Carlos Alcaraz has once again etched his name alongside his childhood hero, Rafael Nadal, by capturing the Queen’s Club Championships title in a thrilling final against Jiri Lehecka. The 22-year-old Spaniard’s 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-2 victory not only marked his second Queen’s title but also saw him match Nadal’s record of four grass-court titles, a feat that underscores his growing dominance on the surface.
Alcaraz’s triumph at the HSBC Championships, held at the historic Queen’s Club in West London, was a landmark moment in his burgeoning career. The world No. 2 became just the second player in men’s tennis history to win both Roland Garros and Queen’s in the same year, a rare double last achieved by Nadal in 2008. This victory, coming just two weeks after his epic five-hour, 29-minute French Open final win over Jannik Sinner, solidified Alcaraz’s status as a red-hot favorite heading into Wimbledon, where he aims to secure a third consecutive title.
The final against Lehecka was a test of Alcaraz’s resilience. After clinching a tight first set 7-5, he faced a spirited comeback from the world No. 30, who pushed the match to a second-set tiebreak. Despite a costly double fault handing Lehecka the set, Alcaraz regained control in the decider, breaking the Czech’s serve and sealing the match with a commanding 6-2 scoreline. “It’s really special, this trophy, this tournament for me,” Alcaraz said post-match, praising Lehecka’s “nightmare” playing style while expressing pride in his own performance.
Alcaraz’s path to the title was far from straightforward. Fresh off his Roland Garros triumph, he kicked off his grass-court season with a hard-fought 6-4, 7-6(4) win over lucky loser Adam Walton, followed by a grueling three-set battle against compatriot Jaume Munar. In the semifinals, he dispatched Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 6-4, marking his 250th career win—a milestone reached in just 311 matches, trailing only Nadal (310) and John McEnroe (307) in the Open Era for speed to that mark.
The parallels between Alcaraz and Nadal are striking. Both reached 250 ATP Tour wins just one match apart, and Alcaraz’s four grass-court titles—two at Wimbledon and two at Queen’s—now equal Nadal’s haul, which includes Wimbledon victories in 2008 and 2010 and Queen’s in 2008. Alcaraz’s admiration for Nadal was evident in a playful moment earlier in the tournament when, during a “kiss, marry, kill” game, he chose to “marry” Nadal, citing the 22-time Grand Slam champion as his favorite Queen’s winner over even himself.
“It was a match for the ages,” Nadal himself said of Alcaraz’s French Open final against Sinner, a sentiment that could equally apply to his protégé’s Queen’s campaign. Alcaraz’s ability to transition from clay to grass, a notoriously difficult shift, mirrors Nadal’s 2008 feat and highlights his versatility. With a career-best 18-match winning streak and a 29-3 record on grass, Alcaraz is poised to challenge for Wimbledon glory.
As he prepares for the All England Club, Alcaraz remains grounded. “I came here with no expectations at all,” he admitted, noting that Queen’s was the perfect preparation for Wimbledon. “I think this tournament and lifting this trophy, it was the best preparation that I could ask for.” With Novak Djokovic as the only active player with more grass-court titles, Alcaraz’s ominous form sends a clear message to his rivals.
The Queen’s Club Championships, a prestigious ATP 500 event, has long been a proving ground for tennis greats like Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras, and Andy Murray. Alcaraz’s second title in three years places him among elite company, and his emulation of Nadal’s 2008 clay-grass double cements his place in tennis history.