Jack Draper has beaten Jenson Brooksby twice this year British number one Jack Draper made comfortable progress to the last 16 at Queen's with a 6-3 6-1 victory over American Jenson Brooksby. The two were meeting for the second time this year, with Draper beating the 24-year-old at Indian Wells in March. On that occasion Draper had to recover from going 4-1 down in the first set but there was no such trouble this time as he broke Brooksby's serve in the seventh game before grabbing the double break to seal the set. It was once again sweltering conditions in west London with the temperature at 26C when Draper and Brooksby entered the Andy Murray Arena, but the addition of a gentle breeze would have made things more palatable for the players. But Draper, 23, still had no desire to hang around too long on court. He broke Brooksby on his first service game and continued his momentum after a pause in play for a medical issue in the stands to get a second break and seal the win to progress. Draper will next face Australian Alexei Popyrin - who beat compatriot Aleksandar Vukic 6-2 6-7 (9-11) 7-6 (7-3) on Monday - for a place in the quarter-finals. In other action on Tuesday, Czech Jiri Lehecka saw off fifth seed Australian Alex de Minaur 6-4 6-2 to progress to the last 16. Brooksby only returned to professional tennis in January after a two-year absence because of injury and suspension after missing three anti-doping tests, and the signs of rust were there in this match. But this was also an impressive showing by Draper, who ironed out some mistakes in the first few games to put in a commanding display that suggests he can go far here. After securing his first break, he lost just four games on his way to victory. It was also just the result he needed on his return to competitive action after he was surprisingly beaten by Alexander Bublik in the French Open fourth round. "It's tricky coming on to the grass after clay, to adapt. I'm hitting the ball a bit late, not on time," Draper said. "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. "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."
Draper seals comfortable Queen's win over Brooksby
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Jack Draper Advances to Last 16 at Queen's with Win Over Jenson Brooksby"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
Jack Draper, the British number one, advanced smoothly to the last 16 at the Queen's Club Championships with a decisive 6-3, 6-1 victory over American Jenson Brooksby. This match marked their second encounter of the year, with Draper having previously triumphed over Brooksby at Indian Wells in March. During that earlier match, Draper faced an uphill battle after falling behind 4-1 in the first set; however, this time he exhibited a commanding performance from the outset. Draper broke Brooksby's serve in the seventh game of the first set and quickly secured a double break to clinch the set without significant difficulty. The match took place under sweltering conditions in London, with temperatures reaching 26°C, but a gentle breeze helped alleviate some of the heat for the players. Draper’s quick breaks of serve in both sets demonstrated his intent to finish the match efficiently, especially after a brief medical pause in the stands that interrupted play. He will next face Australian Alexei Popyrin, who defeated compatriot Aleksandar Vukic in a tight three-set match to reach this stage.
Brooksby, who made his return to professional tennis in January after a two-year hiatus due to injury and suspension from missing anti-doping tests, showed signs of rust during the match. Despite his struggles, Draper's performance was impressive, as he quickly corrected early mistakes and dominated the court, losing only four games throughout the match. This victory was particularly significant for Draper, coming on the heels of a surprising exit in the fourth round of the French Open against Alexander Bublik. Draper acknowledged the challenge of transitioning from clay to grass, stating that he was still adjusting his timing on the ball. He expressed optimism about his performance and readiness for the week ahead, emphasizing his enjoyment of the grass surface and his eagerness to compete further in the tournament.
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