Carlos Alcaraz beats Alex de Minaur in 2023 Queen’s Club final

Spaniard rockets back to No.1 in the world as he shuts down Australian in time-honoured Wimbledon lead-up.

Queen’s Club runner-up Alex de Minaur and winner Carlos Alcaraz pose with their trophies. Picture: Getty Images

Sydneysider Alex de Minaur was beaten by the Spanish rocket Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets in the final of the historic Queen’s Club Championship in London overnight (AEST), with the win propelling Alcaraz to world number one.

But the Australian showed signs of becoming more comfortable on the grass surface, just in time for Wimbledon on July 3, where he will spearhead the Australian contingent.

“It’s been a great week for me, we were close but I wasn’t able to get it done today to go by Carlos,” de Minaur said, adding “we will get better, we will come back and hopefully we get one more.”

De Minaur admitted windy conditions in the final played havoc with his serve, affecting his level of play “a little bit”.

However, the strong showing at Queen’s has pushed 24-year-old back into the world’s top 16 on the eve of Wimbledon, where he will represent Australia’s strongest hope amid doubts around the participation of last year’s finalist Nick Kyrgios.

The speed demon 👿

🎥 @TennisTVpic.twitter.com/WXOiZdth5s

— cinch Championships (@QueensTennis) June 25, 2023

De Minaur, who will contest this week’s Eastbourne tournament, said he was taking nothing for granted after securing a top 16 seeding for Wimbledon, saying even unseeded players were tricky.

“Hopefully I can have a good Wimbledon, I am taking it very, very slowly (in managing expectations),” he said.

Kyrgios has pulled out of repeated tournaments in recent weeks, including this week’s Mallorca Championships, as he manages his return from recent knee surgery. That doesn’t bode well for an extended showing at SW19 if indeed he makes it to the first round.

When he pulled out of Halle earlier this month, Kyrgios said: “Still dealing with a couple of things in my knee, just trying to give myself the best opportunity to compete at Wimbledon. As you all know, that tournament means a lot to me and I just want to do everything right by my body.”

With all eyes then on the Monte Carlo-domiciled de Minaur — who grew up alternating between Australia and Spain – it was pleasing to see him hitting peak form at Queen’s, where he defeated former world no.1 Andy Murray and current world no.6 Holger Rune in his run to the final.

Carlos Alcaraz (left) and Alex de Minaur shake hands after the Queen’s Club final. Picture: Getty Images

“For all of us Aussies we are a tight-knit group and we’ve got a lot of chemistry and we are pushing each other to get bigger and better things,” de Minaur said.

“When we stick together we play with passion and pride. Come Wimbledon, I am hoping that all of us Aussies can go out there and play the sort of tennis we know we can play.”

De Minaur pressed the in-form Alcaraz for most of the match under baking sun before a sold-out crowd. But at crucial moments, he was unable to match the Spaniard’s phenomenal forehand speed and had to be consoled with a loser’s cheque for €220,000 ($A360,000).

A series of double faults handed Alcaraz an important break point in the seventh game of the second set and Alcaraz was untroubled serving out the match.

There were no signs of the patchy form Alcaraz said he displayed at the start of the week as he tried to adjust to the grass surface.

Back on top of the world 🌍#cinchChampionships | @carlosalcarazpic.twitter.com/wI36Np2k68

— cinch Championships (@QueensTennis) June 25, 2023

“It means a lot to have my name on the trophy,” Alcaraz said.

“I have known of this tournament since playing tennis, it’s special for me to play here – so many Spaniards have won here, to see my name surrounded by the great champions, it’s amazing, and I get a lot of support from British crowds.”

Feliciano Lopez, Rafa Nadal, Andrés Gimeno have previously won the men’s singles at Queen’s since the tournament began in 1881.