A message for Novak Djokovic before Wimbledon: Carlos Alcaraz wins the Queen’s and returns to world No. 1 ATP

If he is now comfortable on grass, what is going to stop the 20-year-old Spanish prodigy? Carlos Alcaraz won his first grass tournament this Sunday against Alex De Minaur in the Queen’s ATP 500 final (6-4.6-4) in 1h36. This duel, often balanced but mastered by the Spaniard in key moments, gave birth to a new London champion.

Alcaraz had never won this tournament, nor even the slightest title on this surface. So it’s a triple whammy, as the Murcian also reclaims his world number one throne from Novak Djokovic and the No.1 seed spot for Wimbledon.

A cruel scenario for De Minaur

Until 4-4 in the first set, nothing suggested such an easy outcome for Carlos Alcaraz. The Australian was holding out for him and we even wondered if he was about to turn a corner. The one that would allow him to more regularly seek out the top 10 on the circuit, he who often sails in top 20 waters.

Except that the Spaniard stepped on the accelerator at the right time. And especially took advantage of the mistakes of his opponent. Like a huge foul on the net while the court was open, which gave Alcaraz the first and only break point of the first set, De Minaur multiplied the errors in the hot moments. Even though he could have broken several times.

The Murcian did not ask for so much. He took the opportunity to conclude and continue in ultra-dominance mode on his service game. Enough to show what separates the very big ones from the circuit, and the car that follows them.

Alcaraz held on

Worse, the physiognomy of the second set was almost identical. Until 2-2, the Australian held the road. Then, there was a black hole on his third face-off. A dry breakdown on his first balls, two double faults… yet Alcaraz’s birthday was last month. Solid on his face-off, the now fresh world number one only had to play his game, punctuated by meteoric rises when he was in difficulty. Especially on the service to conclude the game, when he was down 0/30.

De Minaur therefore missed the opportunity to move up to 14th in the world and win his second ATP 500 of the season, which only Daniil Madvedev has managed to do for the moment. Alcaraz, he was reassured a week from Wimbledon. What a reminder that he is only 20 years old and that his room for improvement is still great, even where he least expects it.