( Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail )
Jack Draper Battles Past Popyrin to Reach Queen’s Club Quarter-Finals
LONDON: British tennis star Jack Draper advanced to the quarter-finals of the Queen’s Club Championships with a thrilling 3-6, 6-2, 7-6(7-5) victory over Australia’s Alexei Popyrin on Wednesday.
The 23-year-old Draper, currently ranked sixth in the ATP rankings, overcame a challenging start to secure the win in a high-pressure match lasting over two hours in warm conditions. Draper dropped the opening set but responded strongly to level the match, before holding his nerve in a decisive third-set tie-break.
“It was a tough match—credit to Alexei, he played some amazing tennis,” Draper said in his post-match interview. “It wasn’t pretty at times, but I’m still adjusting to the grass. It means a lot to win here at home in front of family and friends.”
Draper, who reached the US Open semi-finals last year and made the fourth round of both the Australian and French Opens this season, is aiming for a deep run at Wimbledon later this month. A semi-final spot at Queen’s would guarantee him a top-four seed at the prestigious Grand Slam starting June 30.
The final set saw both players raise their intensity. Draper’s powerful groundstrokes helped him gain a double break in the second set, but Popyrin held on, saving two match points at 4-5. The Australian led 4-2 in the final-set tie-break, but Draper rallied to win five of the last six points, closing the match with a strong ace to the delight of the home crowd.
Elsewhere in Queen’s Club Action:
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Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut mounted an impressive comeback to defeat Czech eighth seed Jakub Mensik 3-6, 6-3, 7-5. Emotions ran high as the 19-year-old Mensik, who famously beat Novak Djokovic to win the Miami Open earlier this year, lost his temper and received a code violation after smashing his racket, which accidentally flew into the stands.
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French qualifier Corentin Moutet scored the biggest win of his career on Tuesday, saving a match point to upset American third seed Taylor Fritz in a marathon 6-7(5), 7-6(7), 7-5 battle. Moutet, 26, now moves on to face Britain’s Jacob Fearnley in the round of 16.
The Queen’s Club Championships serve as a key warm-up event ahead of Wimbledon, offering players crucial match practice on grass courts.
Stay tuned for more updates as the tournament progresses.
