LONDON – Carlos Alcaraz passed fellow Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agutt to extend his streak on Saturday and secure the Queen’s Club final against Gili Lehecca.
The 22-year-old top seed Alkaraz had too much firepower for his 37-year-old opponent during his 6-4, 6-4 victory, his 17th consecutive victory and his 250th career.
British fans wanted to witness the final showdown between Alcaraz and home favorite Jack Draper, but Lehecca tore that script with a stunning 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 defeat from the second seed.
The 23-year-old Lehekka is the first Czech to reach the top-level grass court final in 15 years.
“That means a lot. You don’t see players like Jack every day. He’s a great competitor,” Lehecca said.
Queen’s champion Alkaraz rose to his absolute limits at the beginning of the week against his fellow countryman Jammunar in a battle that lasted more than three hours. However, he was more comfortable with Bautista Agutt, who provided stubborn resistance, but didn’t look really upset on the steamy afternoons of West London.
Early in each set serve, it proved sufficient that Alcaraz reached the finals for the fifth consecutive time.
“I play great tennis and feel more comfortable,” said Alcaraz, who won his fifth Grand Slam title at the French Open this month. “I love stepping into court and playing with a smile on my face, so I’m doing good.”
Previously, Lehecca, the 30th place in the world, reached fourth place at Wimbledon, which began on June 30th.
Draper, bidding to follow in the footsteps of five-time queen champion Andy Murray, dropped the opening service game. Lehecca narrowly got a foot wrong as she clinically filmed her first set.
The left-handed Draper saved his breakpoint early in the second set, breaking Lehecca’s serve for the first time in the 10th match, leveling the match.
Both players were solid with decider serves and Lehecca had the first chance to rest 4-4, but Draper survived to pile up pressure on his opponents.
However, Lehecca didn’t flinch and broke the serve 5-5 with two great passing shots, one forehand and backhand, and Draper broke the racket in anger against the courtside electronic advertising board and received a code violation.
Lehecca still had to hold his serve to reach the final and did so in style.
The last Czech to reach the top-level grass court final was Thomas Berdich of Wimbledon in 2010, and Ivan Lendl was the last person to do so in Queens in 1990.
Draper said he would take a few days off to recover from tonsillitis.
“I’m proud of the way I was thinking things, but that’s difficult,” Draper said. “My main goal is to go to Wimbledon as prepared as possible and as fresh as possible.”
