Top seed Carlos Alcaraz overcame a spirited challenge from Czech rising star Jiri Lehecka to win his second Queen’s Club Championship title on Sunday, triumphing 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-2 in an intense final ahead of his Wimbledon title defense.
The 22-year-old Spaniard, who previously won the Queen’s title en route to his maiden Wimbledon crown in 2023, extended his winning streak to 18 matches.
Despite the straight-set look of previous victories, this final tested Alcaraz, with Lehecka pushing him to three sets in a high-quality grass-court duel on the breezy Andy Murray Arena in West London.
Alcaraz seized a crucial break at 5-5 in the opening set and closed it out in 45 minutes. However, Lehecka, aiming to become the first Czech champion at Queen’s since Ivan Lendl in 1990, stayed composed. He played a sharp tiebreak in the second set, capitalizing on the Spaniard’s double fault at 5-5 to force a decider.
In the final set, Alcaraz showed why he is a five-time Grand Slam champion. He quickly gained a 4-1 lead as Lehecka’s level dipped slightly. A second break sealed the match, with Alcaraz roaring in triumph as Lehecka netted a backhand on match point.
“This is really special. This trophy and this tournament mean a lot to me,” the Spaniard said during the on-court presentation. “Jiri had an incredible week. Playing against him is a nightmare — he’s playing at a very high level.”
While Alcaraz will enter Wimbledon seeded second behind world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, he will do so as the man in form. Since April, he has won 27 of 28 matches, with his only loss coming in the Barcelona final to Holger Rune. Sunday’s victory marked his fifth title of the season.
For Lehecka, the loss marked the end of an impressive run, which included a semi-final win over home favourite Jack Draper. The 23-year-old, who defeated Alcaraz earlier this year in Doha, reinforced his growing reputation with a performance full of power and resilience.
Alcaraz, meanwhile, appears primed for another deep Wimbledon run. “The goal this week was just to get some matches on grass,” he said. “The final was a gift. I felt in control most of the time and just enjoyed the moment.”
