Jack Draper stuns Carlos Alcaraz at Queen’s Club in statement victory

Jack Draper has claimed arguably the biggest victory of his career by beating the top seed and defending champion, Carlos Alcaraz, at Queen’s Club.

The 22-year-old, who is the new British No 1 after winning his maiden ATP title in Stuttgart last week, stunned the reigning Wimbledon champion 7-6 (7-3), 6-3. Alcaraz, who also won the French Open earlier this month, had not lost in seven weeks and was last beaten on grass nearly two years ago.

But Draper, ranked 31st in the world, served notice that he is ready to mix it in the upper echelons of the game, becoming the first British man to beat a top-two player on grass since Andy Murray overcame Novak Djokovic in the 2013 Wimbledon final.

“It was a really tough match,” said Draper. “Carlos is the defending champion, he won Wimbledon, he’s an incredible talent and amazing for the sport.

“I had to come out and play well and luckily I did,” Draper added. “There’s no place I’d rather be right now, with my family, my friends and the British support. I’ve got my grandad here, who’s just turned 80, he’s doing well.”

He will play the fifth seed, Tommy Paul, in the quarter-finals of the cinch Championships after the American defeated Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo 6-3, 6-4. Draper will fancy his chances of winning back-to-back title and giving British men’s tennis a major shot in the arm after Andy Murray and Dan Evans suffered injuries this week.

After a high-quality first set which featured no break points, it was Draper who held his nerve in the tie-break. Serving beautifully, he brought up five set points and took the third when Alcaraz dunked a return into the net.

Draper fashioned the first break point of the match at 3-2 in the second and dispatched it by punching an Alcaraz serve back down the line. The world No 2 saved three match points on his own serve but Draper finished the job in the next game for a statement victory.

There was more British success in the doubles as Joe Salisbury and American partner Rajeev Ram beat scratch pairing Sebastian Korda and Alex De Minaur. In the quarter-finals, Salisbury will face another Briton, Neal Skupski, who is playing alongside New Zealander Michael Venus.

• Tumaini Carayol’s report will follow