Britain’s No 1 tennis players enjoyed contrasting fortunes at the US Open on Thursday as Jack Draper eased into the third round with a 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 win over Facundo Díaz Acosta to set up a potential battle with former champion Carlos Alcaraz, while Katie Boulter suffered one of her most disappointing defeats of the season, crashing out 7-5, 7-5 to Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.
Boulter, the 31st seed, had arrived in her second round match as the heavy favourite against Bouzas Maneiro, a scrappy, resourceful 21-year-old Spaniard ranked No 74. Boulter held a set point at 5-4 on Bouzas Maneiro’s serve but she sprayed a routine forehand long before losing three consecutive games to concede the set. Despite fighting back from 1-5 down in set two, the British player paid for her inconsistency in the decisive moments.
