The new British men’s number one, Jack Draper, 22, won a stunning victory, defeating French Open and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 in the second round at Queen’s on Thursday (June 20).
Spain’s Alcaraz, 21, the world number two, saved three match points at 5-2 before Draper served out from 0-30 to the delight of an ecstatic home crowd.
The victory continued a memorable run for Draper, who won his first ATP title of his career at the Stuttgart Open on Sunday ( June 16).
On Monday, he was confirmed as Britain’s leading player on the men’s tour.
The Stuttgart title boosted his confidence, he said.
“To get the title last week set me free of negative emotions and a lot of the pressure I’ve been putting on myself,” he said.
Draper ended the three-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz’s streak of 13 straight wins on grass.
Draper did not feel any pressure. “Coming to Queen’s for a home tournament, being British number one, you would think would put more stress on my shoulders – but it is the opposite,” he said.
“I feel calm and relaxed because I know I’m doing the right things. I trust in my tennis and know I’m going to be tough to beat,” he added.
Draper looked composed and focused throughout the match. After coolly shaking hands with Alcaraz, he leapt into the air, finally releasing his emotions.
Unbeaten in seven successive matches, Draper will play American fifth seed Tommy Paul in the quarter-finals.
Carlos Alcaraz suffered his first defeat on grass in almost two years when he lost to Jack Draper.
Shot-clock rule change bad: Alcaraz
He blamed the “crazy” shot-clock rule change being trialled at Queen’s. At Queen’s, the 25-second “shot clock” starts automatically three seconds after the previous point. Alcaraz said it is “bad” for players.
He explained that, because of the rule, “I finished the point at the net, and I had no time to ask for the balls.”
“It is crazy. I have time just to ask for two balls and no bounces,” he said.
“I have never seen something like that in tennis. If you play a long point or finish at the net, you [should] have time just to go for a towel or [do] your routine: ask for, in my case, four balls, I’m concentrating for the next point, just bouncing my bounces, and serve as best as I can.
“Today I felt like I was in a rush all the time. I had no time to bounce and do my routine. Of course it’s something bad for the players.”
Alcaraz added, “I didn’t play well, I didn’t move well. It doesn’t change too much for me. I’m going to keep practicing at 100% to improve, to be a little bit better at Wimbledon.”