Photo Source: TTV
World No.2 Carlos Alcaraz took nine days off to enjoy his fifth major title, but he’s already back from a short stay in Ibiza and ready to continue his winning ways on the grass.
The top seed got past Australian lucky loser Adam Walton on Tuesday, 6-4 7-6(4), to stretch his overall winning streak to 13 matches.
Alcaraz, who lost to Jack Draper at Queen’s in the round of 16 last year, improves to 25-3 lifetime on the surface overall as he ramps up his bid to win a third consecutive title at Wimbledon.
“Honestly it feels like it has been more than nine days,” Alcaraz said on court after his win, which featured 34 winners, 10 aces and no break points surrendered. “Just nine days – it’s a little bit crazy to start the competition again. I feel great, super happy to be back on grass.”
Alcaraz dropped just 11 points on serve in total as he fought off a game effort from Walton, who replaced Alejandro Davidovich Fokina when the Spaniard withdrew due to injury.
"I told him he played great," Alcaraz said. "It was a great level. Honestly, a surprise, surprised myself with the level he played today. It was really tough. Sometimes I didn't know if it was about me that I didn't play good or it was about him that he was playing great. My coach told me that Adam surprised him, as well. The ranking doesn't show the level he has, for sure."
22-year-old Alcaraz will face either Jordan Thompson or Jaume Munar in the second round.
In other action on Tuesday at Queen’s Club, sixth-seeded Ben Shelton was upset by French lucky loser Arthur Rinderknech, 7-6(5) 7-6(4), while Reilly Opelka took out Camilo Ugo Carabelli 7-6(6) 6-4.
Draper Fit and Focused
Second-seeded Jack Draper cruised past American Jenson Brooksby 6-3, 6-1. The Brit had to overcome a minor injury, sustained during training, to be fit today.
“I was training on the courts here and took a really heavy fall. I was limping around for a day or so,” he said. “But it wasn't anything that was going to keep me from playing. I got out there today and I felt really good. I'm happy with that. Really happy, because, yeah, you never know how serious something is going to be.”