Spanish prodigy Carlos Alcaraz qualified for the first grass final of his career by logically dominating American Sebastian Korda, 6-3, 6-4, on Saturday at the ATP 500 tournament at Queen’s.
On Sunday, if he wins against the Australian Alex de Minaur (N.18 at the ATP), Alcaraz will also regain the place of world number one at the expense of the Serbian Novak Djokovic.
Even if his favorite surface remains clay, the Murcian has shown dazzling progress on grass, and is advancing as a favorite at Wimbledon, the third Grand Slam of the season which begins in a week.
In the Queen’s semi-final on Saturday, if the first set was a bit disjointed with 13 break points in total, Carlos Alcaraz was the strongest in this game by converting two out of eight opportunities against one out of five for Korda, 22. and current 32nd in the world.
In the second round, the devastating power of the 20-year-old Spaniard, especially in the forehand, allowed him to dominate the proceedings.
He seized the opposing face-off at the first opportunity to lead 2-1 and then no longer be worried, concluding in 1h23 on his second match point.