cinch Championships 2024: Draper clinches career-best win after defeating defending champion Alcaraz
• 3 MINUTE READ
Jack Draper’s winning streak on grass has been extended to seven matches after the 22-year-old dethroned reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz 7-6(3), 6-3 in the second round of the cinch Championships.
This victory marks the biggest win of the Draper’s young career and sees him become the first British tennis player to defeat a top two player on grass courts since Andy Murray defeated world No.1 Novak Djokovic to capture the 2013 Wimbledon title.
He also becomes the first British man to beat the top seed at the Queen's Club in 52 years, when John Paish defeated Stan Smith in the 1972 quarter-final.
Draper made it third time lucky after losing his previous two matches against the Spaniard at Basel (2022) and Indian Wells (2023), and has snapped the world No.2's 13-match win streak on the grass.
Speaking on his world class victory at the Queen’s Club, Draper said, "It was a really tough match – coming out here, Carlos is the defending champion here, obviously won at Wimbledon last year and he’s an incredible talent and amazing for the sport so I had to come out and play really well, and luckily, I did.
"I'm thinking match by match, obviously it's amazing to beat someone like Carlos but in tennis you've got to go again the next day. I've got to go again tomorrow against another great player in Tommy Paul and I'm not going to get too high on this win.
"Obviously it's nice to reflect on things after the week with the wins you have but my main priority right now is to make sure I do everything I can to be best prepared for tomorrow. At this level, if you're not quite on your game, anyone can beat you."
The world No.31 has been on an incredible run over the last two weeks - lifting his maiden ATP tour title at the Boss Open and being crowned British No.1 for the first time in his career. His dominant run on the grass so far has seen him take down some of the world's best players, and today saw him add another star-studded name to his hit list.
Neither player let each other get a look in on serve as we headed towards a first set tie-break having not seen a single break point. Draper looked to apply the pressure early on as he sprinted to a 4-0 before clinching the opening set after the three-time Grand Slam champion plummeted a return into the net.
The start of the second looked to be pivitol for the reigning champion, who appeared to struggle returning the Draper serve. The Brit needed just one break point opportunity to storm ahead in the second round battle, as he wrapped up the biggest win of his career in an hour and 40 minutes in front of a home crowd and his loved ones.
"There’s no place I’d rather be right now. I have my family, my friends here, the British support – you guys are amazing – and I wasn’t to keep on playing here. I’ve been desperate to come back.
"I’ve got my Granddad here, just turned 80 – he’s doing well! My Mum, my whole team, my school friends and all you guys (the crowd). Thank you, thank you!"
Draper now sets up a quarter-final clash against last year’s Rothesay International Eastbourne runner-up Paul, as he bids to reach the semi-final of the cinch Championships for the first time in his career.
Keep up with all the latest results and updates at the 2024 cinch Championships
Lead Partner
Premium Partners
Official Partners
Official Supporters
