As the tennis world turns its gaze to the lush green courts of Wimbledon, Carlos Alcaraz, the 22-year-old Spanish prodigy and defending champion, stands at the heart of anticipation. Fresh off a grueling yet triumphant 2025 French Open victory, where he staged a dramatic comeback against Jannik Sinner to claim his fifth Grand Slam title, Alcaraz is meticulously planning his path to a potential third consecutive Wimbledon crown. However, a major update to his pre-Wimbledon schedule has sparked intrigue, with his participation in the Queen’s Club Championships hanging in the balance. “The plan is to play, but we’ll make a final decision in a few days,” his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero revealed, emphasizing a cautious approach to assess Alcaraz’s physical and mental readiness after his Roland Garros marathon.
Alcaraz’s 2025 season has been a rollercoaster of brilliance and challenges. With a stellar 37-5 win-loss record and an 88.1% match-winning percentage, he has solidified his status as world No. 2, trailing Sinner by 1,440 points. His victories at Monte Carlo, the Italian Open, and Roland Garros—where he became the first man to win his first three majors on different surfaces—have cemented his versatility. Yet, injuries to his right adductor and left hamstring forced him to skip the Madrid Open, and a shock loss to David Goffin in Miami raised questions about his consistency. “Mentally, I’m screwed, to be honest,” Alcaraz admitted after the Miami defeat, a rare moment of vulnerability for the typically ebullient star. His response was a dominant clay season, culminating in a 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(10-2) epic against Sinner, which he called “one of the best matches of my career.”
Now, as Alcaraz shifts to grass, his preparation hinges on a critical decision about Queen’s Club, a WTA and ATP 500 event from June 9-15, 2025, where he won in 2023 but fell to Jack Draper in 2024. “I can’t wait to get back on the grass at The Queen’s Club next summer,” Alcaraz said earlier this year, expressing his desire to join legends like Andy Murray and Andy Roddick as a multiple-time champion. However, posts on social media indicate uncertainty, with his team planning to evaluate his condition by Thursday or Friday, June 12 or 13, before confirming his participation. “After these days off, we’ll do a test to see how he’s feeling physically and mentally,” Ferrero explained, highlighting the toll of Alcaraz’s five-hour, 29-minute French Open final. A brief vacation in Ibiza, where he was spotted unwinding, underscores his need for rest before the grass-court grind.
Should Alcaraz compete at Queen’s, he will travel to London on June 13, accompanied by new coach Samuel Lopez, who joins long-time mentor Ferrero to guide him through the clay and grass seasons. A strong showing could propel him back to world No. 1 before Wimbledon, where he defends 2,000 points. “Recovering the No. 1 before Wimbledon gives you extra motivation,” Alcaraz noted after his 2023 Queen’s title, which saw him edge Alex de Minaur 6-4, 6-4. If he opts out, he may play exhibitions at Hurlingham, as he did in 2023, to fine-tune his grass game. Wimbledon, starting July 1, remains his primary focus, with Alcaraz aiming to join Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic as a three-time consecutive champion. “I love playing in front of the fans in London,” he said, relishing the electric atmosphere of the All England Club.
Alcaraz’s rivalry with Sinner, whom he leads 8-4, adds intrigue to his Wimbledon campaign. Their 2025 Italian Open clash, where Alcaraz snapped Sinner’s 26-match streak, showcased his mental fortitude. “The level you have is amazing,” he told Sinner post-match, a nod to their mutual respect. With Sinner defending 2,180 points post-US Open and Djokovic 2,300, Alcaraz’s lighter 680-point defense offers a strategic edge. Social media buzz reflects fan excitement, with one post predicting, “We will be seeing you and Sinner once again,” envisioning another blockbuster final. As Alcaraz balances recovery, ambition, and the weight of expectations, his summer schedule—whether it includes Queen’s or not—promises to shape his pursuit of tennis immortality.
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