## Carlos Alcaraz and Jiri Lehecka Clash for Queen’s Club Title and Major Prize Fund
Spain’s tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz is once again on the brink of another major title, preparing to face Czech contender Jiri Lehecka in Sunday’s eagerly anticipated men’s final at the Queen’s Club Championships in London. The tournament serves as a vital prelude to Wimbledon, with its historic grass courts offering a crucial warm-up for many of the sport’s elite ahead of the Grand Slam.
Alcaraz arrives at the final in fine form, having marked his 250th career victory with a win in the semi-finals, extending his impressive unbeaten streak to 17 matches. The achievement not only highlights his current dominance but also sets the stage for a tantalising final just a week before he defends his title at Wimbledon, where he famously bested Novak Djokovic for a second consecutive year last July.
For Jiri Lehecka, Sunday’s final represents a significant personal milestone as he contests his first-ever grass court final. The 23-year-old Czech earned his spot with a gritty semi-final win over British hope Jack Draper, overcoming a spirited fightback from Draper to edge the match 6-4, 4-6, 7-5. Throughout the contest, Lehecka displayed composure and humility, thanking the London crowd for their fairness and graciously recognising Draper’s popularity.
With both men vying for the prestigious Queen’s title, attention is naturally drawn to the substantial rewards awaiting the victor. The champion of this year’s Queen’s Club men’s singles event will receive a winner’s cheque of £350,773. The runner-up will not leave empty-handed, collecting £188,705 for their efforts over the tournament stretch.
Jack Draper, despite falling just short in the semi-finals, exits the tournament with £100,568 as recognition for reaching the last four—a testament to the financial incentives that continue to fuel high performance and competitiveness at the upper echelons of the sport.
Prize money aside, the battle at Queen’s Club offers players the opportunity to earn critical points towards their ATP rankings. These points are more than ceremonial, as they can determine direct entry into future tournaments, seedings, and even year-end bonuses. The winner in Sunday’s final will secure 500 ranking points, which could see Alcaraz’s tally surpass the 9,000 mark—a significant benchmark in the ATP standings. For perspective, current world number one Jannik Sinner leads with 10,880 points, illustrating just how momentous each tournament victory can be.
Strikingly, Grand Slam triumphs offer an even greater haul, with winners at Wimbledon or Roland Garros taking home 2,000 points—often decisive in ranking battles at the top of the men’s game.
The Queen’s Club final is set to commence at 2pm on Sunday, 22nd June, forming the centrepiece of an action-packed weekend of tennis in the UK capital.
While Alcaraz is a well-established figure at just 21, tennis’s casual followers may be less familiar with his opponent. Jiri Lehecka, aged 23 and standing 6ft 1in tall, has been quietly building a reputation since turning professional five years ago. He provided one of the shocks of the season earlier this year at the Qatar Open by defeating Alcaraz in the quarter-finals, thereby underlining his ability to challenge—and beat—the sport’s brightest stars.
As the players prepare for their showdown, the anticipation among tennis fans is palpable. Whether Alcaraz will cement his dominance on grass or Lehecka will claim a career-defining victory remains to be seen. What is assured is that the winner will not only take home a significant financial reward and valuable ranking points, but also significant momentum heading into Wimbledon, the sport’s crown jewel which looms just days away.