The confident-looking Jack Draper moved to the second round at Wimbledon, retiring from injury while his opponent Sebastian Baez could be defeated on Tuesday.
The physicality of the world No. 4 seemed to do too much for Argentina to cope. Draper led 6-2, 6-2, 2-1, and after getting injured at the start of the second set, he led 6-2, 6-2, 2-1.
Unable to advance past the second round at the home grand slam, Draper got off to a perfect start as he beat Bez in the first game of the match amid the intense summer heat in southwest London.
He took full control in the fifth game with another break and played in the No. 1 courtroom within 20 minutes before competing for the lead in the set.
There was concern when Baez slipped onto the court and fell awkwardly while trying to change direction at the start of the second set, but after taking a little time to compose himself, I felt that Argentina could continue.
However, with a drepark loop and a 3-1 lead, Baez was treated in his right knee during a five-minute break before being continuously cleaned up.
Since Andy Murray returned as the defending champion in 2017, the left-handed draper, Wimbledon’s best British species, needs all his mental and physical reserves to navigate the pitfalls under Wimbledon’s fierce spotlight.
He tried to fill the gap left by the retirement of two-time champion Murray, and avoided the early rounds of the depicted match.
Speaking to court, Draper said he probably prefers a bit of a tough test.
“I honestly wanted to play a little more. I can’t win that way. Sebastian of course hopes for the best in his recovery,” said Draper, who rocked the rankings after reaching the US Open semi-finals last year.
Draper will be extremely Starner tested in the next round when he faces the massive Croatian Marincilik, a player who won the US Open and reached the Wimbledon Final.
He is also sown to meet seven-time champion Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals.
Draper asked how he dealt with what he expects on his wide shoulders. “I don’t think about it until people mention it every five minutes!
“I have to face the person in front of me. I can’t think of five matches. I’m focusing on the next person.
Evans, Pinnington Jones
Earlier on Tuesday, former UK No. 1 Dan Evans won his first Wimbledon victory in four years, after getting better than his compatriot Jay Clark.
Evans’ 6-1, 7-5, 6-2 victory set up a second clash with Novak Djokovic if Serb defeated Alexander Mueller.
The 35-year-old, currently ranked 170th, needed a wild card to play for SW19, but was in good shape to surpass Clark in under 2 hours and 14 minutes at Court 12.
Evans’ joy was clearly visible as he celebrated in court after securing his victory.
“It was amazing,” Evans told the BBC. “It’s a real shame to have to play Jay, the two young guys in Midlands, and I know him because he was really small.
On the other end of the experience scale, 22-year-old British Jack Pinnington Jones recorded an impressive victory in his Wimbledon debut, beating World No. 53 Thomas Martin Etchellley in straight sets.
Ranked a career-high 281 in the world, Pinnington Jones won in his final five games, completing a 7-6 (4), 6-3, 7-5 victory on Court 17.
The wildcard faces 22nd seed Flavio Cobolli in the second round.
Watson, Ballage falls to the first hurdle
Heather Watson saw her Wimbledon campaign end in the opening round when she fell to Clara Towson in Denmark.
Watson was hoping to join the seven Brits who advanced Monday as they filmed the opening set against the 23rd seed, but Towson fought to win 2-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Jodie Ballage was also knocked out after suffering a 6-3, 6-1 loss in the American Cathy McNally ands.
Johannus Monday succumbed to a straight set defeat and was unable to stop what was a shocking victory over Tommy Paul in the world No. 13. George Loughhagen was beaten by Pedro Martinez at Court 16.
This report uses information from Reuters.
