Alex De Minaur to Face Carlos Alcaraz in Wimbledon Warm-up Final

Even though this is only Carlos Alcaraz’s third tournament on grass in his brief career, he already feels seasoned on the surface.

The 20-year-old Spaniard defeated Sebastian Korda 6-3, 6-4 at the Queen’s Club Championships on Sunday to advance to his first ATP final on grass and move one victory away from reclaiming the top spot.

“Right now I feel like [I’ve been] playing for 10 years on grass, it’s something crazy for me,” Alcaraz said.

“My movement and game were not what I had anticipated to adapt to grass so quickly. That makes me very happy.

“I’ve sensed the support of the crowd ever since the first game. I believe that without them and the energy they provide me, I would not be able to win this type of match.”

Alcaraz is wary of the Australian Alex de Minaur, who stands between him and the No. 1 spot in the world rankings.

“For me, it will be a significant challenge. His game is really good on grass,” Alcaraz said.

“He will be very dangerous because of how flat his serves are.”

On grass, Alcaraz and Korda competed in their first semi-final match.

Korda served nine aces but also committed six double faults while becoming the first American to advance to the Queen’s semi finals in 11 years. Alcaraz’s powerful forehands frequently punished his slice.

Alcaraz survived the lone break point of the second set and won.

After winning, US Open champion Alcaraz would move above Novak Djokovic in the ATP rankings, earning him the No. 1 seed at Wimbledon the following month. This would be his fifth championship of the year and his 11th overall on the tour.

Alcaraz was defeated by Jannik Sinner at SW19 in the fourth round the previous year.

Like Alcaraz, the second-seeded Holger Rune arrived in London having never triumphed in a match at the tour level played on grass.

Rune was defeated by De Minaur 6-3, 7-6 (2), fending off three break points and twice breaking the 20-year-old Dane’s serve.

On grass, De Minaur is a renowned name. The Australian won Eastbourne in 2021 and advanced to the Wimbledon round of 16 in 2018.

“I have played decent on grass and I am having a good week, and this was my best performance of the week,” he said.

At Acapulco in March, De Minaur captured his seventh and biggest championship of his career.

Reference: wwos.nine.com.au