Alcaraz makes winning start at Queen’s

Carlos Alcaraz claimed his 14th consecutive victory on the ATP Tour! After triumphing in Rome and at Roland-Garros, the Spaniard extended his winning streak on Tuesday at Queen’s by defeating Australian Adam Walton in straight sets (6-4, 7-6).

As the defending champion at Queen’s, Alcaraz was initially set to face his fellow Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who withdrew earlier in the day. As a result, the world No. 2 took on lucky loser Adam Walton and was pushed to produce a solid performance, especially in the second set, to avoid being taken to a decider.

Alcaraz didn’t drop serve once on the Queen’s Club grass, and broke Walton just once — in the seventh game of the first set — to take a 4-3 lead, which he held to secure the opening set.

The second set proved far more competitive. With Walton leading 5-4, the Australian applied pressure and earned two set points on Alcaraz’s serve at 15-40. But, as he showed at Roland-Garros, the Spaniard has a knack for raising his game under pressure.

The Murcian managed to escape the danger and went on to win the second-set tiebreak 7-4. It marks his 38th win of the season.

Alcaraz, ranked No 2, will face the winner of the match between Australian Jordan Thompson and Spaniard Jaume Munar next.

London ATP 500, other first-round results (Queen’s Club, grass, EUR 2.522.220, most recent results first):

• Gabriel Diallo vs. Billy Harris
• Corentin Moutet vs. Taylor Fritz
• Jordan Thompson vs. Jaume Munar: tuesday
• Arthur Rinderknech (LL) beat Ben Shelton (6): 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4)
• Reilly Opelka beat Camilo Ugo Carabelli: 7-6 (6), 6-4
• Jack Draper (2) beat Jenson Brooksby: 6-3, 6-1
• Alexei Popyrin beat Aleksandar Vukic (Q): 6-2, 6-7 (9), 7-6 (3)
• Brandon Nakashima beat Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard: 6-7 (10), 7-6 (5), 6-4
• Jiri Lehecka beat Alex De Minaur (5): 6-4, 6-2
• Mackenzie McDonald (Q) beat Gael Monfils: 6-4, 6-4
• Jacob Fearnley beat Alex Bolt (Q): 6-2, 6-4
• Jakub Mensik (8) beat Cameron Norrie (WC): 7-6 (6), 1-6, 6-1
• Holger Rune (4) beat Christopher O’Connell (LL): 6-3, 6-4
• Daniel Evans (WC) beat Frances Tiafoe (7): 7-5, 6-2
• Roberto Bautista Agut beat Nuno Borges: 6-7 (6), 7-5, 6-4