Alcaraz Wins Queen’s Club Final for 1st Title on Grass, Reclaims Top Ranking Ahead of Wimbledon

Tennis - ATP 500 - Queen's Club Championships - Queen's Club, London, Britain - June 25, 2023 Spain's Carlos Alcaraz celebrates with the trophy after winning his final match against Australia's Alex de Minaur. (Reuters)
Tennis - ATP 500 - Queen's Club Championships - Queen's Club, London, Britain - June 25, 2023 Spain's Carlos Alcaraz celebrates with the trophy after winning his final match against Australia's Alex de Minaur. (Reuters)
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Alcaraz Wins Queen’s Club Final for 1st Title on Grass, Reclaims Top Ranking Ahead of Wimbledon

Tennis - ATP 500 - Queen's Club Championships - Queen's Club, London, Britain - June 25, 2023 Spain's Carlos Alcaraz celebrates with the trophy after winning his final match against Australia's Alex de Minaur. (Reuters)
Tennis - ATP 500 - Queen's Club Championships - Queen's Club, London, Britain - June 25, 2023 Spain's Carlos Alcaraz celebrates with the trophy after winning his final match against Australia's Alex de Minaur. (Reuters)

Carlos Alcaraz won the Queen’s Club Championships final on Sunday for his first ATP title on grass and reclaimed the top ranking, ensuring he will enter Wimbledon next month as the No. 1 seed.

Despite struggling at times in the first set, Alcaraz beat Alex de Minaur 6-4, 6-4 for his fifth title of the year and 11th overall.

That saw the 20-year-old Spaniard move above Novak Djokovic in the rankings and confirmed the US Open champion as a serious challenger to the Serbian's crown at Wimbledon. Alcaraz lost in the fourth round to Jannik Sinner last year.

Sunday's final was Alcaraz's first on grass, in only the third tournament of his young career on the surface.

He had to save two break points in the eighth game of the first set, broke in the next game and then served out for the set.

Alcaraz won the only break point of the second set, when de Minaur double-faulted, and sealed the title on his first match point when the Australian sent a return long.



Arsenal Goalkeeper Jack Porter, 16, Becomes Club's Youngest-ever Starter

Arsenal's 16-year-old goalkeeper Jack Porter reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Bournemouth and Chelsea at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, England, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Arsenal's 16-year-old goalkeeper Jack Porter reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Bournemouth and Chelsea at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, England, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
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Arsenal Goalkeeper Jack Porter, 16, Becomes Club's Youngest-ever Starter

Arsenal's 16-year-old goalkeeper Jack Porter reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Bournemouth and Chelsea at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, England, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Arsenal's 16-year-old goalkeeper Jack Porter reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Bournemouth and Chelsea at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, England, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Jack Porter became Arsenal's youngest-ever player to start a first-team game when the 16-year-old goalkeeper made his debut against Bolton in the English League Cup on Wednesday, The Associated Press reported.
At 16 years, 72 days old, Porter surpasses club icon Cesc Fabregas, who was 16 years, 177 days when he started against Rotherham in October 2003.
Porter was selected in place of first choice David Raya, who was ruled out with a thigh injury, Arsenal said.
Porter is an England under-17 international and was a substitute for Arsenal's game against Manchester City on Sunday.
He is the second-youngest player to represent Arsenal's first team.
Ethan Nwaneri holds that record after coming on as a substitute aged 15 years, 181 days in September 2022.
Nwaneri scored twice in Wednesday's 5-1 win over the third-division club.