LONDON/WASHINGTON, June 19, 2025 (by Michael Dickens)
World No. 44 Gabriel Diallo entered sunny Andy Murray Arena at the HSBC Championships on a six-match winning streak on Thursday, looking to achieve his fourth consecutive Top-30 win. Just four days after winning his first ATP Tour title in the Netherlands last Sunday, the 23-year-old Canadian arrived for his second-round match at the ATP 500 event filled with high hopes.
However, Diallo’s ambitions came crashing to a halt after losing to World No. 30 Jiri Lehecka of Czechia, 6-4, 6-2, in one hour and four minutes. Nothing seemed to go right for Diallo and everything went Lehecka’s way, whether it was winning points from the baseline or engaging his opponent at the net. Lehecka seized the opportunity as temperatures soared to 32º Celsius in West London and cruised to victory on his first match-point opportunity with a second-serve ace down the middle – his fifth ace of the match.
Overall, Lehecka kept things simple and stress free – 11 winners to 12 unforced errors – and outpointed Diallo 55-40. He converted three of four break points – breaking early in both sets – and did not face any break points himself. Lehecka benefited from 18 unforced errors by Diallo.
That was some performance from @jirilehecka
Into the #HSBCChampionships quarter-finals
— HSBC Championships (@QueensTennis) June 19, 2025
By the end, Lehecka became the fourth Czech quarterfinalist at Queen’s Club in the Open Era after Hall of Famer Ivan Lendl (1983, 1989-90), Radek Stepanek (2004-05, 2014) and Tomas Berdych (2013-14, 2017). It was his fourth grass-court victory in five outings this season.
“I finally feel great,” Lehecka said during his on-court interview with ATP Media. “During the clay season I didn’t really feel like myself. I knew playing on grass was going to bring me advantages. I’ve felt very confident with my serve. It’s something I’ve been working on pretty hard in the last two to three weeks. I’m just focusing on each match and it’s been working well.”
It’s been a pretty solid week in West London for the 23-year-old Lehecka, a native Mlada Boleslav, who turned pro in 2020. On Tuesday, he ousted World No. 12 Alex de Minaur of Australia in the opening round without facing any break points. Now, after his triumph over Diallo, he’s through to his 20th tour-level quarterfinal – fifth of the season – and second on grass after reaching the last eight at Stuttgart. The Czech No. 3 (99-78 lifetime) is now just a win away from record the 100th tour-level of his career.
Czech-in to the quarters @jirilehecka storms past Diallo 6-4, 6-2 in West London@QueensTennis | #HSBCChampionships pic.twitter.com/B6atXU26L2
— ATP Tour (@atptour) June 19, 2025
On Friday, Lehecka will oppose No. 60 Jacob Fearnley of Great Britain, who went the distance to defeat 89th-ranked French qualifier Corentin Moutet, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2, in two hours and eight minutes. The British No. 2 achieved a career mileston of reaching his first ATP Tour quarterfinal. It was Fearnley’s second win over the mercurial Moutet and it extended the Briton’s unbeaten win-loss record against French players to 17-0 (5-0 this season). The loss prevented Moutet from reaching his first ATP 500 quarterfinal.
It’s the second time since the start of the 2024 season that multiple British players have reached the quarterfinals of the same ATP Tour event after Jack Draper and Billy Harris played in the last eight at Queen’s Club last year. Fearnley could meet Draper in Saturday’s semifinal round if both players win their quarterfinal matches on Friday. Draper will face American Brandon Nakashima, ranked 32nd.
Fearnley thriving at home
Into a maiden @atptour quarter-final at the #HSBCChampionships
— HSBC Championships (@QueensTennis) June 19, 2025
Fearnley, who had plenty of crowd support from the mostly-British fans on hand, hit 40 winners, converted four of 11 break-point chances, won 26 of 35 net-point exchanges and outpointed Moutet 84-75.
During his on-court interview with ATP Media after his win, Fearnley described the feeling of reaching his first tour-level quarterfinal. “It’s really special,” he said. “I never thought I would be in these moments, standing here on Andy Murray Arena in the U.K. In front of these fans and being in my first ATP Tour quarterfinal. It’s really special to me. I still can’t quite believe it. I think it will take a few more hours to settle in. I know I’m really happy for sure.”
Is that @TheBorisBecker or @jakefearnley01? @QueensTennis | #HSBCChampionships pic.twitter.com/NcfNOKYPuz
— ATP Tour (@atptour) June 19, 2025
Alcaraz reaches longest winning streak of his career
World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz recorded the longest match winning streak of his career (15) after defeating fellow Spaniard Jaume Munar, ranked 59th, 6-4, 6-7 (7), 7-5, in three hours and 23 minutes to advance to Friday’s quarterfinal round.
The 22-year-old top seed improved to 22-1 on grass since the start of the 2023 season. Ironically, his lone loss came to British No. 1 Jack Draper – this year’s No. 2 seed – in the second-round at Queen’s Club last year. The two top seeds could clash in Sunday’s final if the seeds hold true.
Three sets of the highest order
The @Infosys Stat of the Day after a classic match at the #HSBCChampionships pic.twitter.com/EV5YACN2tq
— HSBC Championships (@QueensTennis) June 19, 2025
Alcaraz, the only former champion in the draw, garnered a tour-leading ninth quarterfinal in 2025 and kept Munar from earning the biggest win of his career and a first-time tour-level quarterfinal on grass. He did so by saving six set points during the second set, including five in the 10th game alone. He set up his first match point during the second-set tie-break with an ace for 6-4, but double-faulted. On his second match point, Alcaraz pushed a forehand return long and it was 6-all. Munar went on to win the set on his eighth set-point chance behind a swing volley forehand winner coming into the net – and it was on to a third set. The second set lasted an hour and 41 minutes.
In the final set, Alcaraz rallied from 2-4 down to pull out the victory. He overcame 53 unforced errors by hitting 49 winners and outpointed Munar 134-122.
Alcaraz improved to 3-1 lifetime against the 28-year-old Munar, and is now 39-5 this season with four titles to his credit – including recent crowns won in Rome and at Roland-Garros.
In the evening glow…@carlosalcaraz finds a way. ✨#HSBCChampionships pic.twitter.com/xHuB4Kqn1F
— HSBC Championships (@QueensTennis) June 19, 2025
“It was a really tough battle that we had today. Jaume is a great competitor, I think he showed how difficult it is to beat him,” Alcaraz said during his on-court interview with ATP Media. “I’m just proud of the level I played, it’s my second match on grass this year. There were a lot of things going on, but I’m really happy.
“I struggled mentally and physically. I honestly still don’t know how I’m here now. I’m just really happy to give myself another chance in the quarterfinals.”
Getting there in the end @carlosalcaraz finds his way through a three-set thriller vs Munar!
— HSBC Championships (@QueensTennis) June 19, 2025
On Friday, Alcaraz will face No. 80 Arthur Rinderknech of France, who beat his second American opponent of the week after taking down World No. 10 Ben Shelton earlier in the week. On Thursday evening, Rinderknech defeated No. 75 Reilly Opelka of the United States, 7-5, 7-6 (3), in one hour and 36 minutes. Their match was moved to Court 1 due to the length of the Alcaraz-Munar tussle on Andy Murray Arena with daylight waning and no lighted courts at Queen’s Club.
Arthur Rinderknech moves into his first @atptour quarter-final since July! #HSBCChampionships pic.twitter.com/0WTDJVDJjY
— HSBC Championships (@QueensTennis) June 19, 2025
Around the Queen’s Club
No. 1 doubles seeds Marcelo Arevelo of El Salvador and Mate Pavic of Croatia were upset by unseeded Nikola Mektic of Croatia and Michael Venus of New Zealand, 6-4, 2-6, 10-6, in a 72-minute quarterfinal-round match on Court 1. Mektic and Venus combined to win 78 percent of their service points and converted one of three break points. They outpointed their opponents 54-51.
In the semifinals, Mektic and Venus will face British wild cards Jacob Fearnley and Cameron Norrie, who beat Taylor Fritz of the United States and Jiri Lehecka of Czechia, 6-2, 6-4, in 64 minutes on Court 1. The British duo won 84 percent of their first-serve points, saved the only break point they face, converted three of six break-point chances and outpointed their opponents 59-41.
Thursday’s HSBC Championships results
Friday’s HSBC Championships order of play
By the numbers
Carlos Alcaraz improved to 26-3 lifetime on grass, including 18-1 against players ranked outside the Top 20. His current 15-match winning streak, the longest of his career, began in Rome, when Alcaraz won his opening-round match.
“Quotable …”
“My goal is to peak at Wimbledon, you know. I’m going to give myself a chance each day to get better. I’ve been hitting the ball better and better in practice each time, but sometimes that doesn’t necessarily adjust to the match court straightaway. So hopefully more tennis this week, a day off [Thursday], I can start to show better tennis out there and be a bit cleaner.”
British No. 1 and second seed Jack Draper, during his post-match news conference Wednesday, after defeating World No. 21 Alexei Popyrin to advance to the quarterfinal round.
