Carlos Alcaraz on Queen’s defeat: ‘It’s part of our lives’

Roland Garros champion Carlos Alcaraz admitted that losses are part of tennis players’ careers and they need to learn from them to get better for the next tournament. The Spaniard was stunned by British no.1 Jack Draper 7-6(3), 6-3 in the round of 16 of Queen’s Club Championship.

Ergo, Alcaraz’s hopes of defending his title ended on Thursday. The youngster suffered his first loss on grass since 2022 and he would look to make a solid comeback in Wimbledon.

“Of course it’s tough to deal with the losses, but I think it’s part of our lives,” he said, crediting Draper for his play. “We have to [deal with it] as good as you can. After the losses, you have to take the positive things and of course the negative things just to improve to the next tournament.”

Alcaraz reckons it is imperative to keep practising on grass to adjust to the surface.

“I think the best way to be better on grass is to stay here, practise with players, physically doing good stuff on grass and the movement, really specific things,” Alcaraz said when asked if he would return to Spain before Wimbledon, which begins 1 July. “In Spain or at my home, we don’t have grass courts or really grass places just to practise.

“My focus is… I don’t know, I have to talk with my team. But yeah, I’m close to Wimbledon, so as soon as I can, I’m going focus on the practising with players, practising and everything, and I hope to be better.”

The Spaniard said he is hungry to keep improving at the top level and get the positive results in Wimbledon.

“Right now I’m hungry just to be better, to practise, and that’s all I have to do,” he said. “I’m really excited to start Wimbledon. Of course I really want to win every title that I [play for], and I think Wimbledon is even more special. So, as I said, I have time, and excited to start the first match on Centre Court.”

Wimbledon will begin from July 1.