Carlos Alcaraz battles past lucky loser Adam Walton to advance at Queen’s Club

LONDON – Carlos Alcaraz declared he is ready for the grass season, after coming through a testing first-round match against Adam Walton at Queen’s on June 17 as the top seed returned to action for the first time since his dramatic French Open triumph.

But two of the world’s top 10 crashed out as Americans Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton lost to French duo Corentin Moutet and Arthur Rinderknech respectively.

Five-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz, back on grass for the first time since winning his second Wimbledon title last season, beat his 86th-ranked opponent 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) on a sweaty day in west London.

He scribbled “Grass season, here we go!” on the courtside camera lens, thanking fans for their vocal support and saying he felt “loved” in the English capital.

“First match on grass is never easy to get used to the competition again, to get used to the grass again,” Alcaraz said. “So, I just want to say thank you for helping me a little bit.”

The Spaniard, who overcame Jannik Sinner in a five-set thriller at Roland Garros just nine days ago, broke in the seventh game and went on to clinch the first set against lucky loser Walton, who replaced Alejandro Davidovich Fokina after he withdrew due to illness.

The 2023 Queen’s champion appeared to have found his rhythm only for Walton to rally impressively in the second set, carving out two set points on his opponent’s serve in the 10th game.

But the Australian failed to convert either of them and Alcaraz levelled, coming out on top in the subsequent tiebreak.

The world No. 2 also said he had taken time away from tennis after his gruelling French Open triumph to “reset” his mind and rest.

“I’m just really happy with the performance that I had today,” he said.

“First match, I feel great. Obviously, a lot of things to improve, a lot of things that I have to put into work just to feel a little bit more comfortable on the grass. But in general, I’m just happy to get through.”

Alcaraz faces compatriot Jaume Munar in the last 16 on June 19.

World No. 4 Fritz failed to convert a match point against Moutet before losing 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (9-7), 7-5. Moutet held on in the second set tiebreak before securing the only break of serve in the match in the final game.

Sheldon also stumbled to a shock early exit to Rinderknech in two tiebreaks 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-4).

Elsewhere, world No. 3 Alexander Zverev moved into the last 16 at the Halle Open on June 18 with a straight-set win over American Marcos Giron.

The German won 6-2, 6-1, breaking his 43rd-ranked opponent four times to set up a meeting against Italian Lorenzo Sonego at the traditional Wimbledon warmup event.

A two-time finalist at the Halle Open, Zverev’s march was halted only by an incident in the stands, when an advertising board fell onto a spectator.

The second seed was quick to react, handing an ice pack into the stands to help treat the injured man, who was applauded as he left the stadium.

On June 17, Sinner opened accounts at the event with a straight-set win over Yannick Hanfmann 7-5, 6-3, breaking the 138th-ranked German in the final game of the first set and once more in the second to secure victory.

“I’m very happy about my performance,” said world No. 1 Sinner on court after the victory.

“The first set could have gone into a tiebreak and then anything can happen.

“First matches are never easy on grass – and also second and third matches – so let’s see what’s coming in the next round.”

Sinner, who won last year’s tournament, will take on 2023 Halle champion Alexander Bublik in the last 16 on June 19. He beat Bublik in three sets in the Roland Garros quarter-finals earlier in June.

Coming into the Wimbledon warmup event, the Italian admitted to having “a few sleepless nights” after his 5hr 29min French Open loss to Alcaraz but things are looking up for the three-time Grand Slam winner. REUTERS, AFP