Carlos Alcaraz eyes another Queen’s win as Wimbledon approaches

Tennis season is officially open for business and with the French Open starting this weekend, it’s almost time to wave goodbye to clay courts and welcome the return of grass tournaments.

Ahead of Wimbledon, we’re set for another thrilling two weeks of action at the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club, with the superstars of world tennis flocking to west London for the famous competition. The elite of the tennis world often use the tournament to get into the swing of things ahead of the main event at SW19, which gets underway at the end of June.

Carlos Alcaraz is set to return to the competition he won back in 2023 and he’ll be looking to repeat the feat as he aims to get in shape as he targets a third consecutive title. Meanwhile, for the first time in more than 50 years, we’re set for a ladies’ competition at Queen’s Club.

The last female winner was Olga Morozova way back in 1973 and the likes of Jessica Pegula, Madison Keys and Emma Raducanu will be hoping to be the first ladies’ champion there this century.

The ladies’ tournament gets started on Monday 9th June, with the final taking place on Sunday 15th June. Following that, the men’s draw takes place, running from Monday 16th June until Sunday 22nd June.

Alcaraz looks to continue stunning form

It’s been quite the year for Alcaraz, who won both the French Open and Wimbledon in 2024, before narrowly losing to Novak Djokovic in the Olympics final in Paris. He started 2025 how he ended last year and has already won the Rotterdam Open, Monte-Carlo Masters and the Italian Open, where he beat old pal Jannik Sinner in the final.

He’s the favourite to retain his title at Roland Garros and he’ll be full of confidence by the time the HSBC Championships return to Queen’s Club. Alcaraz won there back in 2023, beating Alex de Minaur in straight sets in the final, although he wasn’t quite at the races last year as he crashed out to Jack Draper in the second round.

Draper is looking to win the competition for the first time and is currently ranked fifth in the world following a sensational rise. He reached the semi-final of the US Open last autumn, where he ultimately lost to eventual champion Sinner. He also recently fell short against Alacaraz in the Italian Open quarter-final.

With Djokovic and Sinner absent from the entry list, there could be an opportunity for an unlikely winner. Tommy Paul went all the way a year ago, beating Lorenzo Musetti in the final. Meanwhile, his Olympic Games doubles partner Taylor Fritz could also challenge – he’s won the men’s doubles competition at Queen’s Club for the last two years running.

Can Raducanu get back on track?

Few tennis players have had worse injury luck than Raducanu in recent years. After bursting onto the scene and winning the US Open in 2021, she’s continuously struggled with fitness. She’ll be hoping that this is the year she finally gets back to her best and she’ll want to start by winning the first WTA event at Queen’s Club in half a century.

Ranked 43rd in the world, she’s entered as a wildcard, as has fellow Brit Katie Boulter, who triumphed in the final at the WTA 125K in Paris at the weekend. They’ll both be keen to impress on home soil but face stiff competition.

Pegula is ranked third in the world and will be the favourite going into the tournament. The American reached her first Grand Slam final at last year’s US Open and she’ll be hoping for some grass success as she looks to become the ninth ladies’ singles champion at Wimbledon in as many tournaments.

Fellow American Keys will also be a formidable opponent, as will Chinese star Qinwen Zheng. Meanwhile, there are a few grass court stalwarts on the entry list, including 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, as well as Petra Kvitova, who won the iconic tournament in both 2011 and 2014.

Hospitality at the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club

With an exciting fortnight of tennis to look forward to, why not join us in the best seats in the house? Here at Engage, we offer a range of packages for the tournament – enquire today to reserve your place.

Day 1 – Monday 16th June
Day 2 – Tuesday 17th June
Day 3 – Wednesday 18th June
Day 4 – Thursday 19th June
Day 5 – Friday 20th June
Day 6 – Saturday 21st June
Day 7 – Sunday 22nd June

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