Carlos Alcaraz gives up secret to Queen's success after shots with Premier League star

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 21: Carlos Alcaraz of Spain makes his way to court for the Men's Singles Semi Final match against Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain on Day Thirteen of the 2025 HSBC Championships at The Queen's Club on June 21, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Luke Walker/Getty Images for LTA)

Carlos Alcaraz credited his holidays away from tennis for his hot summer form as he warmed up for Wimbledon by winning the HSBC Championships. The French Open champion won his 18th consecutive match on Sunday by holding off Jiri Lehecka 7-5 6-7 6-2 in an entertaining final. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT The world No.2 becomes the first player to complete the French Open-Queen's Club double since his fellow Spaniard Rafa Nadal in 2008. And he will begin his bid to win a third consecutive Wimbledon title as the strong favourite on June 30. Alcaraz won his last final in a five-set epic against Jannik Sinner at the French Open earlier this month and then took a break in the Balearics where he took shots with Spurs defender Sergio Reguilon. And the 22-year-old said: "The days in Ibiza helped me a lot, just to feel like I'm not a tennis player, just to enjoy life a little bit with my friends, have fun, enjoy those days, and then come back to the court with more energy, be more hungry to play again.

"A lot of people ask me: Are you going to go back? I'm going to stay here in London. I'm going to have my days off to rest up, to enjoy, and then be back and preparing Wimbledon the best way possible." Alcaraz, who won his fifth title of the year, has also won a staggering 27 out of 28 matches since losing his opening match in Miami in March. "I had so much hate when I lost in Miami," he revealed. "Instead of practice after that, I took a break and I went to Cancun with my family. And that was the key. I just got the joy back, and I started to enjoy playing tennis again."

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Alcaraz survived a three-hour battle in his second round match here but the 2023 champion here has since found his grasscourt form. He sent down a double fault at 5-5 in the second set tiebreak to allow the dangerous Lehecka to level the match. But the five-time Grand Slam champion then showed his class in the final set to win 16 out of 18 points on his serve as he nailed 94% of first serves. "Now I know how John Isner and Reilly Opelka feels when they playing," he laughed. "I came here with no expectations. I hoped to play two or three matches maximum and try to feel comfortable on the grass. "This is the best preparation I could have asked for. I will try and keep going with the good way I have played this week and let's see how far I can go at Wimbledon." BBC commentator John Lloyd said: "There is no question he is the favourite for Wimbledon".

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