LONDON (Reuters) – Carlos Alcaraz’s Wimbledon preparations took a hit when he was dumped out of the Queen’s Club Championships by in-form Jack Draper in a stunning 7-6(3) 6-3 last-16 defeat on Thursday.
The 21-year-old three-times Grand Slam champion, who claimed the French Open last month, won the 2023 Queen’s event by beating Australian Alex de Minaur but the Spaniard was a shadow of his usual self against British number one Draper.
Fresh off winning the Stuttgart Open by beating former world number six Matteo Berrettini, Draper put on a near flawless display to clinch the opening set in 58 minutes against top seed Alcaraz before going on to secure his biggest career win.
The second set was a much more one-sided affair, with Draper making no mistake in snapping Alcaraz’s 13-match grass winning streak, as the Briton’s family proudly watched from the stands.
“It was a really tough match. I knew coming out here that Carlos is the defending champion, he won Wimbledon, he’s an amazing talent. I knew I had to come out here and play really well, and luckily I did that,” Draper said.
“I’ve got my grandad here in the Under Armour – he’s just turned 80! My mum, my whole team, my school friends and all of you guys. Thank you.”
Up next for Draper, 22, is American Tommy Paul in the quarter-finals.
(Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Bengaluru; Editing by Ken Ferris)
