Fresh off his historic triumph at the French Open, where he clinched his fifth Grand Slam title in a grueling five-set epic against Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz is set to transition from the clay to the grass courts of the Queen’s Club Championships. His opening round match in London will see him face a familiar face, a close friend and fellow Spaniard, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. This all-Spanish showdown promises to be an intriguing start to Alcaraz’s grass-court season, a crucial preparatory step before he aims to defend his Wimbledon crown.
The draw for the 2025 HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club, an ATP 500-level event, unveiled this captivating first-round clash. Alcaraz, the top seed and defending champion at Queen’s, will be stepping onto the grass for the first time since his Roland Garros heroics. His opponent, Davidovich Fokina, currently ranked 28th in the world, is known for his flamboyant style and all-court game. While he has shown flashes of brilliance on various surfaces, his recent form has been somewhat inconsistent, including a second-round exit at Roland Garros to Jiri Lehecka.
The head-to-head record between Alcaraz and Davidovich Fokina stands at 2-0 in favor of the younger Spaniard, with both previous encounters taking place on clay. Their most recent meeting was earlier this year in the semi-finals of the Monte-Carlo Masters, where Alcaraz emerged victorious with a 7-6(2), 6-4 scoreline. While Alcaraz has a clear advantage in their past matches, the transition to grass can often level the playing field, presenting unique challenges even for the most dominant players.
The Queen’s Club tournament holds special significance for Alcaraz. He lifted the trophy on his debut in 2023, a victory that propelled him to the world No. 1 ranking at the time and served as a perfect springboard for his first Wimbledon title. Last year, however, he suffered a surprising second-round loss to British lefty Jack Draper, who is also a strong contender in this year’s draw. Alcaraz will undoubtedly be looking to rectify that early exit and build momentum for Wimbledon.
For Davidovich Fokina, this match presents a significant opportunity. Despite his friendship with Alcaraz – it was even reported that Alcaraz was invited to Davidovich Fokina’s wedding – the competitive spirit will undoubtedly take precedence on court. Known for his athleticism and ability to adapt to different surfaces, Davidovich Fokina has had a mixed 2025 season. He reached two hard-court finals earlier in the year and has shown his capability to upset top players, including victories over top-10 opponents Taylor Fritz, Jack Draper, and Andrey Rublev. However, he also experienced some disappointing losses, including a 6-0, 6-2 defeat to Jesper de Jong in Rome.
Alcaraz’s arrival at Queen’s comes after a brief period of celebration and relaxation in Ibiza following his grueling French Open campaign. He is expected to speak to the media before his opening match, offering insights into his mindset and preparation for the grass-court swing. While he is expected to adjust quickly to the faster surface, the unpredictability of grass and the competitive nature of the Queen’s Club draw mean that no match can be taken lightly, even against a close friend.
The winner of the Alcaraz-Davidovich Fokina encounter will face either Jordan Thompson or Jaume Munar in the second round. Looking further ahead in the draw, Alcaraz could potentially meet Ben Shelton in the quarter-finals, and either Holger Rune or Jakub Mensik in the semi-finals. The bottom half of the draw features strong contenders such as Jack Draper, Taylor Fritz, and Alex de Minaur, all of whom are capable of making deep runs.
As the Queen’s Club Championships commence, all eyes will be on Carlos Alcaraz as he embarks on his quest to conquer the grass courts once again. His opening match against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina is not just a clash of Spanish talent, but a test of his adaptability and resilience as he transitions to a new surface and aims for further Grand Slam glory.
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