A dejected Carlos Alcaraz of Spain Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Carlos Alcaraz's Wimbledon preparations took a hit when he was dumped out of the Queen's Club Championships by in-form Jack Draper in a stunning 7-6(3) 6-3 last-16 defeat.
The 21-year-old three-times Grand Slam champion, who claimed the French Open last month, won the 2023 Queen's event by beating Australian Alex de Minaur but the Spaniard was a shadow of his usual self against British number one Draper.
Fresh off winning the Stuttgart Open by beating former world number six Matteo Berrettini, Draper put on a near flawless display to clinch the opening set in 58 minutes against top seed Alcaraz before going on to secure his biggest career win.
The second set was a much more one-sided affair, with Draper making no mistake in snapping Alcaraz's 13-match grass winning streak, as the Briton's family proudly watched from the stands.
"It was a really tough match. I knew coming out here that Carlos is the defending champion, he won Wimbledon, he's an amazing talent. I knew I had to come out here and play really well, and luckily I did that," Draper said.
"I've got my grandad here in the Under Armour - he's just turned 80! My mum, my whole team, my school friends and all of you guys. Thank you."
Up next for Draper, 22, is American Tommy Paul in the quarter-finals.
Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) lifts the Ladies Singles Plate after defeating Ons Jabeur in the 2023 Wimbledon Ladies Singles final. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Meanwhile Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova has suffered an injury scare less than a fortnight before her title defence is due to start.
The Czech slipped and fell when leading 5-3 in the first set of her second-round match against Anna Kalinskaya at the Berlin Open.
Vondrousova clutched her right hip and called for a medical time-out before retiring two games later, with the score at 5-5.
Wimbledon takes place from 1-14 July, with Vondrousova set to start her title defence on the second day
The 24-year-old became the first unseeded player to win the Wimbledon women's singles title when she beat Ons Jabeur in the final.
-Reuters
