By Jack Draper has made a remarkable splash at the Queen’s Club Championships, ousting the tournament’s reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz to secure a spot in the quarter-finals. Draper’s victory, sealed with a 7-6 6-3 scoreline, comes hot on the heels of his first ATP Tour title win in Stuttgart.
The match against Alcaraz was a display of Draper’s resilience and skill, particularly during the tie-break of the first set, which he won 7-3. He maintained his momentum into the second set, leading 5-2 and eventually serving out the match to claim a decisive victory.
Alcaraz, a recent French Open champion and a formidable opponent on grass, acknowledged Draper’s superior play on the day, despite his own impressive seven-week unbeaten streak and nearly two-year record on grass.
Draper’s win is a historic moment for British tennis, marking him as the first British man to defeat a top-two ranked player on grass since Andy Murray’s victory over Novak Djokovic in the 2013 Wimbledon final.
Looking ahead, Draper is set to face American fifth seed Tommy Paul in the quarter-finals. With top seeds like Alcaraz, Alex de Minaur, and Grigor Dimitrov out of the competition, the field is wide open for Draper to continue his ascent.
In another British success story, wild card entrant Billy Harris has joined Draper in the last eight, following his own victory over French qualifier Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. Harris, a seasoned player known for his travels to lower-tier tournaments, has made a significant breakthrough, further buoyed by a wild card entry into Wimbledon and the promise of a substantial payday.
The doubles competition also saw British success, with Joe Salisbury and his American partner Rajeev Ram advancing. Salisbury is set to face fellow Briton Neal Skupski in the quarter-finals, adding to the national excitement.
Draper’s and Harris’s achievements at the Queen’s Club Championships signal a promising upswing for British tennis, showcasing both emerging talent and seasoned players making their mark on the sport.
