Carlos Alcaraz v Jiri Lehecka live: Tennis score and result from Queen’s final
Follow the reaction as Alcaraz beats Lehecka 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-2 on Andy Murray Arena
Carlos Alcaraz has beaten Czech big-hitter Jiri Lehecka in the men’s final at Queen’s Club.
Alcaraz survived a scare against fellow Spaniard Jaume Munar in the second round and improved his grass game since then, defeating Arthur Rinderknech and Roberto Bautista Agut in the quarter-finals and semis. The defending Wimbledon champion has found his rhythm and a second Queen’s crown today, following his triumph over Alex de Minaur in the final two years ago, is perfect preparation for SW19.
Alcaraz endured a stern test from Lehecka, the 23-year-old who came through a fierce battle with Jack Draper to reach his first ATP 500 final. The world No 30 used his powerful serve – a perfect weapon for grass – to clinch the second set, but it wasn’t enough, eventually going down 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-2.
Follow all the reaction from the Queen’s final between Alcaraz and Lehecka below.
How they got here: Alcaraz cruises past Bautista Agut
Carlos Alcaraz swept past fellow Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut on Saturday to stretch his winning streak and set up a Queen's Club final against Czech Jiri Lehecka.
Top seed Alcaraz, 22, had too much firepower for his 37-year-old opponent during a 6-4 6-4 victory, his 17th successive win and the 250th of his career.
Draper dug deep impressively to level the match after dropping the first set, but Lehecka, regularly firing down serves touching 140mph, was stronger down the finishing straight.
The 23-year-old became the first Czech to reach the final at Queen’s since Ivan Lendl in 1990 after a 6-4 4-6 7-5 victory.
How they got here: Lahecka sinks home hope Draper
“It was bit of everything, really,” Draper said. “The way I was sort of playing at times. Obviously the fact that I’ve worked so hard to get myself in that position. I really tried to get myself up, get the energy going.
“When you see that ball go past you on that point, you know, it’s very tough to see yourself breaking in the next game, although I tried my best on that.
“I don’t condone that behaviour, but at the same time, that’s kind of where I was at today.
“I was trying to use everything I could. I tried to compete every ball. But in the end, anger just spilled over a little bit too much.”
How they got here: Lahecka sinks home hope Draper
Jack Draper revealed he was suffering with tonsillitis after making an angry exit from Queen’s Club.
The British number one smashed his racket, damaging a digital advertising hoarding and grazing his knee, as his semi-final against Jiri Lehecka slipped away from him.
Draper explained he was low on energy due to the illness and was getting angry in a bid to gee himself up.
But when world number 30 Lehecka fizzed a backhand past him to break for 6-5 in the deciding set, the 23-year-old exploded with rage.
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