Carlos Alcaraz, who lost on Thursday against British Jack Draper, attacked the new serve clock rule and said it was “crazy”, that it was “bad for the players” and that he would talk to the ATP about it.
In this week’s tournaments, Halle and Queen’s, the ATP decided to start the serve clock when the point ends, not when the referee calls it, causing players to have less time between points.
“The chair umpire told me it’s a new rule, the clock doesn’t stop, after the point the clock starts. It’s bad for the player. I finished the point in the net and I didn’t have time to go for those points. . I’m not talking about going for the towel, no, I don’t have time to go for the balls,” said Alcaraz, who confirmed that he had not spoken to him. ATP about it, but it will happen.
Alcaraz tasted defeat again almost two years later. Many months have passed since the Murcian fell in the round of 16 at Wimbledon in 2022 against Jannik Sinner. Along with that came two titles, at Queen’s and Wimbledon, and a thirteen-game winning streak that ended Thursday, when Draper played one of the best matches of his career.
Recent champion in Stuttgart and from the position of being the best British tennis player at the moment, Draper played a stratospheric match, especially on serve, where he lost only fourteen points to -destabilize the champion.
In a tight first set, with both players very confident on serve, Alcaraz, instead of doing well under pressure, in the tie break, eliminated himself based on mistakes and when he wanted to correct these, the 6-1 that he has The British is unmatched.
With the first set in his pocket and a large crowd wanting the match to end quickly so they could watch Denmark-England, Draper, far from lowering his level, only raised it in the second set, to break Alcaraz in the first chance he had, saving a break point en route and closing out the match in just one hour and 39 minutes after four wasted match points.
Alcaraz’s first important challenge on the grass ended in defeat, not surprisingly, by the rival, but it is likely to lead him to change his plans these days, because, if he does not sign up for an exhibition next week – Hurlingham played in 2022 and 2023 -, he will arrive at Wimbledon with just two matches on the surface.
The loss also causes him to lose part of last year’s 500 points and fall from the second position in the ranking, something that should not worry for Wimbledon, because, due to the loss of Novak Djokovic, he will continue to be second seed avoid the Sinner until the end.
Draper will face Tommy Paul in the Queen’s quarterfinals, who defeated Chilean Alejandro Tabilo in straight sets.
Source: La Verdad
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