Jack Draper: British No 1 battles past Alexei Popyrin to reach quarter-finals at Queen’s Club | Tennis News
Jack Draper received a severe test from his title references Grasscourt with a three sets victory against Alexei Popyrin on a hot day at the Queen’s Club.
The second seeded of the ATP 500 event in western London lost the opening set before digging deeply to seal a 3-6 6-2 7-6 (7-5) success on Andy Murray Arena.
The 23 -year -old dropped the Australian Australian Popyrin opening set, but gathered to level the match.
He then went through a decisive equality break to win an exhausting competition in two hours and 13 minutes.
If Draper innovates and reaches a first semi-final in western London, he will lead fourth in Wimbledon.
“It was a difficult match, the credit for Alexei, he played an incredible tennis,” said Draper, who could then face an entirely British force test against Dan Evans, ranked n ° 199, at the HSBC championships.
“My family is there and my friends are there and I love being at home, playing in front of family and friends. It’s an emotional moment for me.
“In the first two sets, it was not pretty at all, I need time to adapt to the grass, but it is one more under the belt.”
Draper forced two break points in the seventh game of the first set, but two AS of 130 mph put popyrine.
The Briton then lost the concentration momentarily and before he knows, Popyrin had three breaks.
The whole has quickly disappeared, although the game was briefly maintained when a bizarre wind burst swallowed the Andy Murray Arena, sending a flying spectator hat in the popyrine and large pieces of felt of the barriers swirling on the ground.
However, it was Draper who had a second wind with a double break to draw.
His portion caused him trouble and his return after a double fault gave Popyrin a break in the beginning of the decision maker, with a great service, then an ace winning a vital socket.
Popyrin clung valiantly, saving two match points when he served at 4-5, and in the equality break, he led 4-2.
But Draper walked on gas to win five of the last six points, ending the work with an AS.
Carlos Alcaraz is back in action Thursday at the Queen’s Club
Earlier, Roberto Bautista Agut Vanquished Czech Jakub Mensik 3-6 6-3 7-5 to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since its previous appearance here in 2016.
Seeded Carlos AlcarazThe 2023 champion is back in action against his Spanish colleague Jaume munar THURSDAY.
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