Alcaraz beats Lehecka in Queen's Club final ahead of Wimbledon defense

LONDON (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz showed he will be the man to beat at Wimbledon again after defeating Jiri Lehecka in the final at Queen's Club on Sunday.

The top-seeded Spaniard replicated his debut triumph on the grass courts of west London in 2023 with a 7-5, 6-7 (5), 6-2 victory.

It was an 18th-straight match win for Alcaraz — in his fifth consecutive final — following his title successes in Rome and at the French Open.

Lehecka had knocked out home hope Jack Draper on Saturday to become the first Czech finalist since Ivan Lendl won the title in 1990.

The 23-year-old Lehecka played his part in a high-quality final with some huge serves and powerful ground strokes, forcing the match to a decider via a tiebreaker.

But Alcaraz, the defending Wimbledon champion, did not face a single break point and slammed down 18 aces on his way to a 21st career title, and second at Queen's.

Alcaraz lifted the trophy just two weeks after his epic five-set victory over Jannik Sinner at Roland-Garros.

The 22-year-old made the tight turnaround from clay to grass look simple, even though he took time out for a holiday in Ibiza before heading to London.

“It’s really complicated, the switch from clay to grass in just few days, because that’s the time I had before the tournament began,” Alcaraz said. “Just two days of practicing and then I had to compete here. So I came here with no expectations at all.

“I just came here with a goal to play two, three matches, try to feel great on grass moving, and, you know, give myself the feedback of what I have to improve, what I have to do better.

“So what I’m more proud about this week is the way that I have been improving every day. You know, since the first day until today, I think I’m a different player on grass. I just got used to it really quick.”

Wimbledon starts June 30.

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic hold up the runners-up plate after being defeated by Carlos Alcaraz of Spain in the men's singles final of the Queens Club tennis championships in London, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Joanna Chan)

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain leaps as he plays a return to Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic, during the men's singles final of the Queens Club tennis championships in London, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Joanna Chan)

Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic reacts after playing a return to Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, during the men's singles final of the Queens Club tennis championships in London, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Joanna Chan)

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain plays a return to Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic during the men's singles final of the Queens Club tennis championships in London, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Joanna Chan)

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain told up the winners trophy after defeating Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic, in the men's singles final of the Queens Club tennis championships in London, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Joanna Chan)

NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands of nurses in three hospital systems in New York City went on strike Monday after negotiations through the weekend failed to yield breakthroughs in their contract disputes.

The strike was taking place at The Mount Sinai Hospital and two of its satellite campuses, with picket lines forming. The other affected hospitals are NewYork-Presbyterian and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx.

About 15,000 nurses are involved in the strike, according to New York State Nurses Association.

The strike, which comes during a severe flu season, could potentially force the hospitals to transfer patients, cancel procedures or divert ambulances. It could also put a strain on city hospitals not involved in the contract dispute, as patients avoid the medical centers hit by the strike.

The hospitals involved have been hiring temporary nurses to try and fill the labor gap during the walkout, and said in a statement during negotiations that they would “do whatever is necessary to minimize disruptions.” Montefiore posted a message assuring patients that appointments would be kept.

The work stoppage is occurring at multiple hospitals simultaneously, but each medical center is negotiating with the union independently. Several other hospitals across the city and in its suburbs reached deals in recent days to avert a possible strike.

The nurses’ demands vary by hospital, but the major issues include staffing levels and workplace safety. The union says hospitals have given nurses unmanageable workloads.

Nurses also want better security measures in the workplace, citing incidents like a an incident last week, when a man with a sharp object barricaded himself in a Brooklyn hospital room and was then killed by police.

The union also wants limitations on hospitals’ use of artificial intelligence.

The nonprofit hospitals involved in the negotiations say they’ve been working to improve staffing levels, but say the union’s demands overall are too costly.

Nurses voted to authorize the strike last month.

Both New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani had expressed concern about the possibility of the strike. As the strike deadline neared, Mamdani urged both sides to keep negotiating and reach a deal that “both honors our nurses and keeps our hospitals open.”

“Our nurses kept this city alive through its hardest moments. Their value is not negotiable,” Mamdani said.

The last major nursing strike in the city was only three years ago, in 2023. That work stoppage, at Mount Sinai and Montefiore, was short, lasting three days. It resulted in a deal raising pay 19% over three years at those hospitals.

It also led to promised staffing improvements, though the union and hospitals now disagree about how much progress has been made, or whether the hospitals are retreating from staffing guarantees.

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

FILE - A medical worker transports a patient at Mount Sinai Hospital, April 1, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)