Draper Hails British Tennis' Depth As Trio Advance

Jack Draper hailed nan spot of British tennis aft Jacob Fearnley and Cameron Norrie joined him successful nan past 32 of nan Madrid Open.

Fifth seed Draper defeated world number 34 Tallon Griekspoor of nan Netherlands 6-3 6-4 aft Fearnley and Norrie had beaten seeded opponents.

Fearnley, classed 68 successful nan world, hit a top-20 subordinate for nan first time, recovering from losing nan first group against Tomas Machac of nan Czech Republic, nan 19th seed, to travel done 1-6 6-3 6-2.

His adjacent force will beryllium erstwhile Grand Slam semi-finalist and world number 3 Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria, nan 15th seed.

Norrie, now nan world number 91, continued his bully shape successful Madrid pinch a 2-6 6-4 6-0 occurrence complete different Czech subordinate Jiri Lehecka, nan 26th seed, to group up a gathering pinch Canadian fortunate loser Gabriel Diallo.

"Cam evidently had an wounded past twelvemonth truthful to spot him coming backmost is great," Draper told Sky Sports.

"And Jacob, personification my age, unthinkable player. The British nationalist don't really cognize overmuch astir him yet but he's going to be, I think, 1 of nan champion players successful nan world.

"Cam's been up location excessively and he tin do that arsenic well, truthful I deliberation it's really breathtaking for British tennis and bully patient title for us."

Draper bounced backmost from his disappointing conclusion by Alejandro Davidovich Fokina successful Monte Carlo to group up a gathering pinch erstwhile Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini of Italy successful information three.

The 23-year-old collapsed to lead 4-2 connected his measurement to taking nan first group successful conscionable complete half an hour, and an early break put him successful power of nan 2nd connected his measurement to triumph successful an hr and 15 minutes.

"I'm still comparatively caller to nan clay truthful I knew it was going to beryllium a reliable challenge," he added.

"Everything was ticking complete really nicely truthful I dream I tin transportation connected gaining much and much assurance and getting much and much effective connected this surface."

Fearnley said he felt he had been playing immoderate of his "worst tennis" successful nan first group - past twisted his ankle.

"It really helped, judge it aliases not. The expert gave maine immoderate painkillers and I was serving that past group immoderate of nan champion I've served successful a agelong time," he said.

"As of now I deliberation my assemblage is successful a bully position."

It was his 4th lucifer of nan tourney aft coming done qualifying, and he added: "The much I play these large matches, these large tournaments and get utilized to these surroundings, nan amended I grip them and nan amended I play."