Carlos Alcaraz may have arrived in London playing down his chances, but with Wimbledon just eight days away, the reigning champion has sent an ominous warning to his rivals.
The 22-year-old Spaniard captured his second Queen’s Club title by defeating Jiri Lehecka in Sunday’s final, extending his winning streak to a career-best 18 matches. Despite admitting he came with “no expectations,” Alcaraz’s dominant grass-court form suggests he is once again the man to beat at SW19.
“I came here just aiming to get some matches under my belt, feel good moving on the grass, and get some feedback on what to improve,” said Alcaraz. “But I adapted quickly and I’m really proud of that. Winning the title wasn’t the goal—just getting comfortable was.”
His impressive run means only Novak Djokovic holds more grass-court titles among active players. Alcaraz’s victory over Roberto Bautista Agut in the semi-final prompted him to declare “grass-court mode is activated”—a claim he backed up emphatically in the final.
Alcaraz hasn’t lost a match since April’s Barcelona Open final against Holger Rune. Since then, he’s reached five consecutive ATP finals, winning four titles, including the French Open earlier this month.
Queen’s-Wimbledon Double in Sight Again
Winning Queen’s could once again prove a strong omen. Alcaraz completed the Queen’s-Wimbledon double in 2023, and just eight men in the Open era have done so in the same summer.
Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash told BBC Radio 5 Live: “You can’t ask for better form heading into Wimbledon. He’s clearly the man to beat. I wouldn’t bet against him—he’s the red-hot favourite.”
Alcaraz is now chasing a rare clay-grass Grand Slam double for a second straight year. In 2024, he became just the sixth man in the Open era to win both Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same season—joining legends like Rod Laver, Bjorn Borg, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Djokovic.
Only Nadal (2008, 2010) and Borg (1978-1980) have pulled off that feat more than once.
Cash added: “Doing the French Open-Wimbledon double used to be nearly impossible. The courts have changed, but the physical and mental toll is still massive. To come through that epic final in Paris and win here shows how special Alcaraz is.”
Alcaraz’s Roland Garros victory came in a gruelling five-set thriller over world number one Jannik Sinner—lasting five hours and 29 minutes, the longest final in French Open history.
Chasing Wimbledon History
Now, Alcaraz is aiming to join another elite group. Only three men in the Open era have won three or more Wimbledon titles in a row: Borg (five, 1976–1980), Pete Sampras (three from 1993–95, and four from 1997–2000), and Roger Federer (five, 2003–07).
Alcaraz’s grass-court success continues to grow. He is now the fifth active men’s player to claim four or more grass titles—alongside Djokovic (8), Matteo Berrettini (4), Taylor Fritz (4), and Nicolas Mahut (4). Among Spanish players, only Nadal and Feliciano Lopez have also won four grass tournaments.
Notably, Alcaraz has reached this milestone much earlier than his compatriots—Nadal was 29 when he claimed his fourth, Lopez 37. Alcaraz, still only 22, is already establishing himself as a dominant force on the surface.
Wimbledon beckons—and Carlos Alcaraz looks more ready than ever to defend his crown.
