Welcome to Take Five, a weekly series at USOpen.org recapping five of the biggest stories of the last week on the professional tennis circuit. The ATP and WTA Tours both continued the buildup to Wimbledon with two grass-court events each across Europe and the United Kingdom.
Alcaraz wins first grass title, returns to No. 1
With one London grass-court title already secured, can Carlos Alcaraz make it two at Wimbledon?
The 20-year-old Spaniard won his first trophy on the surface on Sunday at Queen's Club, going all the way in just his third grass tournament on the ATP Tour. Alcaraz entered with a 4-2 career record on grass, and he lost the opening set of his campaign against Arthur Rinderknech.
But he won 10 straight sets from there, capping his run with a 6-4, 6-4 final victory against Alex de Minaur — a result that vaulted him back above Novak Djokovic at world No. 1 and earned him the top seed at Wimbledon.
“It means a lot to me. Being able to win this amazing tournament in my first time that I played here for me is fantastic,” Alcaraz said post-match. “To know that I’m [capable of] a good level on grass, obviously [to be] champion of every tournament feels special.”
While he is feeling confident on the London lawns, Alcaraz still feels Djokovic is the favorite at Wimbledon.
"The chances don't change much," he said when asked how the Queen's title might change his expectations at the major. "I mean, Novak is coming to Wimbledon."
Kvitova claims 31st WTA title, maintains Top 10 status
Petra Kvitova is rounding into form on what might be her most dangerous surface. The Czech, who won Wimbledon in 2011 and 2014, won her sixth grass title with a dominant run last week in Berlin.
The 33-year-old, who also won Miami this year, did not lose a set in her five Berlin victories. Her path to the trophy was highlighted by a 6-4, 7-6(3) win against US Open semifinalist and third seed Caroline Garcia in the quarterfinals and a 6-2, 7-6(6) triumph over Donna Vekic in Sunday's final.
Only Venus Williams (49) holds more than Kvitova's 31 career WTA titles among active players.
Kvitova has won 12 of her past 13 grass matches dating back to her Eastbourne title run last season. After defending her title at Eastbourne— beginning with a tough opening match against Birmingham champ Jelena Ostapenko— the world No. 9 will hope to carry that form into Wimbledon, where she has not reached the quarterfinals since she won the 2014 title.
Venus notches Top 50 win as comeback gains steam
In her second event since suffering a hamstring injury in January, Venus Williams picked up her first Top 50 win since 2019 with a thrilling victory against Camila Giorgi. After battling for three hours, 17 minutes, the American emerged with a 7-6(5), 4-6, 7-6(6) triumph in Birmingham.
"It was touch and go there, and I felt the support," Williams said on-court.
The 43-year-old's run was ended by eventual champion Ostapenko in the second round, but not before Williams saved a match point in the second set and forced a third.
Ostapenko battles to Birminham glory
Ostapenko won four straight three-setters to reach the Birmingham final, before edging top seed Barbora Krejcikova, 7-6(8), 6-4, in Sunday's final.
"Just to fight for every single point, and to play until the very last point, because some matches I was down, but I managed to win them," she said of her inspired effort on the week. "I’m just really proud of myself the way I fought. That’s probably the key, which brought me the title here."
The tile is the first of 2023 for the world No. 17, and the sixth of her career.
Bublik beats Rublev for Halle title
Playing in his third ATP final on grass, Alexander Bublik won his first title on the surface with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 win against Andrey Rublev in Sunday's Halle final.
“It really means the world to me,” Bublik said after winning the ATP 500 title, the biggest of his career. “I’ve been struggling for half a year and now having this a reward, I don’t take it for granted. It was hard work... But I could not even imagine that I would win this tournament, and I’m really, really happy.”
All five of the unseeded Kazakh's wins came against Top 25 opponents in Halle, including a quarterfinal victory against Jannik Sinner (who retired with an adductor strain while trailing by a set and a break) and a semifinal win against Alexander Zverev.
