Carlos Alcaraz secures victory over Francisco Cerundolo at Queen’s Club

Carlos Alcaraz won his grass-court season opener at Queen’s Club, defeating Francisco Cerundolo 6-1, 7-5. Andy Murray also emerged victorious in his 1,000th tour-level match. Alcaraz, ranked No. 2, has a strong record on grass, with a 17-2 career record and a 13-0 record against players outside the top 20 on the surface. Despite falling behind in the second set, Alcaraz saved three set points before securing the win. Murray, at 37 years old, expressed his joy at the victory and his hopes for more wins. Dan Evans retired from his match due to a potential knee injury, casting doubt on his participation in Wimbledon and the Olympics. Other players like Alex de Minaur and Taylor Fritz faced mixed results in their matches. Alcaraz, the defending champion at the cinch Championships, started his title defense with a straight-sets win over Cerundolo. The young Spaniard, who won Wimbledon last year, extended his grass-court winning streak to 13 matches. Alcaraz acknowledged the challenges of playing on grass but expressed his satisfaction with his performance. He emphasized the need to continue improving on grass and learning with each match. In Halle, Alexander Zverev and Jannik Sinner also secured wins in their matches. Alcaraz, fresh off his French Open victory, is confident in his ability to transition from clay to grass successfully. He aims to perform well at Queen’s Club and Wimbledon, focusing on the grass season before shifting back to clay for the Olympic Games. Alcaraz is excited about the opportunity to partner with Rafael Nadal at the Olympics, viewing it as a dream come true and a valuable learning experience. He looks forward to the challenge and the possibility of winning a medal with Nadal.