On June 17, 2025, Australia’s top-ranked player, Alex de Minaur, world No. 12, suffered a surprising first-round defeat at the Queen’s Club Championships, losing 6-4, 6-2 to Jiri Lehecka, ranked No. 30, in a blow to his Wimbledon preparations, per The Guardian. De Minaur, a 2023 Queen’s finalist and 2024 Wimbledon quarter-finalist, struggled with over 30 unforced errors, particularly on his forehand, and a first-serve percentage below 60%, per @josemorgado. Lehecka’s powerful serve, averaging 211 kph and peaking at 226 kph, dominated, as he faced no break points, per Tennis Majors. De Minaur, who skipped the Rosmalen grasscourt event to recover from mental and physical fatigue post-Roland Garros, admitted, “I wasn’t up for the level,” and may now reconsider skipping Eastbourne or Mallorca warm-ups, per AAP News.
In another setback for Australia, Jordan Thompson, ranked No. 32, retired from his first-round match against Jaume Munar after losing the first set 7-5, with no clear reason disclosed, though it may have been precautionary with Wimbledon looming, per AAP News. Both players also withdrew from doubles, with de Minaur citing a hip injury and Thompson a recurring back issue, raising concerns for their Wimbledon readiness, per @crosscourt1. Despite the losses, Alexei Popyrin provided a bright spot, defeating Aleksandar Vukic 6-2, 6-7(9-11), 7-6(7-3), per The Stats Zone.
