Draper hits buffers as Watson moves on
For Jack Draper there was to be no benefit from the growing British Wimbledon momentum. The 20-year-old was beaten by the No 19 seed Alex de Minaur 5-7, 7-6, 6-2, 6-3. Mind, it had to be some showing by the 22-year-old Australian to see him off.
Draper, as the victor noted, was no easy opponent. “It was a battle out there,” said De Minaur, gracious in victory. “Jack’s a hell of a competitor, a hell of a talent.”
Up in the stands watching on was the new sweetheart of the British crowd, Katie Boulter. But she was not there to cheer on Draper. In a relationship with the Australian, her ambition was for her compatriot to falter.
Draper started like an express train, breaking De Minaur’s serve in the very first game, going on to win the first set in a sizzling display of power tennis.
But, as the match progressed, it became evident that De Minaur was more precise, more cunning, more capable. And, for all his display of guts and heart, the problem for Draper was this: like a big-hitting prizefighter who discovers his opponent’s jaw is made of concrete, he could not find the killer blow.
“He’s a guy known for being unbelievably resilient,” said Draper of his opponent. “It was tough out there, in the end it was too good from Alex.”
De Minaur won the second set on the tie-break, eased through the third and pinned an exhausted Draper back in the fourth. “I want to be a top player,” Draper said. “There’s lots to work on. Which is not such a bad thing.” As for De Minaur, he has not finished with the Brits. Next up is Liam Broady.
Heather Watson needed just one game of tennis yesterday to help her progress to the third round for the fourth time.
Watson had failed to serve out her match against Wang Qiang on Wednesday night before it was postponed at 7-5, 5-4 due to poor light. She was able to wrap things up as quickly as possible yesterday afternoon, winning 6-4 in the second set.
Compatriot Harriet Dart, 25, had her run in singles ended by American Jessica Pegula in the second round. Dart could not capitalise on taking the first set off the eighth seed, and crashed out 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.
Meanwhile, world No 288 Alastair Gray lost to American 11th seed Taylor Fritz in straight sets.