Jack Draper destroys Sebastian Baez as Wimbledon star retires during thrashing
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Jack Draper has set up a second-round Wimbledon clash with Marin Cilic after Sebastian Baez retired in the third set of their one-sided clash on Tuesday. Draper was in scintillating form on Court 1, where he overpowered Baez in just about every department to send him tumbling out of the tournament.
Standing a compact 5ft 7in against a British No. 1 who measures a full nine inches taller, Baez was outgunned by Draper and bowed out with the score at 6-2 6-2 2-1. The Argentine took a painful slip early in the second set which drew loud gasps from those in attendance and prompted Draper to check in on him.
Baez was given medical attention and opted to carry on but the writing was on the wall long before he was forced to throw in the towel. Draper won a staggering 93 per cent of points on his first serve and converted all five of his break point opportunities, while Baez was not afforded a single chance to break.
The world No. 38, fighting against the wishes of the pro-British crowd, knew he was in for a tough afternoon from the off. Draper broke his serve in the first game and then held to take total control, with the fourth seed hammering serves and peppering the outer edges of the court.
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Baez's slip came early in the second, when Draper broke straight away again. Even when Baez started producing some of his best stuff during a battle at deuce while 3-1 down, he still couldn't prevent the inevitable break of serve as Draper held all the heavy artillery.
After being seen by medics late in the second set, Baez called it a day early in the third as Draper's first outing of the year ended in a slight anti-climax. Having never made it further than the second round at SW19, a part of him may be pleased to get the job done in just over an hour - even if he didn't admit it.
"I wanted to play a bit longer in all honesty," Draper told the BBC. "I felt like I was getting my tennis together a little bit, I was serving well. It's no way to win like that and I wish Sebastian the best of recoveries.
"I'm really looking forward to this next week or so, it's going to be great. I've got to face whoever is in front of me. I can't be thinking about five matches ahead, I've got to win the matches to get there."
