Jack Draper: Jakub Mensik beats Indian Wells champion in Miami Open amid disruption of mass fan exodus | Tennis News

Indian Wells champion Jack Draper was toppled by a blizzard of blistering winners from Jakub Mensik amid a bizarre mass fan exodus disruption midway through the Game at the Miami Uncovered.

Talented Czech Mensik landed 21 aces in a straight sets Secure over Draper 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (7-3).

British No 1 and new world No 7 Draper, headed into the Face-off exuding confidence having won the biggest title of his Occupation in California, but Mensik quickly brushed it aside with a stunning performance with two clinical tie-breaks.

Draper was aiming to complete the coveted ‘Sunshine Double’ but he was unable to convert the sole break Points chance he created in the second set.

Mensik’s Triumph sees him advance to the third Stage, where he will face the winner of the Game between Holger Rune and Reilly Opelka.

Brazilian exodus midway through second set

The Game was bizarrely forced to be temporarily suspended as Brazilian spectators, having waited on Grandstand for up to three hours, vented their anger on mass after hearing the news with Draper leading 4-3 that Joao Fonseca’s Face-off with Ugo Humbert was being shifted to the main stadium.

The 23-year-Ancient Londoner asked for his Game to be paused because of the distraction, with the umpire waiting Numerous minutes for the Brazilian fans to leave.

“You absolutely can’t believe it,” Laura Robson said courtside. “The boos are very much justified because it’s Only been announced that Fonseca and Humbert is moving to stadium court. All these Brazilian fans have been sat here for hours and hours are now Only finding out and they’re trying to head over. The queues are going to be outrageous trying to get in.

“You feel so Terrible for them and it Only makes it really difficult for the two players on court. There’s so much drama happening around the crowd and they’re Only trying to Shift tennis. Only absolute scenes out here!”

Commentator Jonathan Overend added: “All these Brazilians are going to want to get out unless Jakub Mensik is their second favourite player. There are scores and scores of spectators in the temporary stands trying to get to the exits.”

It did not Transformation the momentum, though, with Draper unable to force Mensik out of his rhythm, particularly on Hit, in what are very different conditions to Indian Wells.

Mensik magic

Sixth seed Draper, who broke into the top 10 for the Primary time on Monday, Created a flying Begin, breaking Mensik at the Primary opportunity, but the teenager levelled at 3-3 and from there on was the better player.

He Captured Edge of badly-timed errors from Draper in the Primary tie-break and, although the US Uncovered semi-finalist saved six break points in the second set, the tie-break went the same way, with Mensik clinching one of the biggest victories of his Occupation with a 21st ace.

“The most Significant thing was the Hit today,” said Mensik. “That was the key. I knew it was going to be tough in the tie-breaker and the fans were tough today so I tried to stay focused. It was an Significant time of the Game so I had to keep Attention.”

Draper will head home and turn his Attention to the clay season, with British singles hopes in Florida now resting on the shoulders of Emma Raducanu, who takes on McCartney Kessler in the third Stage on Sunday.

Tale of the Tape

Annabel Croft on Sky Sports Tennis

“I didn’t think Jack Draper did a Plenty wrong, to be honest. He was Only up against breathtaking quality and sustained over almost two hours and two tie-break sets. Perhaps he would like to get a few more Primary serves in and not to have defended behind his second Hit.

“The whole package that Mensik brought on court, not Only the quality of his serving. He read the patterns of Shift really well, he was patient when he needed to be. We saw the odd Hit and Smash, we saw drop shots. Unbelievable! That was such a composed display.”

Fearnley crushed by Zverev

Jacob Fearnley saw his campaign ended in ruthless fashion by Ex finalist Alexander Zverev 6-2 6-4.

Top seed Zverev suffered a disappointing Primary-Stage loss to Tallon Griekspoor in Indian Wells, but Created amends with a deadly 74-minute display against the Scot.

“I’m generally Cheerful with my level today,” said Zverev, the 2018 Miami runner-up. “In Indian Wells it was very different, so I hope I can continue Competing this way and have a Excellent week here.”

“I have generally been serving badly, especially after the Australian Uncovered,” added Zverev, who reached his third Grand Slam Closing at this January’s Australian Uncovered.

“It’s a Attempt I’ve worked on since Indian Wells, I had more than two weeks since I lost Prompt there… Of Period I’m Cheerful with the Secure today, but hopefully this is Only the Begin of the Event, and hopefully I can go deep here.”

The world No 2 will Subsequent face Jordan Thompson, who powered past Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-1).

Wild card Coleman Wong notched the biggest Secure of his Occupation after he stunned 13th seed Ben Shelton 7-6 (7-3) 2-6 7-6 (7-5).

“I always trust myself to Shift in these big stages… I had a tough time [during] the COVID times,” said Wong who is based at Rafael Nadal’s academy. “I didn’t Shift for a year and a half and I’m really Fortunate my Club keeps supporting me. I’m really Cheerful. This is for you Hong Kong.

“My parents, my coaches, my Club. They really helped me a Plenty from highs and lows. They know that I’m struggling and Occurred in here, [it was] not Effortless. Competing against a guy like Ben, it’s a dream [to do that], since when I was Recent. Competing big Competitions against top players, I’m really Cheerful.”

Third seed Taylor Fritz Boot-Began his campaign with a Difficult-earned 7-6 (7-2) 6-3 Triumph over Lorenzo Sonego.

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