Wildcard Billy Harris took motivation from British number one Jack Draper’s stunning win over top seed and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz by beating Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 6-4, 7-5 in 70 minutes to reach the quarter-finals of an ATP Tour event for the first time in his career.
The 29-year-old Brit put in a wonderful serving display and remarkably only lost two points on serve in the first set, and five points in the second set. He won 85% of points on his first serve and backed it up with 87% on his second and faced no breakpoints.
“[This win is] massive for my confidence,” said Harrison court after his win “I managed to settle in quickly and I stayed in the zone and I played a good match. In the first set I was thinking ‘Jeez this serve has got to slow down’, that’s why the games went quick and I just had to keep my focus. I got the breaks when I needed them and I thought I played well.”
Having had close to no chance in the opening three return games, Harris suddenly reached 0-40 in the crucial seventh game and took his second opportunity to break when Perricard’s sliced backhand floated long, and held on to take the first set in clinical fashion. He later revealed he had followed Draper’s match earlier.
“That was amazing from Jack, he’s the future of British tennis,” said Harris. “He’s leading the way, so it’s great to look at him and see what he’s doing and I can definitely take inspiration from that!”
Games went with serve until five all in the second set but at 30- all, Perricard’s forehand hit the top of the net cord and landed in the tramline, handing Harris a breakpoint. Another unforced error followed and Harris got the break to lead 6-5. After reaching 30-0 on the next game, he arrived at match point with an ace but lost the next two points. At 40-30 his nerves were surely jangling – but he played a smart rally and finished off with a lovely forehand down the line to complete his fairytale run into the quarters.
Harris, who has not played in front of packed centre court crowds too often, also received a standing ovation after his victory. “I didn’t know how I would react to coming out here today but as soon as I got on court, I felt like I was getting great support from the crowd and they helped me through the match so a big thank you to the crowd!”
Meanwhile, American Tommy Paul defeated Alejandro Tabilo in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals for the second time and plays Jack Draper tomorrow. The fifth seed constantly applied pressure to Tabilo’s service games with ten breakpoints overall, and took one in each set to secure victory in an hour and ten minutes.
Paul started well and managed to break serve to go 3-1 ahead after a long game lasting over eight minutes involving five deuces, before holding for 4-1. The uniqueness of the game of tennis was best illustrated when Tabilo then held a quickfire love service game in just 80 seconds, having struggled on his previous game, followed by fifth seed Paul fighting through four deuces to hold his own serve in a marathon game of over fifteen minutes.
After winning the first set, Paul broke serve right at the start of the next for 2-0 and held throughout, hitting 24 winners overall along with ten aces and a huge 86% of points won behind first serve while Tabilo ended with twelve unforced errors.
“Its’s always nice when you break early in the set, it lets off a little pressure,” said Paul on court afterwards. “I served really well for the rest of the sets. I’ve been playing my sort of tennis, playing aggressive and trying to get to the net, add pressure to my opponents, and it’s been working, I’ve been having fun out here too.”
In today’s other match, Lorenzo Musetti beat Brandon Nakashima 6-4, 4-6, 6-4after a titanic struggle which lasting almost two and a half hours, as the evening sunshine bathed centre court.
The first set went with serve throughout and although the Italian saved all four breakpoints he faced, he took one of his two opportunities and broke serve when it mattered at 5-4 ahead in the first to snatch the set. In the second set the American broke to take a 2-0 lead but was soon pegged back and games went with serve until he broke again to go 5-4 up and close the set with a service winner.
“It was a really tough match since the beginning, today was really tough to return because Brandon was serving really well, a lot of first serves and was putting so much pressure on the returns, especially on the second serves,” said Musetti on court afterwards. “It’s never easy playing against a friend. We both reached the semi-finals last week so I knew he was in great shape but I’m really proud of today because it was a mental match until the end. The last game was really amazing and I’m really happy with the win.”
But Musetti stayed tough and held his nerve and mental resolve to take advantage of serving first throughout the decider and broke in the last game to seal the match, and next faces Harris tomorrow.
“I know him but I never faced him, I saw some of his rallies. He’s going to have the crowd on his side. But it’s ok, we will even try to figure out a way to turn around the crowd tomorrow.”
Musetti is coming off a semi final showing last week in Stuttgart, and is showing good form before Wimbledon. “I’ve started to enjoy more of the grass court season since last year, I know that one point can turn around the match and make the difference. I’m proud of today’s win and have to keep going but really happy to be in the quarters.”
