Queen's 2024: Jack Draper beats Carlos Alcaraz in London

Jack Draper expressed that securing his first ATP title allowed him to break free from negativity and ultimately paved the way for his impressive triumph over Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz at Queen's.

In a thrilling match, the 22-year-old British player Draper emerged as the new men's number one, defeating the defending champion Alcaraz with a score of 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 in the second round.

At 21 years old, Alcaraz from Spain thwarted three chances to lose the match when the score was 5-2. Eventually, Draper was able to serve successfully starting from a 0-30 disadvantage, much to the joy of the enthusiastic fans in the audience.

It was a week to remember for Draper as he achieved his first ever ATP title at the Stuttgart Open on Sunday.

On Monday, he was officially acknowledged as the top player from his country on the men's tour.

Draper had a strong desire to win an ATP event, he was determined to achieve victory after losing in finals in Sofia and Adelaide. Finally, he succeeded in securing a win in Stuttgart.

Winning the title last week was a relief for me because it helped me let go of negative feelings and the stress I've been feeling.

Defeating the second-ranked player in the world, Alcaraz, who recently won the French Open, is the most significant victory of Draper's professional career.

He also put an end to Alcaraz's streak of 13 consecutive wins on grass, despite being a three-time Grand Slam champion.

Draper mentioned that playing in a home tournament at Queen's, as the top British player, may seem like it would bring more pressure. However, he explained that it actually has the opposite effect.

I am feeling serene and at peace because I am confident in my actions. I have faith in my tennis skills and believe that I will be a formidable opponent to conquer.

Draper, who has won his last seven matches, will face American fifth seed Tommy Paul in the quarterfinals on Friday.

This game was an exciting opportunity that immediately grabbed attention when the schedule was announced over the weekend.

The winner of Wimbledon against the most talented rising star in Britain.

Draper has significantly improved over the past year after recovering from a shoulder injury that prevented him from competing in the British grass-court tournaments.

Going up against Alcaraz was a challenge to see how much he had improved – and he did exceptionally well.

Draper has been stepping up his performance in recent months by playing more aggressively and overpowering his opponents in the rallies, showcasing a strong and confident style of play.

His mindset was just as impressive. Draper appeared calm and concentrated the entire time, stepping up to a challenge that he enjoyed without letting himself get too excited and mess up his performance.

"I went out there and truly believed I could win the game - that's exactly what I did," he stated.

Following his win, Draper kept his composure as he greeted Alcaraz with a handshake. However, moments later, he couldn't contain his excitement and leaped into the air in a burst of emotion.

The excited response from the audience at Queen's was a clear indication of their joy at witnessing the rise of another talented British performer.

Draper's progress has come at the right moment, filling the gap that will be left by Andy Murray's upcoming retirement.

Even though Murray is close to ending his career in tennis at the age of 37, he has sparked anticipation by supporting Draper and predicting that he will excel in the sport.

Draper said that facing tough situations against skilled players such as Carlos can make you believe in achieving things you once thought were out of reach. The more you persevere through these challenges, the stronger your belief in your abilities becomes.

The more I play these games, the more confident I become that I can reach the highest levels.

As Draper makes more progress in his career, more people become interested in him.

The Londoner who uses their left hand has been a notable figure in the world of British tennis for quite some time, thanks to their impressive skills and family ties.

Draper's mom, Nicky, is a coach and former junior champion, who the player acknowledges as one of his major inspirations. His dad, Roger, used to be the chief executive of the Lawn Tennis Association.

Draper initially gained the interest of a larger British audience when he made it to the final of the Wimbledon junior tournament in 2018.

Once he started playing professionally, he won important matches against top-ranked players and even managed to win a set against Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon in 2021.

However, Draper's advancement was frequently obstructed by health problems and withdrawals from games.

After falling out of the top 100 rankings last year, he has been improving steadily and will be given a seeded position at Wimbledon next month.

"It's all falling into place at just the right moment for me," he remarked over the past few weeks.

I am happiest here in London, on the grass, performing in front of my fellow citizens. It feels absolutely fantastic.