Carlos Alcaraz vs Jiri Lehecka LIVE: Queen’s 2023 scores, results and latest updates
Thursday’s action at Queen’s sees Carlos Alcaraz earn top billing on Centre Court as the second round reaches it’s conclusion.
The Spaniard takes on Jiri Lehecka in a battle of two rising stars having opened his grass-court campaign by defeating Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech across three sets. The world No 2 now faces the 21-year-old Czech Lehecka, who made his breakthrough earlier this season with a run to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.
It comes after a major shock at Queen’s, with the American star and third seed Taylor Fritz stunned by France’s Adrian Mannarino in straight sets. Alex de Minaur, who knocked out Andy Murray in straight sets on Tuesday, continued his impressive form as he defeated the Argentine Diego Schwartzman.
Follow the live scores and updates from Queen’s as the second round concludes:
Queen’s 2023 LIVE: Latest updates as Carlos Alcaraz in action
Carlos Alcaraz faces Jiri Lehecka for place in Queen’s quarter-finals
Taylor Fritz shocked by Adrian Mannarino in straight-sets defeat
Alex de Minaur thrashes Diego Schwartzman 6-2 6-2 in day’s opening match
Carlos Alcaraz vs. Jiri Lehecka: 3-0
15:48 , Charlie Schoninger
Alcaraz quickly has two break points as he’s hitting with pace and precision.
Lehecka responds with two timely aces and we have deuce.
Alcaraz gets the break on the fourth try and he leads 2-0.
Alcaraz with a beautiful lob at 30-0 and he has control of this match thus far.
Back-to-back double faults from Alcaraz and we have deuce from 40-0.
Alcaraz holds for 3-0.
Alcaraz begins the match on serve
15:34 , Charlie Schoninger
A solid rally ends with a strong Alcaraz forehand winner. 30-15
Straight forward hold for Alcaraz but you can tell early both players aren’t going to shy away from this one. 1-0 Alcaraz.
Carlos Alcaraz vs. Jiri Lehecka
15:24 , Charlie Schoninger
Carlos Alcaraz will take on centre court next as he faces Czech 21-year-old Jiri Lehecka.
This will be the first match-up between the pair as both look to build on their grass games ahead of Wimbledon.
Alcaraz comes in as the big favourite, but he was taken to a third set tie-breaker last time out versus big Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech.
Taylor Fritz vs. Adrian Mannarino: 4-6, 6 (7) -7
15:15 , Charlie Schoninger
A forehand winner from Mannarino and he has another match point on serve. 7-6 Mannarino.
Mannarino pushes the backhand wide and Fritz saves another match point. 7-7.
Fritz double faults as Mannarino wins the match on the fourth try.
The Frenchman looked the better player and more in control throughout the match. He continues his good form and collects another win as an underdog on this grass court swing.
Taylor Fritz vs. Adrian Mannarino: second set tie-break
15:11 , Charlie Schoninger
At 5-2 a Fritz forehand just clips the baseline and he has life. 5-3 Mannarino.
Mannarino hits a pretty forehand winner down the line at 5-4 and he has two match points. 6-4 Mannarino.
Shot! Fritz saves the first match point with a moving backhand pass down the line.
A Mannarino lob is oh so close to clipping the baseline but Fritz saves two match points and we are back even. 6-6
Taylor Fritz vs. Adrian Mannarino: second set tie-break
15:06 , Charlie Schoninger
A brilliant return from Mannarino off the Fritz serve gives him the early lead. 1-0 Mannarino.
Mannarino hits an unforced error into the net and we are back even in the breaker. 2-2.
Mannarino fires an ace to make it 4-2 and Fritz looks nervous.
Taylor Fritz vs. Adrian Mannarino: 4-6, 6-6
15:02 , Charlie Schoninger
Mannarino having fun out there as he plays a tweener followed by a behind-the-back that sadly is stopped by the net. 40-30
Mannarino holds and as predicted we are off to a tie-break.
Taylor Fritz vs. Adrian Mannarino: 4-6, 6-5
14:57 , Charlie Schoninger
A third straight hold to love and this set seems destined for a tie-break. 5-5
A Fritz forehand just clips the line according to Hawk-Eye and it’s 6-5 after a slight scare at 30-30.
Taylor Fritz vs. Adrian Mannarino: 4-6, 5-4
14:50 , Charlie Schoninger
Mannarino with an easy hold to love as he delicately places a volley in the corner. 4-4.
Fritz responds with a hold of his own to love and after 31 minutes it’s 5-4 Fritz.
Taylor Fritz vs. Adrian Mannarino: 4-6, 4-3
14:43 , Charlie Schoninger
A great get from Fritz is followed by an unlucky net cord from Mannarino and it’s 15-30.
Mannarino ends the game showing great touch with his drop shot. 3-3 in the second.
Fritz fires a backhand winner and holds to 15. 4-3 and neither player have had a break point thus far in the set.
Taylor Fritz vs. Adrian Mannarino: 4-6, 3-2
14:35 , Charlie Schoninger
After getting the game to 30-30, Fritz seems agitated over not putting up more of a fight. Back even at 2-2 in the second.
Fritz responds with a hold to love and his serve is looking really good in this second set. 3-2
Taylor Fritz vs. Adrian Mannarino: 4-6, 2-1
14:27 , Charlie Schoninger
Fritz starts the set off with a comfortable hold and he’ll look to start this set off strongly. 1-0 Fritz.
Mannarino responds with an easy hold of his own, this time to love. 1-1
Three aces in the game for Fritz as he holds to love. 2-1 and not much return success from either player this set thus far.
Taylor Fritz vs. Adrian Mannarino: 4-6
14:18 , Charlie Schoninger
A long rally at 30-30 ends with a Fritz backhand unforced error and Mannarino has set point on serve.
The Frenchman capitalizes as he takes the first set: 6-4
Taylor Fritz vs. Adrian Mannarino: 4-5
14:13 , Charlie Schoninger
A great backhand slice down the line from Fritz forces deuce on the Mannarino serve.
Mannarino hits a forehand right into the net and Fritz gets the break right back.
The American lets out a scream of encouragement and looks to get back in the driver’s seat of this set. 4-4
After an extremely lucky bounce off the net for the Frenchman it’s right back to 0-30.
Fritz misses a volley and Mannarino has two break points at 15-40.
Three straight breaks in the match as a backhand volley wins Mannarino the game. 5-4 Mannarino.
Taylor Fritz vs. Adrian Mannarino: 3-4
14:02 , Charlie Schoninger
Mannarino plays a good drop shot and then a nice pick up to beat Fritz. 40-30.
A big first serve forces a long return from Fritz and it’s 3-3 in the first.
A well-worked point from Mannarino ends with a forced backhand error to make it 0-30.
Fritz misses a forehand into the net and Mannarino gets his first break point of the match at 30-40.
The American sends a wild forehand long and Mannarino gets the huge break. 4-3 Mannarino
Taylor Fritz vs. Adrian Mannarino: 3-2
13:53 , Charlie Schoninger
Fritz starts off the game with a nice backhand winner that feels like the first good ground stroke of the match. 0-15.
A second double fault of the game and Fritz has the matches first break point. 30-40.
Mannarino saves the break point but Fritz hits another great backhand winner and it’s back to deuce.
Mannarino holds after two unforced errors from Fritz. 2-2
Fritz ends the game with an ace and it’s 3-2 Fritz in the first.
Taylor Fritz vs. Adrian Mannarino: 2-1
13:42 , Charlie Schoninger
The Frenchman responds with an easy hold of his own to love. 1-1
Fritz holds to 30 after a pretty sloppy game from both players, which included three unforced forehand errors from Mannarino.
Taylor Fritz vs. Adrian Mannarino: 1-0
13:37 , Charlie Schoninger
Fritz to start the match off on serve
The American gets three free points off the first serve and holds comfortably.
Taylor Fritz vs. Adrian Mannarino
13:29 , Charlie Schoninger
Fritz and Mannarino should provide a great match as both players thrive on the grass.
Neither men played their best in the 1st round, but most importantly survived their tests.
Mannarino defeated Brit Liam Broady in three sets and the American No. 1, Fritz, defeated Bernabe Zapata Miralles: 6-4, 7-5.
The men have faced four times with Mannarino winning the first two and Fritz winning the subsequent two. This match will mark their second face-up on grass with Mannarino taking the first in Nottingham.
Coming to you soon!
Alex De Minaur vs. Diego Schwartzmann: 6-2, 6-2
13:18 , Charlie Schoninger
Game, set, match. De Minaur holds and takes the match in two swift sets that take just over an hour.
The Aussie’s level was extremely high today and Schwartzmann never really seemed to have a chance in this match.
The Argentine was only able to win 28% of his first serve points, which alone can tell the story of the match.
Mannarino vs. Fritz up next in what should be a much more even match-up.
Alex De Minaur vs. Diego Schwartzmann: 6-2, 5-2
13:12 , Charlie Schoninger
Two unforced forehand errors from De Minaur this time, as Schwartzmann has some life. 0-30.
Two straight double faults from De Minaur and Schwartzmann has a break chance. Advantage Schwartzmann.
Break! Some life from Schwartzmann as he rallies the crowd around him after a missed De Minaur volley. 4-2 De Minaur.
Not so fast, De Minaur responds with a break to love and it’s now 5-2.
Alex De Minaur vs. Diego Schwartzmann: 6-2, 4-1
13:03 , Charlie Schoninger
De Minaur serves well and holds to love. 3-1.
The cameras have just spotted compatriot Jordan Thompson cheering on De Minaur in his box. Thompson lost yesterday at Queen’s after being a set up against British No.1 Cameron Norrie.
Schwartzmann smacks another smash into the net and it’s 0-30.
A forehand unforced error from Schwartzmann gives De Minaur the break to love. De Minaur breaks at the 3-1 game for the second set in a row and this match appears to be over.
Alex De Minaur vs. Diego Schwartzmann: 6-2, 2-1
12:56 , Charlie Schoninger
Schwartzman continues to fire unforced error after unforced error and De Minaur holds to love.
De Minaur seemingly can’t miss as he hits another beautiful forehand winner to start off the game. 0-15 and a bagel in this set doesn’t feel like it would be all that surprising.
Schwartzmann hears the doubt and proceeds to hold strongly. 2-1 De Minaur
Alex De Minaur vs. Diego Schwartzmann: 6-2, 1-0
12:49 , Charlie Schoninger
A Schwartzmann approach shot clips the net and goes flying out to add to the Schwartzmann misfortune. 0-30.
The gods spare the Argentine this time, as a shanked smash just drops in for a winner. 15-30.
Nightmare start for Schwartzmann, as De Minaur begins the second set with a break. 1-0
Alex De Minaur vs. Diego Schwartzmann: 6-2
12:45 , Charlie Schoninger
De Minaur with a well-worked point that is ended by a forehand winner down the line. 30-15
After just thirty-two minutes, De Minaur ends the set with a beautiful forehand winner. 6-2 and the De Minaur forehand looks lethal so far.
De Minaur hasn’t slowed down since his dismantling of Murray just two days ago and is looking to do the same to the Argentine.
Alex De Minaur vs. Diego Schwartzmann: 5-2
12:39 , Charlie Schoninger
A great backhand cross court winner from De Minaur after a long rally makes the game 30-15.
Shot! De Mianur follows that point up with a ridiculous slapped forehand cross court that leaves Schwartzmann rooted to his spot.
De Minaur holds to 15 and takes the lead 5-1.
Schwartzmann hits a smash into the net and looks to the sky searching for something to blame. Nothing has gone right so far for the Argentine.
Schwartzmann hopefully has gained some confidence after a comfortable hold. 5-2.
Alex De Minaur vs. Diego Schwartzmann: 4-1
12:31 , Charlie Schoninger
De Minaur holds comfortably to 15 and he’s settled in quite well to the match.
A quick 0-30 after a forehand and backhand miss from Schwartzmann and De Minaur looks to take a two break lead.
Schwartzmann pushes a forehand wide as De Minaur takes a two break lead.
Without any free points coming from the Argentine’s serve, defeating De Minaur or even taking this to three sets will be a tall task.
Alex De Minaur vs. Diego Schwartzmann: 2-1
12:22 , Charlie Schoninger
Schwartzmann plays a great backhand as De Minaur rushes to the net and the Argentine has a break point of his own. 30-40.
De Minaur fires a shaky backhand into the net and Schwartzmann breaks right back.1-1 and encouraging from the Argentine.
Three break points for De Minaur after three straight bad unforced errors from the Argentine.
Three games, three breaks. The Aussie fires a pretty backhand down the line off the Schwartzmann serve. 2-1 De Mianur
Alex De Minaur vs. Diego Schwartzmann: Scwartzmann serving first
12:16 , Charlie Schoninger
On the first point of the match, De Minaur fires a backhand return that Schwartzmann can’t quite reach. It could be a tricky one for the Argentine.
Schwartzmann rifles a forehand into the net at 30-30 and we have an early break point.
The Argentine saves the first but double faults on the second break point and gives the Aussie the early break.
Alex De Minaur vs. Diego Schwartzmann
11:58 , Charlie Schoninger
The first match under way at centre court today sees the Australian Alex De Minaur pitted against Argentine Diego Schwartzmann.
Both men are coming off comfortable straight set victories as underdogs with De Minaur handily defeating British favourite Andy Murray and Schwartzmann taking down American Mackenzie Mcdonald.
Schwartzmann, who typically struggles on grass and has had a very poor season by his standards, managed to come up with one of his best performances of the year, defeating Mcdonald: 6-2,6-4.
De Minaur didn’t shy away from spoiling Murray’s return to Queen’s much to the crowds displeasure. After taking a lead midway through the first set, the Aussie never looked back defeating Sir Andy: 6-3,6-1.
The Aussie comes in as a big favorite to win this match as he typically plays quite well on the grass, but Schwartzmann looks to play spoiler again and build on his great performance in Round 1.
Queen’s latest
11:51 , Charlie Schoninger
Play on centre court will begin just after 12:00 BST with the order of play as follows:
Alex De Minaur vs. Diego Schwartzmann
Adrian Mannarino vs. Taylor Fritz
Carlos Alcaraz vs. Jiri Lehecka
Grigor Dimitrov vs. Francisco Cerundolo
Carlos Alcaraz hopes to thrive on grass this summer after advancing at Queen’s
11:45 , Karl Matchett
Carlos Alcaraz insisted he can challenge on the grass this summer despite needing a third-set tie-break to beat French journeyman Arthur Rinderknech at the cinch Championships.
The 20-year-old top seed and world number two was playing only his seventh match on the surface – and his first outside of Wimbledon – at Queen’s Club.
Lucky loser Rinderknech only found out he was playing the Spaniard shortly before midday after fellow Frenchman Arthur Fils, Alcaraz’s scheduled opponent, withdrew from the tournament.
Alcaraz, the US Open champion who was playing his first match since losing to Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals at Roland Garros, said: “It has been a really tough match, he has played four or five matches on the grass and this was my first one.
“It was really difficult to adapt my game to the grass. For me it’s tough to play here, but Queen’s is a tournament I really wanted to play.
“I’ve never played a tournament except Wimbledon on grass and I wanted to play here.”
More here:
Carlos Alcaraz hopes to thrive on grass this summer after advancing at Queen’s
Former world No.2 to retire at age 27 after Wimbledon due to degenerative back injury
11:39 , Karl Matchett
Estonian Anett Kontaveit, who reached a career high of number two in the world last year, said she is retiring at the age of 27 due to a degenerative back injury and will play her final tournament at Wimbledon next month.
Kontaveit cut her 2022 season short in October and took another two-month break in February to focus on the issue.
“After several doctor’s visits and consultations with my medical team, I have been advised that I have lumbar disc degeneration in my back,” she wrote on Instagram on Tuesday.
“This does not allow for full-scale training or continued competition. Therefore, it is impossible to continue at the top level in such a highly competitive field.
“I am ready for new challenges after my last effort as a professional tennis player - to enjoy the game and compete as hard as I can at Wimbledon.”
More here:
Ex-world No.2 to retire at age 27 after Wimbledon due to back injury
Andy Murray’s family members question absence of Wimbledon champion on poster
11:33 , Karl Matchett
Andy Murray’s uncle and brother have questioned why the two-time Wimbledon champion is not on an official poster of past and present greats.
The All England Club posted on its social media channels an image of 15 famous players walking down a staircase.
Under the banner “here’s to the next generation of headline acts”, young duo Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz – neither of whom have made an impact at the Championships yet – stand in the foreground.
Behind them are a selection of “epic” rivalries including Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova and Serena and Venus Williams.
But Murray, who ended Britain’s 77-year wait for a men’s champion in 2013, is nowhere to be seen.
Andy Murray’s family members question absence of Wimbledon champion on poster
Cameron Norrie moves step closer to ‘big’ career goal with Queen’s progress
11:27 , Karl Matchett
It’s the round of 16 at Queen’s again today but Cameron Norrie is already safelty into the quarters after yesterday’s win.
He admitted it would be ‘unreal’ to seal a first career grass-court title on home soil at Queen’s, as he progressed to the quarter-finals with a three-set victory over Jordan Thompson.
Norrie recovered from a set down to get past the big-serving Australian 4-6 6-3 6-2 to leave the world No.13 three matches away from the title.
The 27-year-old reached the final in West London two years ago, losing to that year’s Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini in three sets.
And Norrie revealed a grass-court title is a huge career target, and one that he hopes to be able to complete this week at Queen’s.
Cameron Norrie moves step closer to ‘big’ career goal with Queen’s progress
Wimbledon to use AI commentary at 2023 Championships
11:21 , Karl Matchett
Wimbledon has announced that it will become the latest sporting event to utilise artificial intelligence (AI), with the All England Club to use the technology to help produce commentary for video highlights packages.
Starting at this year’s Championships, app or website users will be able to watch back highlights from the tournament with audio commentary and captions that have been solely produced by AI.
Working with IBM watsonx, the AI commentary will not replace human commentary as of yet, but will instead be used on the app for highlights without commentary and for matches that aren’t available on the show courts.
This is not the first time that Wimbledon has used the technology, with their stats packages and power rankings already produced using AI. Still, it will mark a significant step forward in the use of such technology at the tournament, which has evolved and grown greatly over the past year with the release of language learning modules such as Chat GPT-4 prompting calls for a slowdown in AI’s enhancement for fears that it may be misused in the future.
More here:
Wimbledon to use AI commentary at 2023 Championships
Queen’s order of play and Thursday schedule
11:15 , Karl Matchett
Carlos Alcaraz headlines the action as the second round at Queen’s concludes on Thursday, with the Spaniard taking on Jiri Lehecka in a battle of two rising stars.
Alcaraz opened his grass-court campaign by passing a tough test against the Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, with the 20-year-old having to come from a set down in west London.
The world No 2 now faces the 21-year-old Czech Lehecka, who made his breakthrough earlier this season with a run to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.
Alex de Minaur, who knocked out Andy Murray in straight sets on Tuesday, also returns to action against the Argentine Diego Schwartzman.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Queen’s order of play and schedule for Thursday
Good morning
10:28 , Mike Jones
Carlos Alcaraz headlines an exciting day at Queen’s as he looks to further progress at the LTA cinch Championships.
The Spaniard takes on Jiri Lehecka in a battle of two rising stars having opened his grass-court campaign by defeating Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech across three sets.
25-year-old American star Taylor Fritz - also the No. 3 seed at Queen’s this week - is also in action as he takes on France’s Adrian Mannarino.
Alex de Minaur, who knocked out Andy Murray in straight sets on Tuesday, is first up on Centre Court as he returns to action against the Argentine Diego Schwartzman.
Stick around for all the action from another exciting day of grass court tennis as the build-up to Wimbledon continues.
