Last minute change forces World No. 2 into uncharted territory.
Roland Garros champion Carlos Alcaraz returns to action at the 2025 HSBC Championships on Tuesday, to begin his grass court campaign. The Spaniard opens his account on Andy Murray Arena against Australia’s Adam Walton. Initially slated to face countryman Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, a last minute change meant that Alcaraz will face a new opponent.
Currently ranked No. 2 in the world, Carlos Alcaraz won the title in West London two years ago. In 2024, he relinquished his crown after getting knocked out by Jack Draper in Round-2. However, the 22-year-old ended up winning Wimbledon on both occasions. He has had a great 2025 season so far – boasting of a 37-5 record and winning 4 titles. His impeccable adaptability means that despite getting minimal recovery time, he starts as the favourite on grass.
For lucky loser Adam Walton, the Queen’s Club Championships present a perfect opportunity to make his presence felt on tour. Alcaraz had just finished his practice with fellow Aussie Jordan Thompson when he received the news of a change in opposition. Davidovich Fokina, who just got married last week, had to pull out due to illness. This means that Walton, who has a 5-9 record in 2025, will aim to distort Alcaraz’s 6-1 record at Queen’s Club.
The head to head between Carlos Alcaraz and Adam Walton is 0-0. It will be their first meeting on Tuesday.
| Carlos Alcaraz | Category | Adam Walton |
| 5 | Grand Slams | 0 |
| 20 | ATP Singles Titles | 0 |
| 0 | ATP Doubles Titles | 0 |
| 7 | Masters-1000 Titles | 0 |
| Silver (Paris 2024) | Olympics Best Performance | – |
| No. 2 | Current World Ranking | No. 86 |
Ahead of his highly anticipated return to the hallowed grass, Alcaraz looked solid in practice. The attacking maestro was seen engaging in flat exchanges as well as drive volley forehands. Provided his serve holds up and he can avoid major rust, he should come through in straight sets. Moreover, Walton does not have much match practice on grass to minimise the damage.
Prediction: Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets.
Alcaraz is the firm favourite on the money line, with an approximate 90% chance of coming out on top without dropping a set. Here are the odds:
Carlos Alcaraz Win: -1400
Adam Walton: +725
(According to BetMGM)
