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The Independent
5 hours ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Jack Draper seals huge Wimbledon boost after Queen's quarter-final victory
On one level, it is mission accomplished for Jack Draper at Queen's Club this week. Of course, there is still at tournament to win, a prestigious tournament at that, especially for a British player. Rather tantalisingly, Draper remains on an collision course with world No 2 Carlos Alcaraz in the final on Sunday. But around these parts, there is always one eye firmly set on the big grass court dance, five miles south, in ten days' time. The surprise first-round exit of current world No 4 Taylor Fritz this week and the non-activity of No 5 Novak Djokovic, handed No 6 Draper a golden opportunity to seal a top-four seeding for Wimbledon. With that comes an easier quarter-final at SW19 – by ranking, avoiding the likes of Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner until the semis – should he get there. And with a patchy if not convincing 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 quarter-final victory against Brandon Nakashima on Friday, Draper has secured the points he needs to return to the world No 4 spot on Monday. The boy from Putney will be the fourth seed at the All England Club; quite the rise from No 28 last year. Tennis players tend not to worry too much about the potential pathways and ramifications. Much like the age-old footballer saying, it's simply 'focus on the next game.' And given Draper has never gone beyond the second round at his home Slam, that will remain the case come the first week of the Wimbledon fortnight. But it's unquestionably an advantage if, like us in the media and fans of the sport, you like to glance a little further forward. Of immediate concern, though, will be the big-serving game of Jiri Lehecka – who defeated British No 2 Jacob Fearnley earlier in the day – in the HSBC Championships semi-finals on Saturday. The second seed this week at Queen's, Draper is now just a match away from setting up an intriguing Sunday showpiece against Alcaraz, who he beat here last year. On a stifling but overcast afternoon in west London, Draper came out all guns blazing against fellow 23-year-old Nakashima, ranked 32 in the world, who he beat on route to his first tour title on the grass of Stuttgart last year. The Brit broke in the third game, courtesy of a shanked Nakashima forehand into the crowd, and staved off six break back opportunities for the American in a tight first-set, with Draper's form ebbing and flowing sporadically. A key trait of any top player, however, is to convert when playing under-par and Draper, despite a curious overuse of the drop-shot against the speedy Nakashima, sealed the opener in overcast conditions with an ace. The second set was tighter still. The cool-headed, unflappable Nakashima had more opportunities against serve, before Draper found his mark with aplomb under pressure. Yet just a game away from a tiebreak, the Brit's forehand went mysteriously astray and Nakashima, to the sound of groans on the Andy Murray Arena, claimed the second as Draper went long on the backhand wing. Nakashima's notable robustness in the rallies – no point was given up cheaply – seemed to be sapping the life out of Draper, two days on from his final-set tie-break win against Alexei Popyrin. But at 3-3, suddenly, a second wind. Draper's returns had a smidge more oomph, his body language picked up and Nakashima could not reacclimatise quick enough. Draper's first break point chance flew agonisingly wide by a few millimetres but his second was clinched brilliantly, via a trademark forehand thump down the line. Serving for the match, Draper saved two break points – one with a forehand plum on the line – and roared to the crowd for encouragement, and eventually sealed a hard-fought victory with a volley at the net. The relief on his face was clear as day. It is a testament to Draper's newfound equanimity that his game – and perhaps more pertinently, his mind – hit the mark needed once more at the end of the match. It is the sort of asset which is swinging sets, and matches, in his favour. And it very much makes Draper, the fourth-best player in the world, a bona fide threat on the grass.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Zverev eases into Halle second round after coming to aid of injured spectator
June 18 (Reuters) - Alexander Zverev's hunt for an elusive grasscourt title began with a clinical 6-2 6-1 victory over Marcos Giron in the first round of the Halle Open on Wednesday in a match interrupted by an advertising hoarding falling on spectators. During the opening set, a section of an advertising hoarding came crashing down from the upper tier onto spectators below, forcing the chair umpire to stop play. Zverev immediately procured an ice pack for the injured fans to use and waited patiently while tournament organisers scrambled to provide medical assistance. Reuters has contacted the organisers for comment on the status of the injured fans. The courtside announcer later said a woman who was injured was 'okay'. On court, Zverev finished the match with 23 winners in the 79-minute contest where Giron struggled to match the power of the German's first serve and had no answer when his opponent's returns found all corners of the court. World number three Zverev, still nursing the disappointment of Sunday's Stuttgart Open final defeat by Taylor Fritz, showed no mercy with the home fans firmly behind the towering second seed who has finished runner-up twice in Halle. "It was a great match for me, I thought it was quite high level. Maybe he wanted to play a bit better than he did, but all in all I felt like I didn't let him play that well, which was important for me," Zverev said. Giron held his own early in the opening set with some deft touches and drop shots, but his resistance crumbled against Zverev's thunderous serve, with the German finishing with 10 aces. The opening set's final game became an unexpected epic as Giron saved four set points before Zverev finally secured it after 54 minutes of play. Any hopes of a comeback quickly evaporated as Zverev reeled off seven consecutive games to take a 3-0 lead in the second set as Giron's shoulders slumped. Giron's double-fault count also increased at the wrong time and the German pounced to break before serving out the set. "I feel like when he's on top of the ball, when he's allowed to play, it's very difficult with him because he moves quite well. He can control the rally quite well, so I had to take that away," Zverev added. Earlier, eighth seed Karen Khachanov dispatched Belgium's Zizou Bergs 7-5 6-3 despite a nasty fall on the grass. Third seed Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas are in action in the last 16 later.
CNA
2 days ago
- Sport
- CNA
Zverev eases into Halle second round after coming to aid of injured spectator
Alexander Zverev's hunt for an elusive grasscourt title began with a clinical 6-2 6-1 victory over Marcos Giron in the first round of the Halle Open on Wednesday in a match interrupted by an advertising hoarding falling on spectators. During the opening set, a section of an advertising hoarding came crashing down from the upper tier onto spectators below, forcing the chair umpire to stop play. Zverev immediately procured an ice pack for the injured fans to use and waited patiently while tournament organisers scrambled to provide medical assistance. Reuters has contacted the organisers for comment on the status of the injured fans. The courtside announcer later said a woman who was injured was 'okay'. On court, Zverev finished the match with 23 winners in the 79-minute contest where Giron struggled to match the power of the German's first serve and had no answer when his opponent's returns found all corners of the court. World number three Zverev, still nursing the disappointment of Sunday's Stuttgart Open final defeat by Taylor Fritz, showed no mercy with the home fans firmly behind the towering second seed who has finished runner-up twice in Halle. "It was a great match for me, I thought it was quite high level. Maybe he wanted to play a bit better than he did, but all in all I felt like I didn't let him play that well, which was important for me," Zverev said. Giron held his own early in the opening set with some deft touches and drop shots, but his resistance crumbled against Zverev's thunderous serve, with the German finishing with 10 aces. The opening set's final game became an unexpected epic as Giron saved four set points before Zverev finally secured it after 54 minutes of play. Any hopes of a comeback quickly evaporated as Zverev reeled off seven consecutive games to take a 3-0 lead in the second set as Giron's shoulders slumped. Giron's double-fault count also increased at the wrong time and the German pounced to break before serving out the set. "I feel like when he's on top of the ball, when he's allowed to play, it's very difficult with him because he moves quite well. He can control the rally quite well, so I had to take that away," Zverev added. Earlier, eighth seed Karen Khachanov dispatched Belgium's Zizou Bergs 7-5 6-3 despite a nasty fall on the grass. Third seed Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas are in action in the last 16 later.
Arab News
3 days ago
- Sport
- Arab News
Alcaraz wins testing Queen's opener, Fritz, Shelton out
LONDON: Carlos Alcaraz came through a testing first-round match against Adam Walton at Queen's on Tuesday as the top seed returned to action for the first time since his dramatic French Open triumph. But two of the world's top 10 crashed out as Americans Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton lost to French duo Corentin Moutet and Arthur Rinderknech respectively. Alcaraz, back on grass for the first time since winning his second Wimbledon title last year, beat his 86th-ranked opponent 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) on a sweaty day in west London. The Spaniard, who overcame Jannik Sinner in a five-set thriller at Roland Garros just nine days ago, broke in the seventh game and went on to clinch the first set against lucky loser Walton, who replaced Alejandro Davidovich Fokina after he withdrew due to illness. The 2023 Queen's champion appeared to have found his rhythm only for Walton to rally impressively, carving out two set points on his opponent's serve in the 10th game. But the Australian failed to convert either of them and Alcaraz levelled, coming out on top in the subsequent tie-break. Alcaraz scribbled 'Grass season, here we go!' on the courtside camera lens, thanking fans for their vocal support and saying he felt 'loved' in London. 'First match on grass is never easy to get used to the competition again, to get used to the grass again,' he said. 'So, I just want to say thank you for helping me a little bit.' The world No.2 said he had taken time away from tennis after his gruelling French Open triumph to 'reset' his mind and rest. 'I'm just really happy with the performance that I had today,' he said. 'First match, I feel great. Obviously, a lot of things to improve, a lot of things that I have to put into work just to feel a little bit more comfortable on the grass. But in general, I'm just happy to get through.' Alcaraz faces compatriot Jaume Munar in the last 16. World No. 4 Fritz failed to convert a match point against Moutet before losing 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (9/7), 7-5. Moutet held on in the second set tie-break before securing the only break of serve in the match in the final game. Sheldon also stumbled to a shock early exit to Rinderknech in two tie-breaks 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/4). Earlier, British second seed Jack Draper dispatched American Jenson Brooksby 6-3, 6-1 to reach the second round. The left-hander, who has previously beaten Sinner and Alcaraz at Queen's, won 93 percent of first-serve points and did not face a break point in a dominant display. Draper is chasing his second title on grass after winning in Stuttgart last year and will next face Alexei Popyrin after the Australian beat compatriot Aleksandar Vukic. 'Feels amazing, no place I'd rather be,' said Draper. 'We travel the world playing tennis, never get to come home or spend much time with my family but to be on this court in front of you guys, my people, my family, thank you.'
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Jack Draper begins Queen's campaign with a crushing win over Jenson Brooksby - as British No1 admits it is 'good to be home'
Jack Draper began his Queen's campaign in impressive fashion by earning a dominant 6-3, 6-1 victory over American Jenson Brooksby. The British No1 broke Brooksby's serve in the seventh game of the match to take control on the Andy Murray Arena. Draper sealed the opening set with another break, before racing through the second in sweltering conditions. After sealing a straight sets victory, the No2 seed wrote on the camera 'Good to be home', before addressing the home fans. 'Feels amazing, no place I'd rather be,' Draper said on court. 'We travel the world playing tennis, never get to come home or spend much time with my family but to be on this court in front of you guys, my people, my family, thank you. 'It's tricky coming onto the grass after clay, to adapt, I'm hitting the ball a bit late not on time. 'The more matches and time I have on practice courts I'll get better and better and it's definitely a surface I really enjoy playing on and obviously a win helped as well. 'I'm excited to see how I can get on this week, I feel excited I feel ready and I want to do my best.' Draper will now face Australia's Alexei Popyrin in the last-16 on Wednesday. The British No1 is in a tight race with American star Taylor Fritz to secure a top four seeding at Wimbledon, potentially easing his path through the draw. A strong run at Queen's would help Draper's cause, with Fritz also in the draw.
