corentin Moutet. "I'm very happy to be in my first quarter-final, it's even better to do it here in the UK," Fearnley said. "I tried to stick to my game plan and be aggressive. I did that better in the third set and the result speaks for itself." Fearnley raced into a 3-0 lead, and while Moutet broke back, the Briton responded immediately with another break of his own to ease through the first set. Moutet did likewise in the second, sailing 3-0 ahead before breaking for a second time to clinch the set and force the decider, where Fearnley broke twice before holding serve to love to clinch victory in style. The 23-year-old will now face Jiri Lehecka after the Czech beat Canada's Gabriel Diallo 6-4 6-2.
BBC News
16 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Reaction as Alcaraz survives scare to beat Munar at Queen's
Update: Date: 19:35 BST Title: Goodbye! Content: Carlos Alcaraz just has a knack at winning epically long tennis matches, doesn't he? Somehow he always manages to find a way. That's 15 wins in a row for the world number two, his longest career winning streak. Tomorrow he'll take on one of Arthur Rinderknech or Reilly Opelka for a spot in Saturday's semi-finals. Be sure to join us then, with Great Britain's Jack Draper and Jacob Fearnley are also in action. I'm off to buy those strawberries I was talking about at the start. Update: Date: 19:32 BST Title: 'I was out mentally' Content: Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 7-5 Munar Carlos Alcaraz on court after his win: "It was a really tough battle that we had today. He's a great competitor and he showed how difficult it is to beat him. I'm proud of the level I showed today. It's my second match on grass this year. There were moments I struggled a lot mentally and physically. I still don't know how I'm standing here. But I'm really happy I've given myself another chance in the quarter-final. "I don't know. I just kept fighting. I guess I didn't give up. Honestly I was out mentally, but I stayed there and tried to play the points and play my best points from the first set. But I still don't know." Update: Date: 19:27 BST Title: Game, set and match Alacaraz Content: Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 7-5 Munar What a way to finish. Jaume Munar comes to the net, and Carlos Alcaraz reaches the quarter-finals by lobbing him. Update: Date: 19:26 BST Title: Match point Alcaraz Content: Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 6-5 Munar* Jaume Munar slams a forehand into the net. Alcaraz has a third match point after three hours and 22 minutes. Update: Date: 19:25 BST Title: Munar serving to stay in match Content: Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 6-5 Munar* Double fault, at a time like this! 30-30. Update: Date: 19:25 BST Title: Munar serving to stay in match Content: Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 6-5 Munar* From 0-15 down Munar recovers, forcing Alcaraz to net and then the world number two flicks a backhand return wide. 30-15. Update: Date: 19:22 BST Title: Alcaraz holds Content: Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 6-5 Munar* Well, if Carlos Alcaraz is to lose this game, he'll be doing so in a tie-break. He holds to love, finish things with a 128mph ace. Update: Date: 19:20 BST Title: Munar holds Content: *Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 5-5 Munar Holds with an ace. We rattle on. Update: Date: 19:18 BST Title: Post Content: Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 5-4 Munar* No nerves from Jaume Munar. He's already up 40-0. Update: Date: 19:16 BST Title: Alcaraz holds Content: Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 5-4 Munar* Munar nets. Another game won! Alcaraz recovers from 0-30 just like the last game but manages to somehow find a way to hold. Update: Date: 19:14 BST Title: Post Content: *Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 4-4 Munar Better. Unreturnable serve from Alcaraz takes us to 30-30. Update: Date: 19:13 BST Title: Post Content: *Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 4-4 Munar Alcaraz is wobbling again. He guesses wrong as Munar hits a forehand into the opposite corner and then hits a forehand of his own wide. 0-30. Update: Date: 19:11 BST Title: Alcaraz breaks back Content: *Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 4-4 Munar The pickle juice has worked! Munar nets and suddenly we're back on serve. Update: Date: 19:10 BST Title: Break point Alcaraz Content: Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 3-4 Munar* From 30-0 to a break point down. Munar hits a forehand on the move between the tram lines. Update: Date: 19:10 BST Title: Post Content: Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 3-4 Munar* The epic rallies haven't gone away. We get treated to another one as Alcaraz lobs Munar and the Spaniard reaches it, but then slides the ball wide. 30-30. Update: Date: 19:08 BST Title: Post Content: Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 3-4 Munar* Alcaraz stays into the middle-distance, drinking some pickle juice at the change of ends. Update: Date: 19:06 BST Title: Alcaraz holds Content: Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 3-4 Munar* Alcaraz gets away with one as Munar reads another drop shot but can't quite chip over a winner. A far from convincing hold to 30. Update: Date: 19:04 BST Title: Post Content: Into the third hour. The match before went to a decider too. What an effort on the hottest day of the year. Update: Date: 19:02 BST Title: Munar holds Content: *Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 2-4 Munar Alcaraz isn't getting a sniff on Munar's serve. The latter holds to 15 as another chance goes begging. Update: Date: 18:59 BST Title: Post Content: Alcaraz 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 2-3 Munar* They're moving around the BBC Two schedule. Tennis and summer is properly here.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Carlitos plays marathon man again at Queen's Club
Top seed Carlos Alcaraz has been pushed all the way by fellow Spaniard Jaume Munar in a thrilling contest before clinching a 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 7-5 win and advancing to the Queen's Club Championships quarter-finals. It was only 11 days ago when Alcaraz came out on top in his epic five-and-a-half hour French Open final against Jannik Sinner, and while this second round clash in London may not have reached those same dizzying heights on the hottest day of the year, the British crowd were still served up an enthralling battle on Thursday. The world No.2 was never quite at his stellar best and was a break down in the deciding set -- but he showed his strength of will once more, stretching his winning run to 15 matches, the longest streak of his career, after a marathon three-hour 23 minute duel. "What an effort!" 😱@carlosalcaraz moves to a career-best 15th victory in a row after 3hrs 23mins on court@QueensTennis | #HSBCChampionships — ATP Tour (@atptour) June 19, 2025 "3:30 hours? Were we on clay?" scribbled Alcaraz on the TV camera lens after being relieved to get through. "It was a really tough battle that we had today," he added on the court. "He's a great competitor and he showed how difficult it is to beat him." Alcaraz, the 2023 champion, looked well in control as he eased to take the opening set, and after saving four break and set points at 5-4 down in the second he forced Munar to a tiebreaker. The pair traded early breaks with neither player holding serve over the first four points, before a Munar double fault allowed Alcaraz to take a 5-4 lead. He smashed an ace but then hit a double fault of his own on match point. Munar made him pay this time to force a deciding set. After Alcaraz went 2-0 up, the French Open champion was broken in his next two service games and Munar grasped a 4-2 lead. But Alcaraz was not done yet, and two more breaks of serve sealed a hard-earned victory as he continued his preparations for Wimbledon, where the Spaniard will be aiming to complete a hat-trick of triumphs. "Of course he's got it" 😁@carlosalcaraz conjuring up some early magic on Andy Murray Arena@QueensTennis | #HSBCChampionships — ATP Tour (@atptour) June 19, 2025 "I'm proud of the level I showed today. It's just my second match on grass this year," Alcaraz said. "There were moments I struggled a lot mentally and physically. I still don't know how I'm standing here. But I'm really happy I've given myself another chance in the quarter-finals." Alcaraz will face either French lucky loser Arthur Rinderknech or American Reilly Opelka next up. British No.2 Jacob Fearnley reached his first ATP Tour quarter-final with a 6-3 2-6 6-2 win over French qualifier Corentin Moutet, and will next face Alex de Minaur's Czech conqueror Jiri Lehecka, who beat Canada's Gabriel Diallo 6-4 6-2.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Carlos Alcaraz beats the heat in epic comeback against Munar at Queen's Club
Carlos Alcaraz had to grit his teeth to prevail in a match that lasted just under three and a half hours. Carlos Alcaraz had to grit his teeth to prevail in a match that lasted just under three and a half hours. Photograph: Ben Whitley/PA On a day of hot heads and high emotion, Carlos Alcaraz proved once again to be a master of escapology in the longest match at Queen's Club for 34 years. With temperatures hovering over 30C on Andy Murray Arena, the Spaniard was 4-2 down in the final set, having lost four games in a row. To add to his sense of peril and woe, his serve was also misfiring and he had just hit his 50th unforced error. Yet he found a way – just as he had during the French Open final earlier this month. Related: Coco Gauff stunned in first match since winning French Open title Advertisement A few minutes – and a series of inspired winners – later Alcaraz was shaking hands with his compatriot Jaume Munar having won 6-4, 6-7 (7), 7-5 in an epic that lasted a little under three hours and 30 minutes. It was the longest match at Queen's Club since MaliVai Washington faced Mark Keil in 1991, with the second set alone taking an hour and 42 minutes. As Alcaraz pithily wrote on the BBC TV courtside camera: 'Were we on clay?' The fact Munar was able to hit a barrage of 135mph howitzers on serve told you we were on the green stuff, but nothing else about this match made sense. Alcaraz double-faulted on match point when he had a chance to win in straight sets. His serve was patchy. And while there were the usual moments of genius, this was a day of struggle and strife. However, Munar, the world No 59, was magnificent. Having lost his serve early in the first set after serving three double faults in a row, he happily traded blows from the back of the court and showed granite resolve under pressure. Meanwhile, Alcaraz took out his frustration on his coach Samuel López and complained to the umpire after a time violation as the heat and his opponent's play got to him. Advertisement 'It was a really tough battle, Alcaraz said. 'I struggled a lot mentally and physically. I still don't know how I am standing here but I am really proud to have given myself another chance in the quarter-finals.' This was his 15 consecutive victory, his longest winning streak in his career but Alcaraz said that even he did not know how he was able to turn the match around. 'I just kept fighting, I guess. I didn't give up. I tried to fight and play my best on the return of the serve. But I still don't know.' Earlier, the Frenchman Corentin Moutet lost his temper and his last 16 match to Britain's Jacob Fearnley. This time last year, few outside tennis circles would have heard of Fearnley, a 23-year-old from Worcester. But he steadily climbed into the world's top 50, on the back of a big forehand and thoroughly deserved his 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 win which puts him into an ATP Tour quarter-final for the first time in his career. However, the match will largely be remembered for Moutet ranting at the umpire after being given two time violations in the third set – as well as a code violation for ball abuse. 'I am running every day for three hours and you are telling me what I have to do,' he told the umpire. 'I explain it to you and you give me a time violation without listening to me. Oh my God! This guy's crazy. Killing me. You're killing me every day.' Advertisement Katie Boulter survived a real scare against compatriot Sonay Kartal to maintain her hopes of winning a third successive Nottingham Open title. Boulter, who was replaced this week as British No 1 by Emma Raducanu, won her maiden WTA Tour title in Nottingham two years ago and backed it up last summer. She extended her winning run in Nottingham to 12 matches with a 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 victory against Kartal, the British No 3. Boulter trailed 4-2 in the deciding set and had to save a break point to avoid going a double break behind, with the eighth seed struggling in the heat and consulting the doctor. But she rallied impressively to make it through to a quarter-final against the American McCartney Kessler.
