Jack Draper at Queen’s Membership: Wimbledon hope makes dream begin to grass season at HSBC Championships | Tennis Information
British No 1 Jack Draper notched his first grass victory of the season with a powerful 6-3 6-1 win in opposition to Jenson Brooksby to cruise into the second spherical at Queen’s Membership.
Draper, seeded second at this yr’s HSBC Championships, is making an attempt to grow to be solely the second residence males’s singles winner within the Open period after Andy Murray.
The 23-year-old received his grass-court season up and operating by successful his first match on the court docket named after five-time champion Murray, with a assured efficiency in opposition to American Brooksby, earlier than poking enjoyable at his mentor, who retired final yr.
“Cannot do away with this man,” he joked. “Andy is an unbelievable man, somebody I am very impressed by and I would not be the place I’m with out him.
“I undoubtedly miss him on the Tour. Thanks Andy, this court docket deserves to be named after you.”
Draper narrowly averted injuring himself when he chased down an overhead into the promoting hoardings on his first set level, however he dispatched the second with a clubbing forehand.
He then fired down an eighth ace of the competition on his first match level earlier than celebrating a dominant win and writing ‘good to be residence’ on a digicam lens.
Draper will face Australian world No 21 Alexei Popyrin within the second spherical.
Carlos Alcaraz was speculated to tackle fellow Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina however the 26-year-old, who received married on the weekend, withdrew via sickness on Tuesday morning
Contemporary from his epic French Open victory over Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz collected his 14th consecutive win because the Spaniard went via the gears in a 6-4 7-6 (7-4) victory in opposition to Aussie fortunate loser Adam Walton.
He stated: “I had some days off and I made probably the most of it. To reset my thoughts a bit, to relaxation up. Then my thoughts is straight right here.
“After the French Open, it is only a week to change to grass so I haven’t got an excessive amount of time. I’d have appreciated to have extra time to chill out after the French. I’ve had just a few days again residence and some days to get again right here.”
World No 1 Sinner, taking part in in his first match since blowing these three Championship factors in Paris, beat Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann 7-5 6-3 to succeed in the final 16 in Halle.
“First matches are by no means simple on grass, and likewise second and third matches, so let’s examine what’s coming within the subsequent spherical,” stated the Italian.
Boulter extends successful run at Nottingham Open
Katie Boulter arrange an all-British showdown with Sonay Kartal on the Nottingham Open
Defending champion Katie Boulter prolonged her successful run on the Lexus Nottingham Open into a 3rd yr – and can now face fellow British star Sonay Kartal.
Boulter gained her first WTA Tour title within the metropolis two years in the past earlier than backing it up final yr, and she or he started her quest for a 3rd consecutive crown with a powerful 6-2 6-2 win over New Zealand’s Lulu Solar.
Solar surprisingly reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals final yr, beating Emma Raducanu within the fourth spherical, however she has struggled to construct on that and Boulter was in management from the beginning.
“I wasn’t feeling superb coming into this match,” stated Boulter, who put apart the frustration of dropping the British No 1 rating to Raducanu.
“I felt prefer it’s been fairly windy the final couple of days, simply been looking for my rhythm. Simply stepping out onto this court docket, already I really feel I am proper again at residence. That is a pleasant feeling to have.”
The 28-year-old, who hails from close by Leicestershire, defeated shut good friend Jodie Burrage to win her first title in Nottingham and throughout the final two years has performed six matches in opposition to compatriots on the occasion.
“I’ve performed sufficient of them now,” stated Boulter with a smile forward of an intriguing contest in opposition to British No 3 Kartal.
“It is simply one other match for me. I’ve a lot respect for Sonay, she’s an unbelievable tennis participant. I’ve all the time stated to her she’s going to cross my rating.
“I understand how good she could be and harmful. We really performed a extremely shut match on grass fairly just a few years in the past so I do know it should be an absolute battle.”
Kartal was additionally comfy in her opening match, beating France’s Leolia Jeanjean 6-3 6-4, whereas an all-British first-round contest went the way in which of Fran Jones, who defeated Harriet Dart 7-5 6-4.
A powerful exhibiting from the house contingent, in the meantime, was accomplished by teenager Mimi Xu, who marked her WTA Tour debut by beating American Katie Volynets 6-3 6-3.
The 17-year-old, ranked 350, overcame a spot of greater than 250 locations and is making a powerful case for a Wimbledon major draw wild card.
4-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka tumbled out of the Berlin Open first spherical after Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova battled from a set right down to win 3-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-4.
Australian Open champion and seventh seed Madison Keys additionally suffered an early exit, with Czech Marketa Vondrousova, the 2023 Wimbledon champion, transferring into the subsequent spherical with a 7-5 7-6 (7-6) win.
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