Carlos Alcaraz regains No 1 ranking along with Queen’s Club title

James Richardson 25 Jun 2023 4:06 PM

Carlos Alcaraz plays a shot on grass

After defeating Alex de Minaur 6-4, 6-4 on Sunday to claim his maiden championship on grass at Queen’s Club, Carlos Alcaraz will also reclaim the top spot in the ATP rankings.

With his fifth championship of the year, the Spaniard overtakes 23-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic at the top of the standings continuing the ding-dong battle between the two men for the top spot. He also draws level with Daniil Medvedev for the most titles won on the ATP Tour this season.

Alcaraz was playing on a grass court tournament for just the third time in his career.

“It means a lot to me. Being able to win this amazing tournament in my first time that I played here for me is fantastic,” Alcaraz said in his on-court interview. “To know that I’m [capable of] a good level on grass, obviously [to be] champion of every tournament feels special.”

The 20-year-old has failed to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals in two attempts, but his strong performance suggests he may pose the biggest threat to Djokovic winning an eighth championship at the All England Club next month, especially with beaten 2022 finalist Nick Kyrgios struggling with injury.

Alcaraz struggled through French lucky loser Arthur Rinderknech in the first round, but in his next four matches at Queen’s, he didn’t lose a set.

On his way to the final, De Minaur eliminated Andy Murray and Holger Rune, the sixth-ranked player in the world.

Alcaraz doesn’t feel that his title win in Kensington will have shifted expectations for Wimbledon much.

“The chances don’t change so much. I mean, Novak is coming to Wimbledon,” Alcaraz said. “Right now I’m feeling better than the beginning of the week, that’s obvious.

“Of course, recovering the No. 1 before Wimbledon, it gives you extra motivation, it gives you extra confidence coming into Wimbledon. But it doesn’t change too much if I play Wimbledon as the No. 2 or the No. 1.”

De Minaur led the first set 4-3 and had two break points to set up a chance to serve for the first frame but couldn’t close it out in the clinch and was made to pay.

Alcaraz answered by digging to deep to hold service and breaking the world number 18 in the following game before serving out the set it what seemed a pivotal moment.

Between sets, the US Open winner required a medical timeout with his right quad needing to be strapped.

Alcaraz, though, did not appear to be hampered too much by this as he capitalized on his lone break point to go up 3-2 in the second set.

In the decisive game, Alcaraz was down 0-30 until De Minaur made two unforced errors that opened the door for the Spaniard to come storming back..

Alcaraz broke out his biggest serves in crucial moments and claimed four straight points to secure victory.