Wimbledon champion Alcaraz says Queen’s defeat ‘is part of our lives’

Wimbledon champion Alcaraz says Queen’s defeat ‘is part of our lives’

LONDON, June 21, 2024 (BSS/AFP) – Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz said losing was “part of our lives” after a shock defeat to Britain’s Jack Draper in the last 16 of the Queen’s Club tournament in London on Thursday .

Alcaraz, also the reigning Queen’s champion, lost 7-6 (7/3), 6-3, with the British number one claiming the biggest win of his career.

World number two Alcaraz arrived for this Wimbledon grass warm-up event fresh from his French Open victory on the clay of Roland Garros.

But the 21-year-old Spaniard was undone by 22-year-old Draper, who is bidding to become the first British men’s singles champion at Queen’s since Andy Murray won his fifth title at the event in 2016.

Alcaraz, for whom this was their first defeat on grass in almost two years, insisted he was “hungry to get better” at Wimbledon.

“Of course it’s hard to deal with the losses, but I think it’s part of our lives,” he said.

“We have to deal with it as best we can. After the losses you have to take the positive things and of course the negative things to improve for the next tournament.

“I have to give credit to Jack. I think he played some really good tennis today.”

Alcaraz will begin the defense of his Wimbledon title on July 1 at the All England Club, just a few miles from London, where the champion says he plans to remain in the British capital.

“I think the best way to get better on grass is to stay here, practice with players, do good things physically on grass and the movement, really specific things,” Alcaraz said when asked if he would would return to Spain.

“In Spain or at my home we don’t have grass courts or real grass areas to practice.
– ‘Happy to start Wimbledon’ –

Alcaraz added: “Right now I’m hungry to get better, to practice, and that’s all I have to do.

“I’m really excited to start Wimbledon. Of course I really want to win every title I play for, and I think Wimbledon is even more special.”

For the 31st-ranked Draper, this stunning win followed his first ATP title in Stuttgart last week and meant he became the first British man to beat a top two player on grass since Murray defeated Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon final of 2013.

Neither Alcaraz nor Draper managed a break point in a first set, with the British southpaw ultimately clearing in the tiebreak.

Alcaraz saved three match points on his own serve when trailing 5-2 in the second set before Draper, a day after 37-year-old Murray limped out of Queen’s injured after just five games, secured victory.

“It was a very difficult match,” Draper said. “Carlos is the defending champion, he won Wimbledon, he’s an incredible talent and great for the sport. I had to come out and play well and luckily I did.”

Draper next plays American fifth seed Tommy Paul, a 6-3, 6-4 winner over Chilean Alejandro Tabilo, in the quarter-finals.

There was more British success when wildcard Billy Harris joined Draper in the last eight.

The 29-year-old journeyman celebrated being awarded a wildcard to Wimbledon – and a guaranteed €60,000 ($76,000) – by beating French qualifier Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 6-4, 7-5.

Italian Lorenzo Musetti also reached the quarter-finals with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 victory over Brandon Nakashima of the United States.