LONDON/WASHINGTON, June 21, 2025 (by Michael Dickens)
A touch of Spain graced the second semifinal of the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club in West London Saturday afternoon. That’s because World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz took on fellow Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut with a berth in Sunday’s final of the ATP 500 grass-court tune-up for Wimbledon up for grabs.
The 22-year-old Alcaraz, 15 years younger than Bautista Agut, aimed to advance to five consecutive finals for the first time in career. He came into his semifinal-round match against Bautista Agut, 37, 25-1 since April – riding high on a 16-match winning streak. He also led the ATP Tour in wins (40), titles (4) and finals (5) this season.
With a 9-1 win-loss record lifetime at Queen’s Club, the 2023 champion dazzled the 9,000-strong Andy Murray Arena crowd with a dazzling array of winners – everything from classic forehands to backhand drop volleys – each one amazing to witness.
By the end of their one-hour, 29-minute skirmish, whose start was briefly held up by a slight drizzle, Alcaraz defeated Bautista Agut, 6-4, 6-4, for his 10th career triumph at Queen’s Club and 41st win of 2025. He’s now won 17 straight matches.
2️⃣5️⃣0️⃣ tour level wins. @carlosalcaraz#HSBCChampionships pic.twitter.com/tx2GgsoWyC
— HSBC Championships (@QueensTennis) June 21, 2025
Alcaraz winning streak stretches to 17 straight
The top-seeded Alcaraz also garnered the 250th tour-level win of his career (250-61) – becoming the third fastest of any player who began their career in the Open Era – and extended his record against fellow countrymen to 15-0 since losing to Rafael Nadal in the 2022 Indian Wells semifinals.
The 2023 Queen’s Club champion rode an early break in each set against Bautista Agut to victory in a match in which both players showed exceptional skill. While there was very little wrong that the elder Spaniard did, the top-seeded Alcaraz was just a little bit better on grass on this day. His fifth-shot winner that secured match point – winner No. 36 on the day – was a perfect example of Alcaraz’s consistency and brilliance.
By the end of the semifinal, Alcaraz had also fired 15 aces, won 73 percent of his first-serve points, saved the only break point he faced and outpointed Bautista Agut 73-57. He improved to 3-0 lifetime against Bautista Agut.
Into the final with a flourish ✨@carlosalcaraz | #HSBCChampionships
— HSBC Championships (@QueensTennis) June 21, 2025
“I just feel that I’m playing great tennis and feeling more comfortable after each match,” Alcaraz said during his on-court interview. “Making the final here at Queen’s once again is so special, so I guess grass mode is activated.
“I always say that I love playing tennis, I love stepping on the court and putting on a show for the crowd, making them enjoy watching my games. Every time I put a smile on my face, I show my best tennis, so I try to do that. That’s why I’m getting good results.”
Pure Class from Carlos #HSBCChampionships
— HSBC Championships (@QueensTennis) June 21, 2025
Draper’s loss to Lehecka means no Brits in Queen’s Club final
As the only British player left in the field at Queen’s Club singles draw, No. 2 seed Jack Draper carried the weight on an entire nation on his broad shoulders Saturday as he sought to reach his first ATP Tour final on English soil. He also revealed afterward that he has been battling tonsillitis, too.
The World No. 5 Draper, who is soon to ascend to World No. 4 come Monday – and guaranteed a Top-4 seed at Wimbledon later this month – took on World No. 30 Jiri Lehecka of Czechia, who has been a stoic but steady competitor all week long. While Draper attempted to become the seventh different British man to reach the Queen’s Club final in Open Era – and second youngest British finalist after Andy Murray, who was 22 when advanced to the 2009 title match – Lehecka was looking to reach his fifth ATP Tour final. It would be Lehecka’s first above the ATP 250 level and he would become just the second Czech finalist at Queen’s Club in the Open Era after two-time (1989-90) champion Ivan Lendl.
While the 23-year-old Draper came in 27-3 versus players ranked outside the Top 20 since October of last year – including two wins over Lehecka on hard courts – the Czech No. 3 arrived Saturday having won five of his six grass-court matches this season and looking hungry to add another triumph to his win column. Last week, he was a quarterfinalist in Stuttgart. This week, he advanced even further.
Joy for Jiri ️
See you tomorrow, @jirilehecka!#HSBCChampionships pic.twitter.com/VS2bHamjmc
— HSBC Championships (@QueensTennis) June 21, 2025
As it happened, Draper was pushed to three sets for the third-straight match – after going the distance to beat Alexei Popyrin in the second round and Brandon Nakashima in the quarterfinals. At a set each, Draper drafted off the enthusiasm of the mostly-British crowd on hand at Andy Murray Arena on another warm and sunny afternoon during the decider. However, the 23-year-old Lehecka quietly went about his business and shocked Draper, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5, in two hours and seven minutes. His second break of Draper’s serve put him up 6-5 and he served out the victory in the next game.
The outcome left the crowd stunned by the result but fans showered applause for both competitors. There will be better days ahead for Draper, but overall he acquitted himself well this week with his run to the last four. Now, he will head off to Wimbledon knowing he won’t have to play either World No. 1 Jannik Sinner or Alcaraz until the semifinals at the earliest.
Meanwhile, Lehecka has advanced to the biggest final of his career and first on grass – richly earned – after hitting 36 winners, including 16 aces, and winning 77 percent of his first-serve points. He saved five of six break points and outpointed Draper 92-91. During the first set, Lehecka dropped just two of 16 first-serve points and didn’t face a break point. Draper countered with 14 aces and 28 winners.
What it means to reach your first #HSBCChampionships final pic.twitter.com/55QDQqTrSO
— HSBC Championships (@QueensTennis) June 21, 2025
Just how much does beating Draper and reaching his biggest final mean to Lehecka?
“It means a lot,” Lehecka said during his on-court interview. “You don’t beat a player like Jack every day. I want to say thanks to [the crowd] for making it fair. I know your favorite didn’t win today, but I really appreciate you being fair and clapping when I hit a few good [shots].”
Later, in a separate interview with ATP Media, Lehecka added: “The most important thing for me is I didn’t give up. I kept going and I still believed I would have a chance to win. I am super happy with how I served it out.”
Lehecka is the first Czech man to reach an ATP Tour-level final on grass since Tomas Berdych at Wimbledon 15 years ago in 2010.
“I’m happy to have a Czech flag in the final. It’s a great feeling, you know, getting another good result. The other guys, we are doing so well … Tomas [Machac] … Jakub [Mensik]. We are all pushing ourselves on the court and we’re friends off the court.”
“It means a lot, you don’t beat a player like Jack every day” ️@jirilehecka on reaching his first final at the #HSBCChampionships pic.twitter.com/qhkBvGW7Z3
— HSBC Championships (@QueensTennis) June 21, 2025
Although disappointed by Saturday’s outcome, which kept him from advancing to his eighth career final – and fourth of the season – Draper put a positive spin on the week after reaching the Queen’s Club semifinals for the first time.
“Yeah, obviously my best result here. I lost to a better player today on the day,” Draper said during his post-match news conference. “A couple of shots here and there, and at this level you obviously can’t do that.
“I felt like it was a solid week. I didn’t play my best tennis, but at the same time, the improvements since last year, you know, I gave myself a chance of being in the final tomorrow. Didn’t quite get over the line. That’s tennis really.
“So I look to keep on improving from here to hopefully do better at Wimby.”
Lot of respect for @jackdraper0 for giving back to the fans who’ve roared him on this week #HSBCChampionships pic.twitter.com/dFebaBTDU6
— HSBC Championships (@QueensTennis) June 21, 2025
Around the Queen’s Club‘
Nikola Mektic of Croatia and Michael Venus of New Zealand advanced to Sunday’s doubles final after defeating British wild cards Jacob Fearnley and Cameron Norrie, 6-3, 7-5, in one hour and 16 minutes on Court 1. The winners, who improved to 19-14 and have won one title this year at Auckland, combined to hit five aces and saved all four break points they faced. Mektic and Venus outpointed their opponents 61-55.
In the title match, Mektic and Venus will meet No. 4 seeds Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool of Great Britain, who needed a match tie-break to defeat No. 2 seeds Harri Heliovaara of Finland and Henry Patten of Great Britain, 7-6 (3), 3-6, 10-6, in one hour and 24 minutes on Andy Murray Arena. Cash and Glasspool, who are 32-11 with two titles this season at Brisbane and Doha, combined to serve 10 aces and outpointed their opponents 68-64.
Winning a battle of the Brits to reach the #HSBCChampionships final
Julian Cash & LLoyd Glasspool beat Henry Patten & Harri Heliovaara 7-6, 3-6, 10-6 on the Andy Murray Arena#BackTheBrits pic.twitter.com/nqcknk7wqA
— LTA (@the_LTA) June 21, 2025
Saturday’s Queen’s Club results
Sunday’s Queen’s Club order of play
By the numbers
Playing in his 311th tour-level match, Carlos Alcaraz became the third fastest to achieve 250 career victories of players who debuted in the Open Era. John McEnroe achieved his 250th win in 307 matches and Jimmy Connors in 310.
“Quotable …”
“I’m proud of the way I went about things, considering, you know, but it’s tough, because you’re in a position where you’re in a professional sport. You’re an entertainer, an athlete, and you have no choice. No one cares, you know. So you’ve just got to go out there and do the best you can. I’m proud of that. I gave myself a chance.”
– British No. 1 Jack Draper, during his post-match news conference Saturday after losing to Jiri Lehecka, on playing despite learning he has tonsillitis.
