De Minaur and Alcaraz to meet in the Cinch Championship final
We have our championship match at the Queen’s Club. The ever-underrated Aussie Alex de Minaur will face off against the captivating Spaniard, Carlos Alcaraz. Both men eased through their semifinal matches without dropping a set.
If you are a fan of running and terrific defense, this will be the match for you. De Minaur might be the pound-for-pound quickest player on the ATP tour. It’s as if his stamina bar is a cheat code and never drains.
Alcaraz for his money, might not be as quick, but his explosive acceleration allows him to track down balls most players would not be able to even touch. This match will be won from the baseline.
Alex de Minaur has a puncher’s chance against Carlos Alcaraz in Cinch Championship final
These two have played once before, on the clay in Barcelona last year. Alcaraz won it in three scintillating sets, that included two tiebreaks, but de Minaur did hold match point. So, he knows he can compete with the Spaniard when he is at his best.
There were 7 breaks of serve in that match, and today both men are still some of the best returners in the game. This is not necessarily for their first hit off the serve, but it’s the ability to simply stay in the point.
Playing against these men must be infuriating as they make you hit two more shots you wouldn’t normally have to. Alcaraz has the edge in overall firepower, particularly on the forehand wing. However, don’t discount de Minaur’s crosscourt prowess from both wings. He can redirect a shot with the best of them as his ball striking is typically quite crisp.
Nerves should not be an issue as both men have tasted tournament glory this year, as Alcaraz has already won 4 times (Madrid, Barcelona, Indian Wells, Buenos Aires) while de Minaur took the trophy home in Acapulco at another ATP 500 event.
The Aussie has tasted victory on grass before as he was victorious at the ATP 250 event in Eastbourne a few years ago. His grass court game is continuously overlooked, but his style is well suited to the green surface. This will be Alcaraz’s first grass court final.
Next. Rublev and Bublik win in semis at Terra Wortmann Open. dark
In a nutshell, you have to put Alcaraz as the slight favorite as he possesses more tools in the bag as well as the extra firepower. However, de Minaur is in with a legitimate chance as his defensive skills will certainly test the World No. 2. This should be an entertaining affair and a fitting end to a fun week at the Queen’s Club.