Fokina Withdraws Ill, Alcaraz to Face Lucky Loser Walton at Queen’s
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina pulled out of his highly anticipated first-round clash against Carlos Alcaraz at the 2025 Queen’s Club Championships due to illness. The withdrawal came at the last minute, so late, in fact, that Alcaraz only found out after finishing his warm-up at noon. In Fokina’s place, Australian lucky loser Adam Walton will step in to face the two-time Roland Garros champion on London’s grass courts.
Fokina’s withdrawal follows a personal high, as he tied the knot with longtime partner Paloma Amatiste over the weekend at Marbella’s Trocadero Sotogrande. The beachfront celebration, shared via social media, seemed to cap off a joyful chapter for the Spaniard.
But just days later, he was sidelined by illness, continuing a frustrating trend in his 2025 season. Earlier this year, Fokina had also pulled out of the Rio Open due to a back injury and was again replaced by a lucky loser.
Meanwhile, the change opened a surprise door for 26-year-old Australian Adam Walton. Ranked No. 86, Walton had originally fallen in the final round of qualifying to Aleksandar Vukic. Now thrust into the spotlight, he’ll face one of the sport’s brightest stars.
Alcaraz, the reigning Roland Garros champion and world No. 2, arrives with a strong background on London’s grass. According to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, Alcaraz holds a 6-1 record at Queen’s Club. He won the title on debut in 2023 before suffering an early exit to Jack Draper in 2024. This will be the first-ever meeting between Alcaraz and Walton on the ATP Tour.
With Fokina sidelined and Alcaraz adjusting on the fly, the unexpected twist may just add another layer to the drama on London’s lawns. And for Walton, it’s a rare opportunity to test himself against one of the game’s elite, with nothing to lose.
Also Read: Ben Shelton Joins Taylor Fritz & Tommy Paul to End 19-Year Drought for U.S. Trio in ATP Top 10
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