Jack Draper shows why he can star at Wimbledon with impressive Queen's start

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6 hours ago

Jack Draper began his pursuit of grass-court glory with a dominant victory over Jenson Brooksby, claiming 10 of the last 11 games in a performance that had the fans gasping at his best shots.
This is Draper's first summer as the undisputed main man of British tennis, following Andy Murray's retirement last year, but he showed little sign of being burdened by expectation.
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Well, actually, Draper might have been a little tight early on. In the opening game or three, he responded slowly to Brooksby's 110mph first serves – which are milk floats by the super-powered standards of the modern tour – and snatched at forehands too early in rallies.
But as soon as Draper became used to Brooksby's conservative positional tennis, and realised that there were no big surprises here to ambush him, he relaxed and began to show his class. Winner after winner zipped off the baseline and slammed into the backboard as Draper dashed to a 6-3, 6-1 victory in just 77 minutes.
There will be sterner tests ahead, but Draper looks ready to introduce himself to floating sports fans over the next few weeks. If he remains a well-kept secret within British sport, despite his recent ascent to the heady heights of No 6 in the world rankings, that is probably because he has never made a deep run at Wimbledon.
Drawn against defending champion Novak Djokovic on his SW19 debut in 2021, Draper lost to Alex de Minaur in the third round a year later, then missed 2023 entirely with a nasty shoulder injury.
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He should have done better than the second round last summer, but then he came up against a regular practice partner in Cameron Norrie – another left-hander who knew his game inside out.
This year, the opportunity is there for Draper – who could earn a top-four seeding with a deep run this week – to show what he can do on this surface. A glorious first outing at Queen's, beneath a burning sun and a full set of stands, made for the ideal start.
Carlos Alcaraz cuts short French Open festivities to win first round at Queen's
Carlos Alcaraz ensured that however he spent his days after Roland Garros epic against Jannik Sinner, that there would be no upset at the start of the grass court season, with a straight sets win over lucky loser Adam Walton.
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Having reacted to winning in Paris with an annual tradition excursion to Balearic island Ibiza, Alcaraz was not faultless against Australian Walton ranked 86th in the world, despite winning 6-4, 7-6 (7-4).
Almost exactly a year ago, Alcaraz arrived at Queen's tired from his break in Ibiza, and his Queen's title defence did not go as planned when he was beaten in under 100 minutes by Jack Draper.
Against Walton, understandably the tennis was not as smooth as it might have been two weeks ago, and there were a number of baseline exchanges that could have been won earlier.
Carlos Alcaraz is back at Queen's - Getty Images/Adrian Dennis
After four exchanges of serve in the opener, Alcaraz broke. It might have been later than he should have; he had come to the net earlier in the game and missed what could have been a decisive drop shot.
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But third time lucky, Alcaraz won the break point, when Walton fired a backhand into the net, with the Spaniard celebrating with a fist pump.
In the second set, Walton's serves might have lacked power but the 110-115mph efforts were well-placed and often wide which left Alcaraz reaching.
At one point trying to race back to get the ball, Alcaraz even tried a 'tweener' a shot in between the legs to get the ball back over the net, it didn't come off, the shot was too low, but it entertained the mostly full Andy Murray Arena.
Walton had two chances to take the game to a decider, but facing the danger brought out the best of world No. 1 Alcaraz, saving both with an ace and another strong serve.
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For Alcaraz, it is very much: first hurdle of the grass court season down, many more to come as he targets a Wimbledon title defence.
05:45 PM BST
Next up for Alcaraz...
... is the winner of Jordan Thompson and Jaume Munar, which is ongoing as we speak.
05:32 PM BST
Alcaraz reacts
I feel at home I feel loved so thank you. First match on grass never easy to get used to the competition, get used to the grass.
He has played a few matches already on grass so I think he's more experienced this year on grass. I'm really happy with the performance today, I feel great, a lot of things to improve and a lot of things to work on to feel more comfortable but in general I'm happy to get through.
05:17 PM BST
WATCH: How Alcaraz sealed victory
05:08 PM BST
Alcaraz 6-4, 7-6 Walton
Walton return long, 4-3. Walton second serve but Alcaraz nets a forehand return, 4-4. Cat and mouse rally, Walton doesn't do enough with his volley and Alcaraz punishes him with a volley down the line, 5-4.
Walton backhand into the net, 6-4. Two match points...
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Alcaraz gets Walton on the run, opens up the court and flicks a forehand winner into the space, 7-4.
GAME SET MATCH ALCARAZ!!!!
05:03 PM BST
Alcaraz 6-4, 6-6 Walton - TIE-BREAK
Alcaraz backhand into the net, 0-1. Alcaraz drop shot winner, 1-1. First serve into the body unreturned by Walton, 2-1. Wild forehand long by Alcaraz, 2-2. Alcaraz return into the net, 2-3. Walton return flies long, 3-3.
05:03 PM BST
'Alcaraz sparked into life'
Facing those two set points seems to have sparked Alcaraz into life.
On his next service game, he plays two exquisite drop shots including a feint, that Walton can only watch.
05:00 PM BST
Alcaraz* 6-4, 6-6 Walton
Into a tie-break we go as Alcaraz holds with an exquisite half volley winner. Shades of Roger Federer with that touch.
04:56 PM BST
Alcaraz 6-4, 5-6 Walton*
Problems for Walton after his backhand sits up nicely for Alcaraz to drill a backhand winner down the line, 15-30. Much needed first serve for Walton is unreturned, 30-30.
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Frustration for Alcaraz as he makes a surprising error on his backhand, pushing the ball long, 40-30. Walton books himself a tie-break when Alcaraz slices a defensive forehand into the net.
04:53 PM BST
Alcaraz* 6-4, 5-5 Walton
Loss of focus from Alcaraz as a third double fault of the match makes it 15-30. Deep return by Walton and Alcaraz nets, two set points for Walton.
Alcaraz goes to his tried and trusty wide first serve, which is unreturned. Second break point... First serve in from Alcaraz and Walton's return is long. To deuce.
Two more first serves, two more unreturned balls and Alcaraz sees out the danger. Almost felt like Alcaraz wanted to feel a little danger.
04:47 PM BST
Alcaraz 6-4, 4-5 Walton*
You would expect the pressure to hit Walton but not yet. He holds with a blistering forehand winner down the line that catches the outside of the sideline.
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Alcaraz will serve to stay in the set next.
04:44 PM BST
Alcaraz* 6-4, 4-4 Walton
So reminiscent of Rafael Nadal when Alcaraz skips to his left to run around his backhand and whip a forehand down the line. It's a beautiful shot to see.
And he finishes the love game with a deft drop volley winner. He's having fun out there in the sun.
04:40 PM BST
Alcaraz 6-4, 3-4 Walton*
High volley winner by Alcaraz makes it 30-30. Big point coming up. Walton finds his first serve and Alcaraz nets his return. Another backhand into the net by Alcaraz and Walton holds.
On we go!
04:37 PM BST
Alcaraz* 6-4, 3-3 Walton
When Alcaraz injects more pace to his shots, he continues to earn cheap errors from Walton. Alcaraz holds again as we enter the business end of the set and you can be sure he will want to get a break soon.
04:33 PM BST
'Walton is clearly favouring his forehand side'
Walton is clearly favouring his forehand side, which in turn is leaving him exposed by just how far he has run around the ball to take it on the forehand.
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That being said, his serve might lack power by the standards of the majority of those in the top 30 on the tour, but his 110-115mph efforts are well-placed and difficult to return.
04:32 PM BST
Alcaraz 6-4, 2-3 Walton*
Lovely hands by Walton in the forecourt to react to Alcaraz's backhand down the line with an angled half volley winner. Not an easy finish, but he finished that like prime Pat Cash.
04:29 PM BST
Alcaraz* 6-4, 2-2 Walton
Serve continues to be king in this set as Alcaraz holds to love with a trademark forehand winner down the line. The best forehand in men's tennis?
04:26 PM BST
Alcaraz 6-4, 1-2 Walton*
Both players using the serve out wide very effectively to earn cheap points. Another strong hold by Walton to stay in the lead in this set. Can he make any inroads on Alcaraz's serve in this match?
04:22 PM BST
Alcaraz* 6-4, 1-1 Walton
Feels as though Alcaraz is using this as practice. Taking risks on serve, working on his slice and striking the ball early. He completes another service hold routinely.
04:19 PM BST
Second set: Alcaraz 6-4, 0-1 Walton*
Good response by Walton to losing the first set by holding here. Very unlikely he will win this match but the level he is showing is far above his current ranking and his game looks well suited to grass.
04:14 PM BST
Alcaraz* 6-4 Walton
Alcaraz shakes off the rustiness to bring up two set points at 40-15. And he sees out the set with a second serve ace.
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A very controlled and clinical display.
04:12 PM BST
'A bit of rustiness from Alcaraz'
In typical British fashion, there is a strong contingent of support for Walton, the Australian underdog in his first-ever match against Alcaraz.
Alcaraz, on the other han,d has allowed him back into games that he should have wrapped up two or three points earlier. Maybe we are seeing a bit of rustiness in his first match on grass of the season.
04:09 PM BST
Alcaraz 5-4 Walton*
Double fault by Walton makes it 0-30. Three first serves in a row rescue the Australian and move him to 40-30. Gorgeous footwork by Alcaraz to run around a Walton slice and blast a forehand winner down the line, deuce. Gasps from the crowd as he hit that.
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Deep Alcaraz return and Walton's reply is into the net, set point. Wild forehand by Alcaraz after an extended rally, back to deuce. Blocked return down the line and into the net for a volley winner by Alcaraz, second set point. Walton survives again after Alcaraz nets.
Warm applause for Walton as he holds and asks Alcaraz to serve for the set.
04:02 PM BST
Alcaraz* 5-3 Walton
Alcaraz's class is beginning to tell but Walton shows him that he's not going away with a forehand return winner, 30-15. Efficient service hold for Alcaraz completed when a swinging first serve is unreturned.
03:58 PM BST
'Almost Spanish-like weather'
Refreshment break between the matches is well and truly over and the stands of the Andy Murray Arena are almost as full as they were for home favourite Jack Draper around 40 minutes previously.
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Alcaraz has been in decent touch so far in these almost Spanish-like conditions that earlier caused one spectator to faint, leading to a brief pause in Draper's match.
03:57 PM BST
Alcaraz 4-3 Walton*
Nice play by Walton to send Alcaraz the wrong way with a cross court flick, 30-15. He then whips a forehand into the corner that Alcaraz gives up running for, 40-15. The Aussie is playing some inspired stuff.
But a couple of errors keep Alcaraz in the game, and then a double fault coughs up a break point for the Spaniard. Relief for Walton as Alcaraz's return drifts long.
Routine forehand into the net by Walton as Alcaraz ramps up the pressure. Break point. Alcaraz on the attack, Walton scrambles to stay in the point, Alcaraz comes into the net but pushes his volley long. Another chance for Alcaraz to break comes after his forehand return is too good for Walton.
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Not enough first serves for Walton to give him cheap points and the pressure finally tells when he nets a backhand. Alcaraz breaks.
03:46 PM BST
Alcaraz* 3-3 Walton
Alcaraz is looking equally comfortable on serve so far amd he holds to love with a vintage forehand winner down the line.
03:43 PM BST
Emma Raducanu to partner with Carlos Alcaraz at US Open
Emma Raducanu will team up with French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz in the mixed-doubles at the US Open, with a prize of $1 million for the winners.
The new doubles team – which can expect to be given a portmanteau nickname of either 'Alcaranu' or 'Raducaraz' – is one of several eye-catching partnerships that will make their debut in New York in August.
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Read more here.
03:42 PM BST
Alcaraz 2-3 Walton*
Walton is doing everything right at the moment. He is keeping Alcaraz on the move, pushing him left and right and making enough first serves to avoid pressure. A very shapr start for the Australian, who got a late call to play as a lucky loser.
03:39 PM BST
Alcaraz* 2-2 Walton
This is the first meeting between the two players. Walton won't have faced a player of his calibre before but she's standing his ground so far and making things awkward for Alcaraz.
Impressive athleticism by Alcaraz to stretch and hit a backhand overhead smash. Walton gets to the ball and his flick into play drifts wide.
03:34 PM BST
First set: Carlos Alcaraz 1-2 Adam Walton* (*denotes server)
So we join this match at 1-1 after both players held serve to start the match. It will be interesting to see how Alcaraz adapts, in what is his first match since that epic victory at the French Open, earlier this month.
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The Spaniard partied in Ibiza last week so hopefully he's recovered and can put on a show. Walton holds here to maintain his lead.
03:28 PM BST
Up next...
... is top seed and world No 2 Carlos Alcaraz where he meet Australia's Adam Walton.
03:25 PM BST
Draper reacts
Feels amazing, no place I'd rather be. We travel the world playing tennis, never get to come home or spend much time with my family but to be on this court in front of you guys, my people, my family, thank you.
It's tricky coming onto the grass after clay, to adapt, I'm hitting the ball a bit late not on time. The more matches and time I have on practice courts I'll get better and better and it's definitely a surface I really enjoy playing on and obviously a win helped as well.
So proud, obviously coming back here a year later is a testament to the hard work from me and my team and all the people who have supported me to be a better player and person. I'm excited to see how I can get on this week I feel excited I feel ready and I want to do my best.
03:19 PM BST
WATCH: Draper finishes in style
03:09 PM BST
Draper* 6-3, 6-1 Brooksby
Draper can just explode on his shots when Brooksby pushes him out wide as he does when he moves out to his forehand and powers a forehand cross court that is too hot for his opponent, 30-15.
Rare serve and volley from Draper but he nets the volley on the stretch, 30-30. First serve unreturned brings up a match point. Boom! Ace down the T and it's GAME SET MATCH DRAPER!!!
03:04 PM BST
Draper 6-3, 5-1 Brooksby*
Brooksby is caught out by a deep Draper return and flicks his backhand wide to give the Briton a break point. Draper's weight of shot proves too much for Brooksby again, who nets a forehand.
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Draper breaks and will serve for the match.
02:59 PM BST
Draper* 6-3, 4-1 Brooksby
Ever since Draper's opening service games, Brooksby has had little joy and his screams out in anger after another first serve from the Briton is too much for him.
02:56 PM BST
Draper 6-3, 3-1 Brooksby*
After an eight minute stoppage, play resumes with Brooksby leading 30-0 but Draper gets on the board with a crushing backhand winner down the line.
Draper continues to be all over the Brooksby second serve and he fires a forehand return winner down the line. Brooksby saves a break point with a much needed first serve.
Draper finds the line with a dipping top spin forehand down the line. Gutsy play by Brooksby as he sneaks into the net and hits a cute a volley that Draper reaches but can't get over the net.
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Big first serve by Brooksby and Draper's return drifts wide, allowing him to hold.
02:44 PM BST
Draper 6-3, 3-0 Brooksby* - PLAY STOPPED
Delay in play due to an incident in the crowd. It's a warm day in west Kensington. The players are advised to take a seat which they do while treatment is administered.
02:39 PM BST
Draper* 6-3, 3-0 Brooksby
Sloppy start by Draper as he slips to 0-30 He responds with a perfect swinging ace. Ideal placement from him. Brooksby then lets him off the hook with a backhand into the tramlines.
Wide ace from Draper and he holds again.
02:37 PM BST
Draper 6-3, 2-0 Brooksby*
Brooksby sees his forehand clip the net cord and fly wide and that gives Draper a break point. Draper gets a look at a second serve and his return is deep and puts Brooksby in trouble. The American gets the ball back in play but Draper steps in and whips a forehand into the corner to break.
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Six games in a row for Draper.
02:33 PM BST
Second set: Draper* 6-3, 1-0 Brooksby
Draper's maintain his momentum with another routine hold. With his serve clicking the way it is, Brooksby's hopes today look very slim.
02:30 PM BST
'Draper's lethal leftie serve'
Brooksby is an awkward customer and Draper looked anxious and short of feel in the early stages. Fortunately, he was able to fall back on his lethal leftie serve. During that set, he won 14 out of 15 points behind his first delivery.
Once Draper began to settle in, he reeled off the last four games in assured style. You could tell he was feeling comfortable when he went for a 100mph return winner down the line. He missed – but the very fact that he had the confidence to try it suggested a positive mental state.
02:27 PM BST
Draper 6-3 Brooksby*
Draper is taking the ball early and putting pressure on Brooksby's serve which has gone AWOL. Brooksby forehand long and Draper earns his first set point.
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Brooksby serve and volleys, then hits an overhead which Draper chases out to reach but can't get the ball into play, deuce. Another chance for Draper to close out the set when Brooksby nets a forehand. Too good from Draper. The depth on his shots means Brooksby is forced to hit half volleys on the baseline. After a series of big hits, Draper breaks through with a vicious forehand winner down the line.
02:21 PM BST
Draper* 5-3 Brooksby
Draper's first serve followed by his forehand is an unstoppable combo. Nothing Brooksby can do about in this game and Draper holds to love to consolidate the break. Draper is all business so far. There's an aura about him out on the court.
02:16 PM BST
Draper 4-3 Brooksby*
Brooksby handles what looked like an awkward volley very well and the ball spins away from Draper's reach. 30-15. Brooksby has missed three first serves in a row but Draper isn't doing enough to apply pressure on the second, the slowest being 69mph.
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Good defence by Draper to retrieve a Brooksby overhead and the American nets a forehand, break point. Brooksby sees off the danger with a wide ace. Another chance to break comes Draper's way and this time he gets it when Brooksby dumps a backhand into the net.
02:10 PM BST
Draper* 3-3 Brooksby
Draper's serve is starting to fire up and Brooksby's frustration builds after a couple of missed returns. A fifth ace of the match for Draper and he holds again.
02:05 PM BST
Draper 2-3 Brooksby*
A few too many errors from Draper. He's just pushing it at the moment when a little more patience is required. Brooksby comes through another service game untroubled.
02:03 PM BST
Draper* 2-2 Brooksby
After two months grinding on the clay and needing to hit extra balls to finish points, Draper will be pleased to be on the grass again and see his shots fly away from opponents. His power is one of the big reasons why he is a major contender for Wimbledon and he holds here to 15 comfortably.
01:57 PM BST
Draper 1-2 Brooksby*
The reason for Brooksby's strange looking serve is the multitude of injuries he has had on his wrist and shoulder over the years. So fair play for finding something that works for him. Draper is yet to get to grips with it and Brooksby holds to love to take the lead.
01:55 PM BST
Draper* 1-1 Brooksby
Draper's forehand is fine fettle so far. He drills a forehand down the line that's too hot for the advancing Brooksby, 15-15. Andy Murray Arena is not completely full. Plenty of empty seats at this stage of the match.
First double fault for Draper takes the game to deuce. But he holds with another powerful forehand down the line.
01:50 PM BST
First set: Jack Draper 0-1 Jenson Brooksby* (*denotes server)
The American has the honour of serving first and we get a glimpse of his very unique service motion. He starts with the racket resting on the back of his neck and releases once the ball is tossed into the air.
It is the type of service action that you'd see at the park or local club. But it is clearly working for him as he holds to 15.
01:46 PM BST
Here we go!
It's not Wimbledon so players can play in whatever colour they want and Draper comes out in a red and burgundy number.
The warm up has started and play should start very soon.
01:34 PM BST
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01:24 PM BST
Draper back on the grass
Hello and welcome to coverage from Queen's Club as Jack Draper gets his campaign under way.
The Briton arrives at Queen's as the second seed at an ATP 500 tournament for the first time and will undoubtedly be a leading contender to challenge for the title.
'I look back on my clay court season as a whole and as someone who hasn't done that well on the clay I thought I embraced the surface very well and I improved a lot on it,' Draper reflected in his press conference ahead of the HSBC Championships.
'I got home, had a couple of days off then got on the grass. I was happy to get on a faster surface to be honest. In tennis you have to have a short term memory, you have to understand why you lost certain matches.
'I take it in my stride and obviously feel good coming into these next few tournaments.'
With Wimbledon less than two weeks away, Draper will want to have a strong week in west Kensington to boost his preparation.
'I think there's no secret I'd love to do amazingly well this week but Wimbledon would be a priority for me. I think it's always an interesting one, that first match or tournament on the grass, there's a lot of players who maybe aren't amazingly prepared.
'We've just come from a surface where we're grinding out points, having to win the point seven times on the trot to get one point. So, coming onto a fast surface, the margins are small but I'm feeling good and I'm ready to compete as hard as possible.
'It's a home tournament for me as well, so that's an added motivation for me to do well here as well.'
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