Ex-ATP Pro Calls Carlos Alcaraz ‘Genius’ After Watching Him Hit ‘Ridiculous’ Shots at Queen’s

Carlos Alcaraz has scheduled a clash with Jiri Lehecka in the final of the Queen's, which he won in 2023.

Ex-ATP Pro Calls Carlos Alcaraz ‘Genius’ After Watching Him Hit ‘Ridiculous’ Shots at Queen’s

Carlos Alcaraz (image via Roland Garros)

Carlos Alcaraz hit 15 aces against his semifinal opponent Roberto Bautista Agut at the Queen’s Club Championships- the most in his best-of-three set matches. Even Alcaraz has started to feel like a “serve-bot“.

During his on-court interview after the win, he stated that improving his serve was one of his goals after his victory over Jaume Munar in the second round. Alcaraz’s shots also impressed 1977 Australian Open finalist, John Lloyd, who called the youngster a “genius”. He told BBC Sports:

He’s a genius, isn’t he? We saw some shots today that no one else can play on the tour. He’s a joy to watch. When he’s in the mood, which is most cases these days, he plays shots, the variety that comes into his game is just, I love watching him play.

His opponent in the final is Jiri Lehecka, who overcame home favorite Jack Draper to schedule his career’s third match against the World No.2. Lehecka and Alcaraz are 1-1 in the head-to-head matchups but it was the former who secured the win the last time they faced- in this year’s Qatar Open quarterfinals.

You come away from watching Alcaraz and you remember shots in the match and you’ll just say I was there when he hit that ridiculous shot, and that ridiculous shot, sort of like [Roger] Federer, to be honest.

John Lloyd added

Alcaraz is on a 17-match winning streak as before landing in London, he lifted the titles in Rome and Italy by beating Jannik Sinner in both finals. The 22-year-old will be playing his sixth final of the season.

Before entering the Queen’s Club, Alcaraz lifted the titles in Rotterdam, Monte Carlo, Rome, and Paris, losing only the Barcelona Open final against Holger Rune. At the Queen’s, he was the winner in 2023 but was defeated in the second round last year by Draper.

Toni Nadal thinks Carlos Alcaraz is superior in the crucial moments

The match between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in Paris will go down in history as the longest French Open final. It took Alcaraz five hours and 29 minutes to overcome Sinner but not before saving three championship points in the fourth set.

Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz (3)
Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/Univers Tennis)

Sinner reached his first French Open final following powerful performances one after the other, including in the semifinal against Novak Djokovic. In the final, Sinner, for the first time in the tournament, dropped a set.

Alcaraz became the third youngest man to reach the five-title tally in Grand Slam tournaments after Bjorn Borg and 14-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal. Nadal’s uncle, Toni Nadal, pointed out the area where Alcaraz excels more than Sinner.

I think the Spaniard is mentally a little superior in the decisive moments, while the Italian is better at imposing a very high pace without making mistakes. But when it’s the key moment, between the two of them, maybe Carlos is a little superior.

Toni Nadal told La Gazzetta dello Sport

It was the first time the two young rivals squared off in a Grand Slam final. They could meet again at Wimbledon but for that dream clash, they both have to progress to the final.

Sinner, who was the finalist at Wimbledon in 2023 and was defeated in the quarterfinals last year by Daniil Medvedev, was in Halle to defend his title and to double his title tally on grass. But Alexander Bublik eliminated him in the second round, before reaching the final to set up a clash with Medvedev.

Alcaraz is chasing his fourth grass-court title. Apart from his victory at the 2023 Queen’s Club, he lifted two consecutive Wimbledon titles, by beating 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, both the times.

Also read: Carlos Alcaraz Jokes About Singing Career After Jannik Sinner’s Opera Debut