In a thrilling day of tennis at the Queen's Club Championships on June 21, 2025, the stage was set for a dramatic showdown as Carlos Alcaraz and Jiri Lehecka advanced to the final, while British hopeful Jack Draper's impressive run came to a heartbreaking end.
Top seed Carlos Alcaraz, fresh off his recent French Open triumph, continued his dominant form by defeating fellow Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 6-4. The 22-year-old's victory marked his 17th consecutive win and the 250th of his burgeoning career, underscoring his status as one of the sport's brightest stars. Alcaraz, who claimed the Queen's title in 2023, joked about the punishing heat during his semi-final, saying, "At some point I felt like I was playing in Spain. Today the conditions were extreme, super hot. At the end of the second set I was struggling a little bit, my head spinning around. I just kept fighting. I guess I didn't give up." His resilience and skill ensured he reached his fifth consecutive final, with his confidence growing as he declared, "I love stepping on court and love playing with a smile on my face. That's why I'm making good results." Alcaraz will face Czech star Jiri Lehecka in the final, a match eagerly anticipated by fans worldwide.
Lehecka, 23, made history by becoming the first Czech man in 15 years to reach a top-level grasscourt final, the last being Tomas Berdych at Wimbledon in 2010. His journey to the final was marked by a gritty and hard-fought victory over Britain's Jack Draper, who had captivated local fans with his tenacity despite battling tonsillitis. The semi-final was a rollercoaster, with Lehecka taking the first set 6-4, Draper responding in kind with a 6-4 second set, and the decider culminating in a nail-biting 7-5 win for the Czech.
Draper's determination shone through despite his illness, which he revealed had worsened on match day. "Today's probably the worst I have felt," Draper admitted after the match. "Did I think about withdrawing? No, not at all. I'm in the semi-finals at Queen's. I'd probably go on court with a broken leg. I wouldn't have pulled out for anything." His refusal to give up inspired many, even as frustration boiled over late in the match, leading him to smash his racket into a sponsor board. "I don't condone that behaviour, but at the same time, that's kind of where I was at today," he explained. Draper's efforts have secured him a coveted top-four seeding at Wimbledon, a significant milestone in his career that Jamie Murray believes could be a precursor to even greater success. Murray told the BBC, "Jack Draper is an amazing competitor. He is a big guy but moves incredibly well. He has that left hand that will help him in defensive situations that maybe right-handers don’t have. He is having an amazing year and we are hoping he will have a great Wimbledon. He will be one of the favourites behind Sinner and Alcaraz." Draper himself reflected on his rapid rise: "I remember last year going in ranked around 30 or 40. To be inside the top four come Wimbledon one year around, that's massive progress. I live and breathe the sport, and I'm obsessed with progressing and obsessed with becoming the player that I want to become all the time and achieve the things I want to."
Lehecka's victory was a testament to his composure under pressure, particularly in the crucial moments of the decider. After breaking Draper's serve at 5-5 with two stunning passing shots, he held his nerve to close out the match. "It means a lot. You don't meet a player like Jack every day, he's an amazing competitor," Lehecka said post-match. His win also marked his first victory against a top-10 player since his earlier season triumph over Alcaraz in Doha, signaling his arrival on the big stage.
The day also saw significant developments off the court. Casper Ruud, ranked world No. 16, withdrew from Wimbledon due to a head injury, also pulling out of the upcoming Mallorca Championships as he focuses on recovery. Meanwhile, British teenage sensation Mimi Xu received a Wimbledon wildcard shortly after completing her A-Level biology exam, a dream come true for the 17-year-old balancing academics and professional tennis.
In the coaching realm, Carlos Alcaraz announced a reunion with former coach Juan Carlos Ferrero for Wimbledon, a strategic move following Ferrero's absence at Queen's where Samuel Lopez stepped in. Ferrero's guidance was instrumental in Alcaraz's recent French Open victory, and his return is expected to bolster Alcaraz's grass-court campaign.
Elsewhere in the tennis world, Aryna Sabalenka, the women's world No. 1, was stunned by former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova in the Berlin Open semi-finals. Vondrousova's commanding 6-2, 6-4 victory marked her first final appearance since her 2023 Wimbledon triumph, where she will face qualifier Wang Xinyu. In Halle, Daniil Medvedev reached his first final in over a year by defeating Alexander Zverev in a thrilling three-set encounter.
Off-court, the sport continues to grapple with social media abuse issues, highlighted by Coco Gauff's revelation of the severe and distressing messages she and her close ones have endured. Gauff called for greater action from social media platforms to protect athletes and influencers alike from such harmful behavior.
As the tennis world looks ahead to Wimbledon starting June 30, the narratives of rising stars like Draper, the relentless form of Alcaraz, and the historic breakthrough of Lehecka set the stage for an electrifying summer of tennis. The Queen's Club final promises to be a captivating clash of youth, skill, and ambition, with Alcaraz's 'grass mode activated' and Lehecka's breakthrough spirit ready to captivate fans.
