Contrasting shocks for Australians at Queens
Alex de Minaur has crashed out of Queen's at the first hurdle in a serious blow for the Australian No.1 with Wimbledon looming.
But there was a much better outing for Alexei Popyrin, who has the tools and form to spring a surprise at the London grand slam, and enjoyed a very useful work-out in beating compatriot Aleksandar Vukic in three tight sets.
There was also a shock main court appearance for Adam Walton, who was suddenly called up to face world No.2 Carlos Alcaraz as a lucky loser. That was because Alejandro Davidovich Fokina - who had come to England after getting married in Marbella, Spain, at the weekend - had withdrawn with illness.
Alcaraz had been practising with another Aussie, Jordan Thompson, when he was given the news, which he greeted with a grin towards Thompson..
Walton, ranked 86, was making his main draw Queen's debut. Thompson will meet the winner if he gets past Spain's Jaume Munar in his match on Tuesday (local time)
De Minaur was playing his first match on grass this year, and his first on any surface since tumbling out of Roland Garros in the first week.
He had taken a break to reset, professing mental and physical burn-out, but looked flat on court as he lost 6-4 6-2 to powerful world No.30 Jiri Lehecka.
De Minaur was broken in the opening game, and never managed to break back in the first set as Lehecka served up to 226kph. He was unable to break in the second set either, dropping serve himself at 1-1, in part due to an unlucky netcord, and 2-4.
Forehand errors and a poor first serve were de Minaur's main failings, though Lehecka played well too.
"We all know how well Alex can play on grass, I knew I needed to serve well and be aggressive," said the Czech. "The first game was very important, to be a break up was a great advantage."
It was the first time Lehecka had beaten a top-12 ranked player on grass.
Popyrin, now ranked 21, took the first set against Vukic easily enough but was then drawn into a dogfight which will prove useful for both players, eventually winning 6-2 6-7 (9-11) 7-6 (7-3).
Popyrin will now play Jack Draper, the British No.1 and No.2 seed, who dismissed Jenson Brooksby 6-3 6-1.
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