LONDON — High seed Carlos Alcaraz was pushed all the best way by fellow-Spaniard Jaume Munar in an exciting contest earlier than clinching a 6-4 6-7(7) 7-5 win and superior to the Queen’s Membership Championships quarterfinals on Thursday.
Alcaraz not too long ago got here out on prime in an epic French Open ultimate towards Jannik Sinner, and whereas this second spherical conflict in London could not have reached those self same dizzying heights, the British crowd have been served up an enthralling battle.
The world quantity two was a break down within the deciding set however confirmed his power as soon as extra as Alcaraz stretched his successful run to fifteen matches, the longest streak of his profession.
“It was a extremely powerful battle that we had right this moment,” Alcaraz mentioned after greater than three hours on courtroom.
“He is an incredible competitor and he confirmed how troublesome it’s to beat him.”
Alcaraz, the 2023 champion, regarded nicely in management as he eased to take the opening set, and after saving 4 break and set factors at 5-4 down within the second he pressured Munar to a tiebreaker.
The pair traded early breaks with neither participant holding serve over the primary 4 factors, earlier than a Munar double fault allowed Alcaraz to take a 5-4 lead. He smashed an ace however then hit a double fault of his personal on match level.
Munar made him pay this time to drive a deciding set.
After Alcaraz went 2-0 up, the French Open champion was damaged in his subsequent two service video games and Munar went right into a 4-2 lead.
Alcaraz, nevertheless, was not executed but, and two extra breaks of serve sealed a hard-earned victory as he continued his preparations for Wimbledon, the place the Spaniard can be aiming to finish a hat-trick of triumphs.
“I am happy with the extent I confirmed right this moment. It is my second match on grass this 12 months,” Alcaraz mentioned.
“There have been moments I struggled loads mentally and bodily. I nonetheless do not know the way I am standing right here. However I am actually comfortable I’ve given myself one other probability within the quarter-finals.”
Alcaraz will face French fortunate loser Arthur Rinderknech after his 7-5 7-6(3) win over American Reilly Opelka. Rinderknech has misplaced each earlier conferences with Alcaraz, the final loss coming at Queen’s in 2023.
Elsewhere within the Queen’s Membership draw. British quantity two Jacob Fearnley reached his first ATP Tour quarterfinal with a 6-3 2-6 6-2 win over French qualifier Corentin Moutet.
“I am very comfortable to be in my first quarterfinal, it is even higher to do it right here within the UK,” Fearnley mentioned.
“I attempted to stay to my sport plan and be aggressive. I did that higher within the third set and the end result speaks for itself.”
Fearnley raced right into a 3-0 lead, and whereas Moutet broke again, the Briton responded instantly with one other break of his personal to ease by way of the primary set.
Moutet did likewise within the second, crusing 3-0 forward earlier than breaking for a second time to clinch the set and drive the decider, the place Fearnley broke twice earlier than holding serve to like to clinch victory in model.
The 23-year-old will now face Jiri Lehecka after the Czech beat Canada’s Gabriel Diallo 6-4 6-2.
