Taylor Fritz looked set to have a strong run at the Queen’s Club Championships.
The American number one arrived in London after beating Alexander Zverev to win the Stuttgart Open on Sunday.
But Taylor Fritz came unstuck against the tricky Corentin Moutet, who saved a match point before winning 6–7(5), 7–6(7), 7–5.
Therefore, this result has left the door open for Britain’s Jack Draper to achieve something for the first time in his career.
Jack Draper has a chance to put himself in an even stronger position at Wimbledon
Draper is currently ranked number six in the ATP Tour rankings, two spots behind Fritz.
The 27-year-old regained the number four position after his success at the Stuttgart Open but following his early exit from Queen’s, it is now under threat.
Draper is competing in the same tournament and should he reach the semi-finals at Queen’s he will become the new World number four.
Not only would this be a career-high for him, but Draper would clinch the number four seeding at Wimbledon.
Should this take place, it means that Draper will not have to play any of the top four seeded players, likely to be Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev, until the semi-finals.
However, with the likes of seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic seeded in the top 10, Draper could face the Serbian in the quarter-finals.
Jack Draper aiming to become first British player since Andy Murray to win a UK title
Since Andy Murray in 2016, no British player has won an ATP title on British soil.
Draper hopes to change that in 2025 and he made a solid start to his Queen’s campaign by beating Jenson Brooksby.
The current British number one opened his Queen’s campaign on the renamed Andy Murray Arena, and Draper was delighted to play on the court named after one of his biggest inspirations.
“He is a huge inspiration to me. I remember coming here, watching him play when I was very young,” Draper said.
“I had a photo of him with the trophy… Watching him play Wimbledon and the legacy he leaves behind is massive. He’s won here five times.
“Hopefully I get to see him a little bit over this period. I definitely look back at old videos of him playing and have always been very inspired by him. To play on his court, I think it’s a great thing they’ve done.”
