Spain's Carlos Alcaraz competes during the men's singles semifinal match against Sebastian Korda of the United States at the Queens Club tennis tournament in London, Britain, June 24, 2023. (Photo by Stephen Chung/Xinhua)
World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz cruised into his first final on grass at the Queen's Club.
LONDON, June 24 (Xinhua) -- World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz reached his first final on grass after beating American Sebastian Korda 6-3, 6-4 at the Queen's Club here on Saturday.
Alcaraz, 20, was broken in the opening game, but held his nerve to break back right away before breaking again in the eighth game and won the first set 6-3.
The top seed at the ATP 500 event seemed more confident in the second set, as he converted his only break point of this set in the third game and wrapped it up 6-4.
"I surprised myself honestly with the level that I'm playing right now," said Alcaraz, whose previous match experience on grass were two Wimbledon appearances in the past two years.
Spain's Carlos Alcaraz celebrates after winning the men's singles semifinal match against Sebastian Korda of the United States at the Queens Club tennis tournament in London, Britain, June 24, 2023. (Photo by Stephen Chung/Xinhua)
"I came here just to get experience, to get out on court and practice and play with these kind of players," said Alcaraz, who reached the round of 16 at last year's Wimbledon Championships. "I'm going to say it is a good preparation for Wimbledon, but I didn't expect at the beginning of the week that I'm gonna be in the final and playing in such a good level."
Alcaraz will lock horns with Australian Alex de Minaur in Sunday's final as the seventh seed saw off second-seeded Holger Rune of Denmark 6-3, 7-6(2). ■
