Alcaraz on Queen's defeat: 'It's part of our lives'

Carlos Alcaraz‘s title defence at the Cinch Championships came to an early end on Thursday courtesy of a 7-6(3), 6-3 defeat to home favourite Jack Draper. While the Spaniard was not happy with his performance, he is taking his first grass-court defeat since 2022 in stride.

“Of course it’s tough to deal with the losses, but I think it’s part of our lives,” he said, crediting Draper for his play. “We have to [deal with it] as good as you can. After the losses, you have to take the positive things and of course the negative things just to improve to the next tournament.”

For Alcaraz, that next tournament is Wimbledon, where — like at The Queen’s Club — he will enter as defending champion. Prior to this week in London, Alcaraz had not competed on grass since his comeback victory against Novak Djokovic in last year’s final at the grass-court major. While he was perfect on the lawns last season, Alcaraz remains a relative novice on the unique surface with a 17-3 record.

“I think the best way to be better on grass is to stay here, practise with players, physically doing good stuff on grass and the movement, really specific things,” Alcaraz said when asked if he would return to Spain before Wimbledon, which begins 1 July. “In Spain or at my home, we don’t have grass courts or really grass places just to practise.

“My focus is… I don’t know, I have to talk with my team. But yeah, I’m close to Wimbledon, so as soon as I can, I’m going focus on the practising with players, practising and everything, and I hope to be better.”

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The No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings was competing at Queen’s without coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, who will arrive in London on Sunday or Monday. Alcaraz said his coach is “hungry”, and the Spaniard feels the same.

“Right now I’m hungry just to be better, to practise, and that’s all I have to do,” he said. “I’m really excited to start Wimbledon. Of course I really want to win every title that I [play for], and I think Wimbledon is even more special. So, as I said, I have time, and excited to start the first match on Centre Court.”

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