British men’s number one Jack Draper continued his sensational week with a composed 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 win over defending champion Carlos Alcaraz at Queen’s.
Wimbledon champion, Alcaraz, 21, saved three match points at 5-2 before Draper served out the match to the delight of an ecstatic London crowd.
Draper’s win — the biggest of his career by ranking also ended Alcaraz’s streak of 13 straight wins on grass and comes after he claimed his maiden ATP title in Stuttgart on Sunday.
Winning the Stuttgart title was a big milestone for the young Englishman and it certainly boosted his confidence coming into this match with the world number two.
Regardless of how far he goes in Queen’s, the youngster will be tipped to make a deep run in the major event that follows this — Wimbledon.
Draper’s development has come at the right time to fill the void which will be created by Andy Murray’s impending retirement and the former Wimbledon champion has backed the youngster to reach the acme of the sport.