Alcaraz wins at Queen, reclaims No 1 spot

Alcaraz wins at Queen now world No 1

The path from youthful success at Queen’s Club to glory at Wimbledon is well-trodden, and Carlos Alcaraz is truly on his way.

The 20-year-old Spaniard moves so fast across the ground it will not take him long, though he might have to wait a year or so, at least until some mishap befalls Novak Djokovic.

Alcaraz defeated Alex de Minaur 6-4, 6-4 in yesterday’s final, becoming the youngest winner of the cinch Championships since Lleyton Hewitt in 2000.

Yet the vintage Australian never had quite the same connection with the crowd. In terms of magnetic pull the Spaniard may have more in common with Boris Becker, once a 17-year-old champion in this corner of west London before he soared to global fame at SW19.

In stifling temperatures Alcaraz had the crowd gasping in awe at times, whether it was the power of his forehand, his pump-action serve or his astonishing speed across the grass. You could tell he was thoroughly enjoying it, and hence that certain connection with those basking in the sun.

Alcaraz will be ranked as the top seed for next week's All-England Championships at Wimbledon 

In the event that he makes it to the final of Wimbledon to face Djokovic on Centre Court two weeks on Sunday — an entirely plausible outcome — it is pretty obvious who they would be backing.

‘I hope so. I felt the love from the people here since day one, and for me it’s really, really important in Wimbledon to feel the same energy, the same love that I felt during this week,’ said Alcaraz.

'It’s been an amazing week and ending the week playing at the high level with a lot of energy I have a lot of confidence coming into Wimbledon.

‘Seeing my name on the trophy surronded by the great champions is amazing. So right now I feel one of the favourites to win Wimbledon.

‘Novak is the main favourite to win Wimbledon, but I will try to play at this level and have chances to beat him.’

Regardless of the top seeding he will have, it still takes quite some extrapolation to believe that he, or anyone else, can stop Djokovic in the arena where he has become almost invincible. He has not lost on Centre Court since 2013, in addition to the extraordinary statistic that he has one more win at Wimbledon (86) than the rest of the world’s top 20 put together.

Small wonder that the 36-year-old Serb is odds-on to defend his title, but after this week there can be the hope it will be slightly less of a procession than it might have seemed after Djokovic’s triumph at the French Open.

Alcaraz is clearly a danger, especially if the courts play hard and true. He arrived at Queen’s treading gingerly, and came within a deciding-set tiebreak of being defeated by the little-known Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech in his opening match. He still has only nine victories on grass, but departs looking so much more convincing.