Watching Carlos Alcaraz on grass during these past six days has been a bit like having a front-row seat as a prodigy deciphers the tennis equivalent of the Enigma code. At first confusion, especially at the speed and slipperiness of the green stuff. Then, with every passing day, a sense of a puzzle being cracked, of pieces falling into place. Before, finally, the sounds of solution – and satisfaction – as the Queen’s Club trophy is hoisted over his head.
With this 6-4, 6-4 victory against the willing Australian Alex de Minaur, Alcaraz not only won his first grass-court title but returned to the tennis summit. The new men’s world No 1 is also guaranteed to be top seed at Wimbledon in a week’s time. What’s more, he believes he can win it.
