Alcaraz Feels Great on Grass

He survives lucky loser Walton's Queen's test; Zverev, Sinner ease through at Halle

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LONDON - Carlos Alcaraz declared he is ready for the grass season, after coming through a testing first-round match against Adam Walton at Queen's on June 17 as the top seed returned to action for the first time since his dramatic French Open triumph.

But two of the world's top 10 crashed out as Americans Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton lost to French duo Corentin Moutet and Arthur Rinderknech respectively.

Five-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz, back on grass for the first time since winning his second Wimbledon title last season, beat his 86th-ranked opponent 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) on a sweaty day in west London.

He scribbled "Grass season, here we go!" on the courtside camera lens, thanking fans for their vocal support and saying he felt "loved" in the English capital.

"First match on grass is never easy to get used to the competition again, to get used to the grass again," Alcaraz said. "So, I just want to say thank you for helping me a little bit."