Jack Draper Upsets Carlos Alcaraz In London Round Two

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Jack Draper Upsets Carlos Alcaraz In London Round Two
By Ken Miller, Lawn Tennis Analyst, Posted: Friday, June 21, 2024 1:49am PST USA

London--Thursday in the second round of the Cinch Championships in London, the unseeded Jack Draper of Great Britain upset the top seeded Carlos Alcaraz of Spain 7-6(6-3), 6-3 to advance to Friday's quarterfinals.

Set one stayed mostly even early on with no breaks of serve to enter a tiebreaker.

In the tiebreaker the 22 year old Draper took a 4-0 lead as Alcaraz committed three forehand errors as well as a backhand error.

The 21 year old Alcaraz then in a serve and volley play; hit a high crosscourt forehand volley winner to trail 1-4.

Jack Draper of Great Britain

Draper is set to move from 31 to at least 28 in the rankings and is most likely guaranteed one of the 32 seeds at Wimbledon which begins July 1st.

Alcaraz, the defending Cinch champion, then struck two backhand errors to face set point.

Alcaraz saved two set points before netting a down the line backhand return to drop the tiebreaker.

In set two the 6 feet four inches tall Draper continued to mix powerful serves and aggressive groundstrokes and net play to take a 2-1 lead.

Then with Alcaraz serving down 2-3 30 all, Draper struck a down the line forehand volley winner to reach 30-40 and the first breakpoint of the match.

Draper took the following backhand return early; striking an aggressive down the line backhand return winner to break serve and lead 4-2.

Draper continued to use a big lefty serve and net rushing game to fight off a break point in the following game and to hold serve to lead 5-2.

With the 6 feet tall Alcaraz serving to stay in the match, Draper struck several aggressive crosscourt topspin forehands to reach match point at 15-40.

Alcaraz then stayed three match points in a six deuce game to hold serve and reach 3-5.

Serving for the match, Draper committed two backhand errors to trail 0-30.

Alcaraz then netted a backhand return before also netting a down the line inside out forehand return to reach 30 all.

Draper struck an ace down the tee to reach his fourth match point of the day.

Alcaraz netted an inside out crosscourt forehand to end the match after one hour and 39 minutes of play.

Draper, who struck eight aces in the match, jumped into the air in a celebration after the match.

Speaking to the crowd following the match, Draper said "you guys are amazing. I want to keep on playing here. I've been desperate to come back."

Draper did not lose serve for the day in defeating the 2023 Wimbledon champion Alcaraz.

In Friday's quarterfinals, Draper takes on the fifth seeded American Tommy Paul.

Following his success this week, Draper is set to move from 31 to at least 28 in the rankings and is most likely guaranteed one of the 32 seeds at Wimbledon which begins July 1st.