The world No.2 Carlos Alcaraz experienced the greatest difficulties to dismiss the French Arthur Rindeknech (83rd and lucky loser) 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7/3), Tuesday in the first round on the grass of the Queen’s. “He had already played four or five matches on grass while it was my first. And it’s really difficult for me to play on grass so I think this victory is a very good performance for me,” commented Alcaraz.
Less than two weeks from Wimbledon, the Spaniard seemed very borrowed on a surface that does not succeed him as much as clay or hard. Twice, in the second and then the third set, Rinderknech was one game away from winning, leading 5-4, service from Alcaraz to follow. The first time, the Spaniard lined up three games in a row to tie a set all. The second, he could not do better than to win a decisive game, where he then immediately managed a mini break and then flew away.
Alcaraz had only played two grass tournaments so far, at Wimbledon in 2021 (loss in the 2nd round) and 2022 (loss in the round of 16). He will face in the next round of Queen’s the Czech Jiri Lehecka (36th). Rinderknech had been drafted in the morning after the announcement of the package of his promising compatriot Arthur Fils (62nd), victim of a “spike (muscular) in one leg” and who did not want to take any risk before Wimbledon, has we learned from those around him.
