“Novak and I are having a beautiful fight”: Alcaraz closes in on world No 1 spot, through to Queen’s final

Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, the top seed, moved into the final of Queen’s by winning against American Sebastian Korda 6-3, 6-4 at Queen’s Club in London on Saturday afternoon.

Alcaraz, ranked No 2, will face Australian Alex De Minaur, the No 7 seed, for the title – and if he wins, he will return to the world No 1 spot, which will also mean he is top seed at Wimbledon.

“It [the battle for the ranking] help me a lot,” Alcaraz said afterwards. “You know, it’s an extra motivation for me. Obviously during the match I’m not thinking about that, but is an extra motivation for me, you know, to go into the final with extra energy. You know, I’m gonna go for it. Obviously being top seed at Wimbledon, being No 1, for me, it’s still a dream.

“Yeah, is something that I work on. You know, to recover the No 1, I think Novak and I, we are having a beautiful fight for the No 1.

“I’m gonna go for it. Yeah, it’s been crazy for me to be top seed in Wimbledon.”

It is, however, his first final on grass – although it is his 14th tour-level final overall.

What a way to reach the final! 🔥

First grass court final for @carlosalcaraz as he defeats Korda 6-3 6-4!@QueensTennis | #CinchChampionship pic.twitter.com/YvphwVfZu2

— ATP Tour (@atptour) June 24, 2023

Alcaraz and de Minaur have played each other only once before – on the Barcelona clay last year, when the home favourite won 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4), 6-4 to reach the final.

In the previous rounds of the Queen’s Championships, the 20-year-old Spaniard beat French lucky loser Arthur Rinderknech (4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (3)), Czech Jiri Lehecka (6-2, 6-3) and Bulgarian qualifier Grigor Dimitrov (6-4, 6-4).

Korda, ranked No 32, won against Daniel Evans (6-4, 7-5), No 4 seed Frances Tiafoe (7-6 (2), 6-3) and No 5 seed Cameron Norrie (6-4, 7-6 (1)) earlier in the tournament.

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