French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz successfully defended his Queen’s Club title with an enthralling 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-2 win over Jiří Lehečka, cementing his status as the favorite for Wimbledon.

By Martyn Herman LONDON (Reuters) -Top seed Carlos Alcaraz edged powerful Czech Jiri Lehecka 7-5 6-7(5) 6-2 to claim his second Queen's Club title and send out a powerful statement ahead of his Wimbledon defence on Sunday.

Carlos Alcaraz made good on his “Grasscaraz” epithet Sunday, beating Jiří Lehečka 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-2 to win his second Queen’s title. Lehečka threatened to make Alcaraz’s life difficult with a surge toward the end of the second and the start of the third sets,