HSBC Championship: Jack Draper Outlasts Alexei Popyrin In Three Sets Thriller To Reach Quarter-finals

 

Jack Draper continued his impressive run in the HSBC (Queen's Club) Championship, recovered from dropping a set to eliminate Alexei Popyrin and reach the quarterfinals. 

Popyrin, however, put up a level of resistance against the Briton. He had claimed the opening set before Draper made a comeback rally to knock him out after battling through a tiebreak in three sets by 3-6, 6-2, 7-6(5). 

The round was initially controlled by Popyrin, winning his only break advantage for a 5/3 lead in the first set before claiming the set. Draper rallied in the second set, winning his first break for a 4/2 as Popyrin double-faulted on his serve. The Briton proceeded to win his second break at 5/2 for a set point. 

"In the first couple of sets it wasn't pretty at all," Draper recalled. "I need time to adjust to the grass, but it's one more under the belt."

Draper could have put the match to rest earlier, but Popyrin saved a match point at 5/4 40/15 and forced the tiebreak. Draper sealed the match point by serving an ace and completing a thrilling comeback victory. 

Since he won his first Masters 1000 title in Indian Wells, the world number six made his second ATP tour-level final appearance in the Madrid Open, which he lost to Casper Ruud in three sets. He is set to face American Brandon Nakashima in the quarterfinals.