Jack Draper, Britain`s top-ranked tennis player, began his preparations for Roland Garros smoothly by securing passage to the third round of the Madrid Open against Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands.
The fifth seed, Draper, bounced back from his recent defeat in Monte Carlo with a confident 6-3, 6-4 victory.
The 23-year-old established control early in the first set, breaking serve to lead 4-2 and closing it out in just over 30 minutes. An immediate break in the second set put him firmly in charge, leading to a win in one hour and 15 minutes. His next challenge will be against former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini in the third round.
“I`m still relatively new to playing on clay,” Draper commented after the match.
“I used my forehand effectively, and my backhand was solid. Everything felt like it was working well.”
“Obviously, I`m in a better position now, and that feels great,” he continued. “But in tennis, you have to forget about the results from the past week or two. You have to prove yourself every day. I don`t dwell on it; I just try to keep working hard, listen to my coach, and do all the right things.”
Other British players also progressed in Madrid. Cameron Norrie overcame Jiri Lehecka in a three-set battle, winning 2-6, 6-4, 6-0. Jacob Fearnley also advanced, defeating Tomas Machac 1-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Djokovic`s Setback in Pursuit of 100th Title
Novak Djokovic faced a surprising early exit from the Madrid Open, losing to Matteo Arnaldi in his first match on Saturday. This defeat adds to the 24-time Grand Slam champion`s challenging run on clay courts leading up to the French Open.
Arnaldi secured the victory with a decisive 6-3, 6-4 scoreline, further prolonging Djokovic`s wait for his 100th career title. The Serb struggled during the match, committing 32 unforced errors.
“This is a kind of a new reality for me, I have to say,” Djokovic commented on his current form.
“I`m trying to win a match or two, not really thinking about going deep in the tournament,” he explained. “It`s a completely different feeling compared to what I`ve experienced in over 20 years of professional tennis. It`s a mental challenge for me to confront these sensations on court, facing early exits in tournaments regularly now.”
This loss marks Djokovic`s third consecutive defeat, following an early exit in Monte Carlo two weeks prior.
Arnaldi`s next opponent will be Damir Dzumhur, who advanced by defeating Sebastian Baez in three sets, 1-6, 6-1, 6-2.
Teenage Sensation Andreeva Reaches Last 16 Again
Elsewhere in the tournament, Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva has reached the last 16 for the third consecutive year in Madrid, defeating Magdalena Frech 7-5, 6-3.
The 17-year-old maintains her impressive record in Madrid, having never been eliminated before the fourth round.
Andreeva, who celebrates her 18th birthday on Tuesday, will next play Ukrainian qualifier Yuliia Starodubtseva. Starodubtseva caused an upset by defeating 18th-seed Liudmila Samsonova in three sets.
