Jack Draper arranges possible Carlos Alcaraz clash at Queen's

11/28/2024 08:50 AM

The British no. 1 Jack Draper will return to Queen's in June next year. Draper will compete at Queen's for the fourth time, joining the 2023 champion Carlos Alcaraz in the draw. The home favorite hopes for a strong run after reaching the quarter-final in 2021 and this year.

Jack will wrap up the season in the top-15, earning 39 wins and lifting two ATP trophies in a breakthrough run. A left-hander enjoyed two great weeks in Stuttgart and Queen's this June. He lifted the title in Germany and dethroned Carlos Alcaraz at Queen's en route to his second quarter-final.

Jack fell to an eventual champion Tommy Paul in three sets after a massive battle. Draper made a notable debut at Queen's in 2021. The young gun defeated Jannik Sinner and Alexander Bublik in four tie breaks, earning his first ATP victories and notching his first ATP quarter-final.

Devasting Draper ⚡️ The moment @jackdraper0 STUNNED world no.2 Alcaraz 7-6 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals in Queen’s#CinchChampionshipspic.twitter.com/ZNu5Di6hM1

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) June 20, 2024

Draper missed last year's Queen's and returned as world no. 31 this June. The home favorite defeated Mariano Navone in the first round and arranged the clash against world no. 2 Carlos Alcaraz. Draper ousted the Roland Garros champion 7-6, 6-3 in an hour and 39 minutes.

Carlos wished for the title defense at Queen's but could not do much against an explosive opponent. The Spaniard started his grass swing preparations a bit later following the success in Paris. The Briton took full advantage of that, prevailing in the opener and sealing the deal in the second set.

Jack served at 59% and drew the most from that. He dropped 16 points behind the initial shot and saved the only break point offered to his opponent. Alcaraz felt the pressure and fell under it, struggling behind the second serve and getting broken once from four chances presented to his rival. 

Draper had a sweet moment after beating Alcaraz “Quite a few of your family are here.. it’s a special moment to have done what you’ve done.” *Jack turns around* Jack: “I’ve got my grandad here in the under armor. He just turned 80.” 🥹 *crowd cheers* pic.twitter.com/G52ddmtv6c

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) June 20, 2024

Carlos hit three service winners more than his rival but struggled from the baseline. They hit a similar number of forced errors. However, Draper tamed his strokes more efficiently, reducing the number of errors and sealing the deal in straight sets. 

The Briton built the advantage in the shortest exchanges and grabbed three most extended rallies. Alcaraz needed six minutes to bring home the opening game of the encounter, surviving two deuces and holding after Draper's loose forehand. 

The Spaniard secured the third game with an ace. The home favorite painted a forehand crosscourt winner in the next one for 2-2 and reached another deuce on the return in game five. However, he missed a forehand, allowing Carlos to bring the game home and move 3-2 in front. 

Jack cracked an ace in the sixth game for 3-3, and Carlos followed that pace in the next one. A left-hander embraced a serve & volley in the eighth game, holding at love and locking the result at 4-4. They served well in games nine and ten to extend the drama. 

Draper painted an ace in the 12th game, introducing a tie break. Carlos missed a forehand in the first point and fell 3-0 behind after Jack's service winner. Jack drew Carlos' mistake in the fourth point for another mini-break and earned five set points after the rival's loose backhand.

The Spaniard saved two before the Briton landed a service winner at 6-3, wrapping up the opener in 57 minutes. They served well at the beginning of the second set, with Draper landing a service winner in game three. Alcaraz landed a volley winner in game four for 2-2. 

Jack made a push on the return at 3-2 and placed a volley winner for a break point. He cracked a backhand down the line return winner, earning the only break of the duel and moving a set and a break in front. Carlos had a chance to pull it back, earning a break point in game seven. 

The home favorite denied it with a crafty serve & volley combo and held with a forced error for 5-2. Alcaraz served to stay in the match in game eight and faced more issues. He netted a slice and faced two match points. The Spaniard denied them with powerful serves. 

World no. 3 wasted four game points and presented his opponent with the third match point after Draper's sharp return. Carlos saved it with a powerful serve and held with another to prolong the battle. Jack served for the win at 5-3 and dropped the opening two points. 

He fired two service winners and generated a match point with an ace down the T line. Draper welcomed Alcaraz's forehand mistake, celebrating a notable victory and moving into the quarter-final