Jack Draper beaten in Queen's quarter-finals by Tommy Paul - 'I didn't feel like the seed today'
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Updated 21/06/2024 at 17:49 GMT
Britain's Jack Draper is out of Queen's after he was beaten in three sets by the American fifth seed Tommy Paul. Draper, who had beaten world No. 2 and reigning Wimbledon and Queen's champion Carlos Alcaraz on Thursday, was defeated 6-3 5-7 6-4. Draper will earn himself a seeded place in the main draw at Wimbledon after he won his first ATP Tour title at Stuttgart last week.
Highlights: Musetti ends Harris' Queen's run at quarter-final stage
Carlos Alcaraz's conqueror Jack Draper is out of Queen's at the quarter-final stage as he fell in a three-set thriller 6-3 5-7 6-4 to Tommy Paul.
Draper, the unseeded Brit, overcame Wimbledon champion Alcaraz on Thursday in the biggest win of his career 7-6(3) 6-3, knocking the top seed and defending champion out.
Draper earned a seeded slot in the main draw at Wimbledon with a surprise maiden ATP Tour title at Stuttgart last week, as he beat grass-court specialist Matteo Berrettini in an enthralling final.
However, Draper's recent run of matches perhaps took its toll, with the 22-year-old cutting a somewhat fatigued figure, especially in the third set.
He threatened to continue his hot form at the start of the match, spurning a couple of break-point opportunities in Paul's first service game, before the American breached his serve at 3-1 with a ripping backhand winner to convert his break point.
Draper became more errant as Paul closed out the opener 6-3, and the stats showed that Paul, the world No. 13, was on the front foot, with Draper winning just 22% of his second-serve points, and his opponent hitting three times as many winners in the first set - nine to Draper's three.
However, Draper, buoyed by the home support, ramped up the pressure in the second set, finally clinching a break at 6-5 to level the scores as Paul lashed a forehand long.
A tired double fault at 3-3 was the turning point in the third as Draper's energy reserves looked empty, and despite staying competitive in the following game, getting to deuce, Paul thundered an ace down the T to hold, prompting Draper to launch a ball angrily out of the arena.
A love-hold would prove too little, too late, as Paul served out the match expertly, as a final Draper backhand crunched into the net.
"I’m definitely playing some good tennis," Paul said afterwards.
"I really like the grass. I knew today was going to be a battle; it’s never easy with Jack. He’s been playing such amazing tennis. I’m really happy to get through that one.
"His serve is not fun to deal with. He plays very aggressively. He really takes you off your game. The key was to play my game and I thought I did a pretty good job today.
"I didn’t feel like the seed today. That made it a little easier, but I’m excited to watch the next match. I’ll do a little studying, as I play the winner of [Sebastian Korda and Rinky Hijikata]”.
Harris falls to Musetti
Britain's Billy Harris saw his impressive run at Queen's come to an end after being beaten 6-3 7-5 by Lorenzo Musetti in the quarter-finals.
After overcoming Tomas Martin Etcheverry and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, he saw his journey in this ATP 500 event come to an end against a player 130 places ahead of him in the men's rankings.
This was the latest step in what could be described as a revival in Musetti's fortunes in the 2024 grass-court season, with Harris his latest scalp after overcoming Alex de Minaur and Brandon Nakashima en route to the last eight.
Musetti said after the match: “I am a little bit emotional right now because it has been a tough year for me with a lot of downs and not too many ups.
“But these past two weeks have been amazing, reaching the semi-finals.
“I'm really proud of myself and what we are achieving right now. We struggled a little bit, but in sport you have to suffer and try again, and that's what makes this win particularly special for me.”
The win over Harris helped Musetti match his performance in Stuttgart last week when he secured a first semi-final appearance at a tour-level event on grass, and can now look forward to a last-four clash against Jordan Thompson.
Musetti set his stall out early on, breaking Harris on his way to a 3-0 lead. The Brit was struggling to make inroads in the contest and squandered two break-point opportunities himself, allowing the Italian to take a hard-fought hold at 4-1.
Harris was left serving to keep himself in the set, as the Italian claimed an emphatic hold to love at 5-2, and he forced his opponent to serve out.
Musetti did so with aplomb and drew first blood after 39 minutes with another convincing hold to love, leaving a semi-final place firmly in his grasp.
Harris was looking to make Musetti move, displaying an impressive repertoire of shots as he moved 2-1 ahead in the second set with a fine forehand.
Harris was treated to a well-deserved round of applause at the end of a gruelling fifth game, which he sealed with a delightful half-volley to move back in front at 3-2.
The 29-year-old was timing his shots brilliantly, securing another comfortable hold to leave Musetti with plenty to ponder.
Musetti upped his level though and set up his first break point of the second set with a rasping forehand. And he got the job done thereafter to leave himself on the brink of the last four.
He sealed his place in the semi-finals with an ace to end the admirable resistance of Harris on home soil.
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