Draper progresses at Eastbourne as new coach Murray roars him on
· Yahoo Sports
Jack Draper handled the Eastbourne heat to beat fellow Briton Jack Pinnington Jones and maintain his encouraging start under new coach Andy Murray.
In baking conditions on the English south coast on Wednesday, the former world number four booked a place in the quarter-finals of the Wimbledon warm-up event with a 7-5, 6-4 victory as he continued his comeback from persistent arm and knee injuries.
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Draper will face Canada’s Gabriel Diallo on Thursday for a spot in the semi-finals.
“My confidence levels were below the floor a couple of weeks ago; I hadn’t played for a long time, wasn’t match fit,” Draper said on court following only his second match in more than two months.
“I didn’t play Queen’s because I just wasn’t ready, so to come here and be on court and to be competing and playing at a high level very quickly, I’m very grateful.”
With weather warnings in place due to extreme heat, temperatures had dropped slightly to 30 degrees Celsius when Draper and Pinnington Jones eventually came on court late in the afternoon.
Draper, who again had twice Wimbledon champion Murray offering encouragement from the sidelines, began confidently in his bid to back up Monday’s straight-sets success over Marcos Giron.
Wearing a protective sleeve on his troublesome racket arm, the 24-year-old broke his opponent in just game three but later squandered a set point at 5-4 up with a rash forehand which flew into the stands.
Pinnington Jones duly capitalised to level by taking advantage of his third break point courtesy of a fortunate, net-cord winner.
However, the 23-year-old then failed to hold as Draper regained the initiative before clinching the opening set with successive aces.
Pinnington Jones, who reached round two on his Wimbledon debut last year, again dropped serve at the start of the second set.
The world number 145 recovered to remain in touching distance but, following a brief disagreement with umpire Scott Noble over the time allowed at changeovers, was unable to prevent Draper progressing in an hour and a half.
In Wednesday’s first all-British showdown on Centre Court, Jan Choinski defeated Wimbledon wildcard Felix Gill 6-4, 6-7 (4-7), 6-2.
Choinski was initially due to face world number seven and defending champion Taylor Fritz before the US star withdrew injured, allowing 24-year-old Gill an opportunity as a lucky loser.
Earlier, British number five Toby Samuel registered his first ATP Tour victory by beating Argentina’s Thiago Agustin Tirante.
The 23-year-old, who is poised to make his Wimbledon debut next week, won 6-1, 7-6 (8-7) and will take on world number 21 Francisco Cerundolo in the last eight.
Argentinian eighth seed Cerundolo defeated British number three Arthur Fery 6-2, 7-6 (7-2).