Carlos Alcaraz vs Jack Draper LIVE: British No 1 stuns Wimbledon champion in Queen’s second round
British No 1 Draper secures biggest win of his career with straight-sets victory over Alcaraz
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Jack Draper outperformed world No 2 Carlos Alcaraz for the biggest win of his career in the Queen’s second round on Thursday.
The new British No 1, who won his first tour title on the grass of Stuttgart last week, was a deserved winner against Alcaraz after taking the first set on a tie-break.
Draper then secured a crucial break of serve with a backhand return winner and did not falter as he served out a 7-6(3), 6-3 win against the defending Wimbledon champion.
Draper, 22, will face American fifth seed Tommy Paul in the quarter-finals on Friday.
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The key to Jack Draper landing biggest win of his career against Carlos Alcaraz at Queen’s
A figure of composure and poise throughout what would transpire to be the biggest afternoon of his career so far, Jack Draper could not contain his emotions any longer by the end. Calm at the moment of triumph, when Carlos Alcaraz whipped a final forehand into the net, respectful at the shake of hands, the 22-year-old from Sutton in south London leapt up in the air and screamed towards his elated player box.
Nineteen years on from Andy Murray’s emergence to the British public at Queen’s – and a day after the two-time Wimbledon champion retired with the end of his career close now – this felt like a statement win. A changing of the guard: Draper has arrived.
And it wasn’t just the impressive straight-set scoreline, 7-6(3), 6-3, which caught the eye on a sunny afternoon in West Kensington. Nor was it restricting Alcaraz, one of the game’s great returners, to just one break point all afternoon. It was everything working exquisitely in tandem with Draper – undeterred by a rare miss – playing with complete clarity. This was all-out attack.
Full report below:
The key to Draper landing biggest win of his career against Alcaraz at Queen’s
The new British No 1 dominated the defending Wimbledon champion and world No 2 with a swashbuckling display of all-out aggressive tennis in the second round on Thursday
GAME, SET AND MATCH - Jack Draper beats Carlos Alcaraz 7-6(3) 6-3
Draper has done it! He jumps into the air in celebration after the handshake - that’s the biggest win of his career!
Alcaraz is pumped from the off in the final gane, as Draper misses a volley into the net and pushes a backhand long for 0-30. Draper finds his first serve down the T, before Alcaraz nets a forehand return.
30-30 - and another swinging serve down the T for an ace!
Match point No 4 - and Alcaraz nets a forehand!
The defending champion is out!
Harris 6-4 7-5 Mpetshi Perricard
Game, set and match Billy Harris!
More joy for the Brits at Queens as the wild card makes the quarter-finals!
Harris 6-4 Mpetshi Perricard
More good news for British fans!
Wild card Billy Harris has taken the first set, 6-4, against Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard - and has sealed it with a terrific forehand inside-out winner!
Jack Draper will face fifth seed Tommy Paul in the quarter-finals:
Some images from Draper’s sensational win against Alcaraz!
Jack Draper after beating Carlos Alcaraz:
“It was a really tough match, Carlos is defending champion, won at Wimbledon, incredible talent, had to come out and play really well and luckily I did, thank you.
“There’s no place I’d rather be right now, the British support is amazing, I’ve been desperate to come back.
“Got my Grandad here, turned 80! My Mum over there – thank you!”
Carlos Alcaraz 6-7(3) 3-5 Jack Draper*
Three match points come and go for Draper in a lengthy game!
Alcaraz misses some uncharacteristic forehands and, with Draper continuing to be aggressive, he brings up two match points at 15-40!
Alcaraz saves the first with an ace down the T and the second as Draper’s blocked return goes long!
Draper stays in the game, ad down, with a brilliant drop-shot and backhand down the line - and then does so again with a slapped forehand return winner, coming in at 92mph!
Alcaraz then pushes his backhand long to bring up a third match point - which the Spaniard saves with a huge serve out wide!
Alcaraz gets it done, after 12 minutes, and let’s out a huge “Come on!” - he’s still in it! But Draper will now serve for the match.
*Carlos Alcaraz 6-7(3) 2-5 Jack Draper
Alcaraz is not done yet, as he tries to take control and, at 30-30, he comes to the net on return with Draper netting!
His first break point of the match - and Draper hits an outrageous backhand half-volley bang on the line!
Deuce - ace down the T from Draper. and Alcaraz goes long on the forehand!
Just a game away from the biggest ranking win of his career!
Carlos Alcaraz 6-7(3) 2-4 Jack Draper*
Draper breaks!
Alcaraz looks fine at 30-15 but Draper’s heavy groundstrokes are just too much for Alcaraz right now!
The Brit brings up the first break point of the match with a brilliant backhand down-the-line and volley put-away - and seals the break with a storming backhand return winner!
Nerves... what nerves! Draper in control now...
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