Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz said losing was “part of our lives” following a shock defeat by Britain’s Jack Draper in the last 16 of the Queen’s Club tournament in London on Thursday.
Alcaraz, also the reigning Queen’s champion, lost 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 with the British No 1 claiming the biggest win of his career.
World No 2 Alcaraz arrived for this grass-court warm-up event for Wimbledon fresh from his French Open triumph on the clay of Roland Garros.
But the 21-year-old Spaniard was undone by Draper, 22, who is bidding to become the first British men’s singles champion at Queen’s since Andy Murray won his fifth title at the event in 2016.
- Super Eagles drop 8 places in latest FIFA ranking
- NFF promises to treat Supersand Eagles like other National Teams
Alcaraz, for whom this was a first defeat on grass in nearly two years, insisted he was “hungry to be better” at Wimbledon.
“Of course it’s tough to deal with the losses, but I think it’s part of our lives,” he said.
“We have to (deal with it) as good as you can. After the losses, you have to take the positive things and of course the negative things just to improve to the next tournament.
“I have to give credit to Jack. I think he played really good tennis today.”