The grass courts of the 2025 HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club in London are set to ignite with drama as world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz gears up for his first match of the grass-court season, only to face an unexpected twist in his opening-round opponent. Initially slated to take on fellow Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Alcaraz will now square off against Australia’s Adam Walton, a lucky loser stepping in after Davidovich Fokina’s last-minute withdrawal due to illness. The change, announced on June 17, 2025, adds an intriguing layer to Alcaraz’s quest to reclaim the Queen’s Club title he won in 2023, as he transitions from his recent Roland Garros triumph to the slick lawns of West London, where he aims to build momentum for a third consecutive Wimbledon crown.
Alcaraz, the 22-year-old reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion, arrived in London fresh from a brief celebratory escape to Ibiza, where he unwound after his epic five-hour, 29-minute Roland Garros final victory over Jannik Sinner. The Spaniard, who holds a 6-1 record at Queen’s Club, was preparing for a challenging clash with Davidovich Fokina, whom he had defeated twice this year, including a commanding 6-2, 6-2 win in Monte-Carlo. However, Davidovich Fokina, who married in Marbella just days before traveling to London, tested himself on Monday and found himself under the weather, forcing his withdrawal. “Davidovich se ha bajado a última hora del cuadro, tras probarse ayer en Londres,” a Spanish tennis insider noted, highlighting the sudden shift that thrust Walton, a 26-year-old ranked outside the top 100, into the spotlight.
Walton, making his main-draw debut at Queen’s after losing in the final qualifying round to compatriot Aleksandar Vukic, now faces the daunting task of challenging Alcaraz, a player with a perfect 5-0 record in Grand Slam finals. The Australian, yet to face Alcaraz in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series, earned his spot as a lucky loser, adding an element of unpredictability to the match scheduled for Tuesday on the Andy Murray Arena. Alcaraz, informed of the change after a 30-minute practice session with Jordan Thompson, gave a wry smile and a nod to his team, playfully engaging in a spot of “tennis golf” to lighten the mood. “I can’t wait to get back on the grass at The Queen’s Club next summer,” Alcaraz had said earlier, reflecting on his 2023 title run that fueled his first Wimbledon triumph. “Lifting the title two years ago is what gave me the belief to go on and win Wimbledon for the first time, so it always means a lot to compete there.”
The Queen’s Club Championships, running from June 16-22, 2025, mark a pivotal stop in Alcaraz’s grass-court preparations, especially after his 2024 second-round loss to British No. 1 Jack Draper, who is seeded second this year and faces Jenson Brooksby in his opener. Alcaraz’s path remains formidable, with potential second-round opponents including Thompson or Jaume Munar, followed by a possible quarterfinal clash with big-serving Ben Shelton or Reilly Opelka. “Big-serving Ben Shelton has a game that should be perfect for grass and he could be firing balls in Alcaraz’s direction in the second round at Queen’s Club,” one analyst predicted, noting the American’s recent top-10 breakthrough. Semifinal hurdles could include Holger Rune or former champion Grigor Dimitrov, both in Alcaraz’s top half of the draw.
The tournament, bolstered by a star-studded field including Taylor Fritz, Alex de Minaur, and defending champion Tommy Paul’s absence due to injury, also welcomes the WTA 500 event for the first time since 1973, with Tatjana Maria crowned its inaugural champion. Alcaraz, who holds a 13-match grass-court winning streak from his 2023 Queen’s-Wimbledon double, remains the favorite, but Walton’s wildcard entry adds intrigue. “I still watch the videos and am still in shock sometimes,” Alcaraz said of his Roland Garros heroics, where he saved three championship points against Sinner. As he steps onto the Queen’s Club grass, the tennis world watches to see if the Spaniard can navigate this unexpected challenge and reclaim his throne in London, setting the stage for another Wimbledon showdown.
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