ATP Queen's: Carlos Alcaraz still chases ATP throne

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World no. 2 Carlos Alcaraz will compete in the Queen's quarter-final. Carlos faced another young gun Jiri Lehecka in the second round and scored a dominant 6-2, 6-3 victory in an hour and 25 minutes. Alcaraz had a more relaxed day at the office than against Arthur Rinderknech in the first duel. The Spaniard denied all three break chances and delivered three breaks from nine opportunities, more than enough to sail into the last eight. Thus, the Spaniard remains on the course toward the title and the ATP throne, as he would pass Novak Djokovic and become world no. 1 with those 500 ATP points. Alcaraz landed 22 winners and 20 unforced errors, firing 24 service winners and controlling the pace. Carlos was pleased with his performance and built the upper hand in the shortest and mid-range rallies. Alcaraz kicked off the action with a service winner in the encounter's first game.

Carlos Alcaraz is through into the Queen's quarter-final. 

Lehecka struggled in his opening service game and got broken after Alcaraz's deep return and wrong challenge. Jiri denied a break point in game four after a backhand crosscourt winner and landed a service winner to remain within one break deficit. Carlos grabbed the fifth game with a slice winner and fired another in the seventh game for 5-2. Jiri netted a backhand while serving to stay in the set and offered Carlos a set point. The Spaniard painted a perfect backhand crosscourt winner to claim the opener 6-2 in 39 minutes. Alcaraz grabbed the second set's opening game with a service winner and broke at love a few minutes later with a forehand down the line return winner that sent him closer to the finish line.

The Spaniard held for 3-0 before experiencing issues in game five. Carlos faced three break points and saved them with two winners and the rival's error. He held after deuces with an ace and opened a 4-1 gap. The Czech saved a break point in game six after the opponent's mistake and held to remain within one break deficit. Alcaraz clinched the seventh game at 15 and forced Lehecka to serve to stay in the match at 2-5. Jiri saved a match point with a service winner and held to prolong the action. Carlos sealed the deal on his third match point in the ninth game to emerge at the top and reach the final eight. 

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/O1e5fxG

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