“I think the best way to be better on grass is to stay here,” Alcaraz commits to London practice ahead of Wimbledon

Saturday, 22 June 2024 at 20:00

World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz suffered a surprising defeat in the second round of the ATP 500 Queen’s Club Championships against Jack Draper (No. 31). The Spaniard could not defend the title he won last year at Queen’s and will not have any more preparatory matches before Wimbledon.

At the start of the grass swing, Alcaraz seemed to be the best-positioned player, with a streak of 12 consecutive wins on grass last year and as the recent French Open champion. However, his run at Queen’s was interrupted by Draper's excellent form. The local player had a magnificent performance and defeated Alcaraz 7-6(3), 6-3 in the best win of his career.

The early elimination means Alcaraz will lose 450 of the 500 points he was defending from last year's title, resulting in a drop in the rankings to world No. 3 while Novak Djokovic moves up to No. 2 without playing as he recovers from knee surgery after Roland Garros.

Read also

The Thursday defeat left Alcaraz with several days out of competition before he has to defend his Wimbledon crown. Considering he is already in London, the 3-time Grand Slam champion decided not to return to Spain and will stay in London until Wimbledon starts on July 1.

“I think the best way to be better on grass is to stay here, practice with players, physically doing good stuff on grass and the movement, really specific things. In Spain or at my home, we don’t have grass courts or really grass places just to practice,” he said.

“I’m going to stay here. I have to talk with my team, but yeah, I’m close to Wimbledon, so as soon as I can, I’m going focus on the practicing with players, practicing and everything, and I hope to be better. I don’t think I’m going to go back home,” the former world No. 1 added.

Read also

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

See author's posts

claps 0visitors 0

Lacoste issues apology over Djokovic's grand slam count mistake

Young Italian star Sinner and Polish prodigy Hurkacz set for head-to-head in Halle Open final