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LONDON: British second seed Jack Draper survived a scare to reach the Queen’s Club quarterfinals with a gritty 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7/5) win over Australia’s Alexei Popyrin on Wednesday.

Draper was rocked by the world No. 21 in the first set of the second-round tie at the Wimbledon warm-up event.

But the 23-year-old hit back to level the match before taking the final set tie-break to complete his comeback in a tense encounter lasting two hours and 13 minutes in searing heat in west London.

Earlier in his career, such a test of endurance would have been too much for Draper, but he believes he is made of sterner stuff these days.

“Before I felt like my energy wasn’t that strong, and I felt like I looked like a bit of a Ferrari but I was a bit of a Toyota, like broke down quite easy,” Draper said.

“Now I’m starting to feel generally stronger and confident in myself.

“I have felt better and better every Grand Slam I have played.”

Draper, who reached the US Open semifinals last year, is hoping to make a strong run at Wimbledon this year after failing to get past the second round in his previous three appearance.

The Londoner has made the last 16 at both the Australian and French Opens this year, rising to sixth in the ATP rankings.

If Draper can reach the Queen’s semifinals for the first time after two previous last-eight exits, he will be guaranteed to be seeded fourth at Wimbledon when the grass-court Grand Slam gets underway on June 30.

After losing the first set against Popyrin, Draper’s powerful ground-stroke dragged him level with a double break in the second set.

Popyrin clung on valiantly, saving two match points as he served at 4-5 in the final set.

In the tiebreak he led 4-2, pushing Draper to the brink of a shock defeat.

But the Briton delighted the home crowd as he won five of the last six points, clinching the victory with an ace.

Draper will play Brandon Nakashima in the quarterfinals after the American beat Britain’s Dan Evans 7-5, 7-6 (7/4).

On the day he was awarded a wild card entry into Wimbledon, the 35-year-old Evans was unable to emulate his surprise first-round win against Frances Tiafoe.

In Wednesday’s other matches, Danish fourth seed Holger Rune fought back to seal a 2-6, 6-1, 6-1 victory over American Mackenzie McDonald.

Rune, who reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals in 2023, plays Roberto Bautista Agut in the quarterfinals after the Spaniard beat Czech eighth seed Jakub Mensik 3-6, 6-3, 7-5.

LONDON: Carlos Alcaraz came through a testing first-round match against Adam Walton at Queen’s on Tuesday as the top seed returned to action for the first time since his dramatic French Open triumph.

But two of the world’s top 10 crashed out as Americans Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton lost to French duo Corentin Moutet and Arthur Rinderknech respectively.

Alcaraz, back on grass for the first time since winning his second Wimbledon title last year, beat his 86th-ranked opponent 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) on a sweaty day in west London.

The Spaniard, who overcame Jannik Sinner in a five-set thriller at Roland Garros just nine days ago, broke in the seventh game and went on to clinch the first set against lucky loser Walton, who replaced Alejandro Davidovich Fokina after he withdrew due to illness.

The 2023 Queen’s champion appeared to have found his rhythm only for Walton to rally impressively, carving out two set points on his opponent’s serve in the 10th game.

But the Australian failed to convert either of them and Alcaraz levelled, coming out on top in the subsequent tie-break.

Alcaraz scribbled “Grass season, here we go!” on the courtside camera lens, thanking fans for their vocal support and saying he felt “loved” in London.

“First match on grass is never easy to get used to the competition again, to get used to the grass again,” he said. “So, I just want to say thank you for helping me a little bit.”

The world No.2 said he had taken time away from tennis after his gruelling French Open triumph to “reset” his mind and rest.

“I’m just really happy with the performance that I had today,” he said. “First match, I feel great. Obviously, a lot of things to improve, a lot of things that I have to put into work just to feel a little bit more comfortable on the grass. But in general, I’m just happy to get through.”

Alcaraz faces compatriot Jaume Munar in the last 16.

World No. 4 Fritz failed to convert a match point against Moutet before losing 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (9/7), 7-5.

Moutet held on in the second set tie-break before securing the only break of serve in the match in the final game.

Sheldon also stumbled to a shock early exit to Rinderknech in two tie-breaks 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/4).

Earlier, British second seed Jack Draper dispatched American Jenson Brooksby 6-3, 6-1 to reach the second round.

The left-hander, who has previously beaten Sinner and Alcaraz at Queen’s, won 93 percent of first-serve points and did not face a break point in a dominant display.

Draper is chasing his second title on grass after winning in Stuttgart last year and will next face Alexei Popyrin after the Australian beat compatriot Aleksandar Vukic.

“Feels amazing, no place I’d rather be,” said Draper. “We travel the world playing tennis, never get to come home or spend much time with my family but to be on this court in front of you guys, my people, my family, thank you.”