Alcaraz raised the bar for a solid spot in the Queen’s quarterfinals

Carlos Alcaraz is in the quarterfinals of to Queen. After overcoming a difficult debut against Arthur Rinderknech, the world number 2 defeated the Czech with authority Jiri Leheckaneither 6-2 and 6-3to enter the penultimate round of his first grass tournament this 2023, a 500 category event.

He did it afterwards a noticeable improvement of sensations regarding his debut. The change of opponent, where Lehecka is more likely to stay in the background instead of betting on the serve-net game, and the reliability of Alcaraz from this part of the track they allowed a comfortable game for a solid forehand and backhand by Carlossharp on others and dominating at all times of the game.

Able to change direction comfortably, with quiet games throughout the match. The only thing he suffered was a 3-1 lead in the second set, when Alcaraz didn’t feel comfortable serving at deuce points. However, he prevailed in that game to march steadily into the quarterfinals.

The Alcaraz team pointed out after the debut against Rinderknech that improvement is a matter of confidence and playing minutes. The world number 2 added that time on court in that match against the Frenchman and it served him to face this round of 16 match with the highest guarantee. Here he came out to dominate from start to finishmaintaining his sharp character in the rest but also comfortable with a serve that paved the way to the next round.

Alcaraz hit the first shot early, despite the fact that Lehecka held her serve to make it 0-40. however, with good left when the Czech gives him an optionAlcaraz closed the hawk’s eye at 2-0 which gave him great peace of mind at the start of the game. Looking for directions, varying the rhythm with dropshots and though unafraid to risk a few seconds of serve and pay the toll for an extra double fault, Alcaraz left the first set on track with an initial 3-0 lead.

Lehecka could not react to the reliability of the Spanish service, defined in his right what was built in his service and to be close the rest with an initial 6-2. In that eighth game of the quarter, Alcaraz’s good rest and some big mistakes by the Czech player served the first set and the kick-off turn in the second set for the Spaniard.

Lehecka will have to hold on to the game if he wants to put Alcaraz in trouble, but the tournament’s top favorite knows it’s time to deliver the final blow. Playing with his right hand and scoring two high-level direct returns in the face of his rival’s desperate attempts to find the serve-net, Carlos found a 2-0 start that he certainly threw towards the party. He overcame a long fifth game, where he raised three break balls that saved him some unforced errors with forehands and level one, which paved the way for the victory.

That 4-1 was the emotional sentence for the clash. Alcaraz percutía in the posterior rest, with great defenses to finish completing a great tennis repertoire. In trade, Lehecka saved his serve, but suffered again at 5-2 for the Spaniard. He had a match point left going to Alcaraz after playing it with the others, but Carlos didn’t fail on his serve to put the final 6-3 that put him in the quarterfinals.

He did it to close a game of good play, perfectly adapted to the Queen’s grass. coming now a more important rival in the figure of Grigor Dimitrov or Francisco Cerúndolo, but Alcaraz continues to grow on English grass. He is in the quarterfinals of his preparation tournament for Wimbledon.