Heraldo de Madrid - Alcaraz extends winning streak, Draper into semi-finals at Queen's

NYSE - LSE

CMSC	0.4%	22.314	$
CMSD	0.11%	22.285	$
RBGPF	0%	69.04	$
SCS	0.37%	10.74	$
RELX	0.06%	53	$
RIO	-0.24%	59.33	$
GSK	0.31%	41.45	$
NGG	0.38%	71.48	$
BP	0.58%	30.4	$
BTI	1.48%	48.215	$
BCC	0.87%	91.02	$
JRI	0.15%	13.13	$
VOD	0.1%	9.85	$
BCE	-0.27%	22.445	$
RYCEF	0.83%	12	$
AZN	-0.16%	73.71	$

Alcaraz extends winning streak, Draper into semi-finals at Queen's

SPORTS 20.06.2025

Alcaraz extends winning streak, Draper into semi-finals at Queen's / Photo: HENRY NICHOLLS - AFP

Carlos Alcaraz was relieved to overcome the challenge of Arthur Rinderknech in straight sets to reach the semi-finals at Queen's Club and extend his career-best winning streak to 16 matches on Friday.

Text size:

In his first tournament since winning the French Open in remarkable fashion against Jannik Sinner, the world number two had been forced to come through a gruelling three-set battle against Jaume Munar in Thursday's second round.

But Alcaraz was ruthless with his opportunities against world number 80 Rinderknech as the Spaniard took his only two break point chances for a 7-5, 6-4 win inside 90 minutes on court.

"I thought I was going to feel much worse, but we are tennis players, we have to do whatever we have to do to feel good," said Alcaraz after his three-and-a-half-hour battle against Munar.

"I'm glad that today was one hour and 20 minutes, a bit more like grass."

Alcaraz, who won the Wimbledon warm-up event in 2023, will face either Danish fourth seed Holger Rune or Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut in Saturday's semi-finals.

"I'm feeling great, and I'm just happy to play at such a good level today. It was a big challenge today, but I'm happy with the way I played and felt today."

Jack Draper, who ended Alcaraz's defence at Queen's last year, reached the semi-finals for the first time and secured a top-four seed at Wimbledon with a tense 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 win over American Brandon Nakashima.

The 23-year-old had twice lost in the last eight at Queen's, but now he is just two wins away from joining Andy Murray as only the second British champion at the tournament in the Open area.

Draper will move above Novak Djokovic and Taylor Fritz in the world rankings next week to a career-high of four.

That means at Wimbledon, which starts on June 30, Draper will avoid defending champion Alcaraz and world number one Sinner until the semi-finals.

"Last year I went there ranked 40th and now I'm fourth. To get to that position is an incredible feeling," Draper said.

"It is testament to the work me and my team have done and I'm proud of that."

Draper will face Jiri Lehecka in the last four on Saturday after the Czech world number 30 beat beat British number two Jacob Fearnley 7-5, 6-2.

P.Gallardo--HdM

Featured

Teams from 'south' have Club World Cup heat advantage: Dortmund's Kovac

Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovac said Friday teams from the "south" have an advantage on European teams at the Club World Cup because of the current high temperatures in the United States.

'It's only match one' says Itoje after Lions mauled by Pumas

The British & Irish Lions captain Maro Itoje brushed off Friday's defeat against Argentina in Dublin, saying his side will "live, learn and get better".

Fleetwood, Thomas and Scheffler share PGA Travelers lead

England's Tommy Fleetwood made two eagles and a birdie in the last six holes Friday to grab a share of the lead with top-ranked Scottie Scheffler and Justin Thomas at the PGA Travelers Championship.

Maresca accepts Chelsea were second best in Flamengo loss

Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca admitted his team were deservedly beaten by Flamengo following their 3-1 loss to the Brazilians at the Club World Cup on Friday, but said Nicolas Jackson's second-half sending-off would have no impact on his future at Stamford Bridge.