Alcaraz Handed Last-Minute Opponent Change Ahead Of Queen's Club Return
NewsTuesday, 17 June 2025 at 14:18
Carlos Alcaraz will have to deal with unexpected circumstances in his first grass match of the 2025 season.
Switching from clay to grass is always tricky for all tennis players. That's why many opt to play on the green low-bouncing surface as soon as possible, signing up for the tournaments in the first week of the grass-court part of the season.
That's something that wasn't really possible for Alcaraz this year, as he played in the Roland Garros season, and the grass-court season starts only a day after the final in Paris.
That's why he signed up to compete at the Queen's Club Championships, held in the second week of the grass-court part of the season. There are no byes for seeded players at this ATP 500 tournament, which means that Alcaraz, like everyone else, has to start in the first round.
His participation was previously in doubt, but the 22-year-old Spaniard made his way to London, ready to hit the grass courts. His first opponent at the event was supposed to be Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, but Alcaraz won't play against his good Spanish friend.
Shortly before their match, Davidovich Fokina withdrew from the tournament. As a result, Alcaraz will now face an opponent he was not ready for, a lucky loser, Adam Walton.
The positive thing for Alcaraz is that Walton is a lower-ranked player than Davidovich Fokina. He is also a less experienced player, but has already three matches under his belt during this grass season.
For Alcaraz, their meeting will be his first match on grass, and it will be also his first match against Walton. The 26-year-old Australian lost in the final round of the qualifying to Aleksandar Vukic before getting into the main draw as a lucky loser.
One of Alcaraz's coaches, Samuel Lopez, spoke about the five-time Grand Slam champion ahead of his grass debut this year, and mentioned that getting match practice is crucial for him to get up to speed. Match against Walton might be ideal for that.
"We came here with little time, but with enthusiasm and excitement. He really enjoys playing on this surface, on grass, and with the positive energy of another year of coming off a Roland Garros victory. Winning (in Paris) is a plus. There's little time to prepare for this, but we're taking it as an adaptation to the grass. The more games we win here, the better."
"The objective for a player like him is that you come to the tournaments to win, but being aware that the important thing is to continue preparing and accepting that it is not going to be easy, after such a long clay tour and now changing surfaces and that the sensations are different and difficult to get."
If Alcaraz wins his first match on grass, he will then take on either fellow compatriot Jaume Munar or another Australian, Jordan Thompson.
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