Up first on Centre for Day Four, we had Alejandro Tabilo taking on world number 13 and fifth seed this week, Tommy Paul. Whilst Tabilo held his nerve to see of Davidovich Fokina earlier in the week, he looked a little shell shocked as it was Paul who came out of the blocks firing. A couple of breaks of serve and Paul took the first set comfortably, 6-3. Tabilo would need to summon strength from somewhere to bring it back and have a chance of securing a quarter final place. Not to be this year, as Paul continued on form to take the second and final set 6-4. Fantastic to see Tabilo at Queen’s this year – we hope to see him again soon!
All eyes on this one as British Number One, Jack Draper took on World Number Two, Carlos Alcaraz. Draper would be aiming to record the biggest win of his career but he would have to end Alcaraz’s 8-match winning streak to get it. Point for point, game for game in the first set which took us to yet another tie break this championships. It was Draper who flew out of the blocks to leave Alcaraz in the dust. Alcaraz used his experience to claw back a few points but it was Draper who bagged it, 7-3 in the tie break. Alcaraz had a mammoth job on his hands as he would need two in a row to turn the match in his favour. If any one could do it it was him… right?
First game a piece, on serve in the second set, but it was Draper, with some whopping returns, to break and inch ahead. Back and forth between advantage and deuce on the Spaniard’s serve, who eventually saved match point and made it 5-3. Draper to serve for the win. If there was ever a time for Carlos Alcaraz to dig in… now was that time. With just a few too many unforced errors, and some fantastic ‘on the line’ play from Draper, Alcaraz was outplayed on the day and it was Draper, with the biggest win of his career, to knock out the reigning champion and advance to the next round. Upset of the tournament!
Next up on for their battle was British wild card, Billy Harris up against qualifier Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. With a home crowd backing him, Harris wrapped up the first set, going with serve until he broke to take it 6-4. The Frenchman fought back a touch to take it a little further in the second, but it was Harris who was the clear front runner, winning the final set 7-5 and advancing to the quarters for the biggest win of his career so far. Fantastic play and can’t wait to see him in the next round!
Last but not least, Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti up against America’s Brandon Nakashima. Game for game on serve in the first set with Musetti narrowly leading before he broke to take it 6-4. Other than a couple of wonder shots, the final match of the day wasn’t quite as thrilling as the rest of day’s play but Nakashima did manage to pull a set back to level the tie. Anyone’s game in the final set and it was tough to call as both were playing equally impressive shots whilst both making some untimely unforced errors. The experienced Italian called on the tennis gods to find himself a break in the final set to send Nakashima home and book his place in the quarter finals.
Onto Day Five!
Click here for tomorrow’s order of play…