Tennis
British tennis trophy rush as Jack Draper, Katie Boulter and Jacob Fearnley win three titles in a few hours
Katie Boulter ensured it was the perfect Sunday for British tennis as she came from a set down to defeat Karolina Pliskova to defend her Nottingham Open crown.
Boulter won the first WTA title of her career in Nottingham last year and has enjoyed a strong 12 months since then.
She became the new British No 1 as a result of that triumph and reached a new milestone earlier this year after winning her first WTA 500 event in San Diego.
That propelled her to a new career-high ranking of 27 with high hopes heading into the grasscourt season.
And she picked up where she left off last year by reaching the Nottingham Open final once more to face former world No 1 Pliskova.
Jack Draper won his first ATP title of his career
GETTY
Boulter looked in control of the first set after taking an early break, but she lost her way towards the end as Pliskova rattled off four games in a row to take the lead.
However, Boulter was able to recover in the second and force a deciding set against the two-time Grand Slam finalist.
And she carried that momentum into the third set to secure back-to-back Nottingham Open titles.
Her win followed on from career-first victories for both Jack Draper and Jacob Fearnley.
Draper faced Matteo Berrettini in the BOSS Open final in Stuttgart in what was the third tour-level final of his career.
The previous two had ended in defeat and it looked as though a third would follow as Berrettini took the opening set.
However, Draper fought back spectacularly to register a 3-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 victory and clinch a famous win.
The 22-year-old will be confirmed as the new British No 1 when the rankings reset on Monday as he moves ahead of Cam Norrie.
He moves up to 31st in the world, which could potentially see him earn a seeded spot for Wimbledon.
“It’s incredible,” Draper said.
“I’m really happy to win my first title, it means so much to me.
Jacob Fearnley also become an ATP title winner in Nottingham
GETTY
“There have been a lot of up and down moments over the last few years but this is a testament to the hard work that I’ve been putting in.”
But it’s Fearnley who will get the biggest leap up the rankings after his incredible victory in Nottingham.
The Scottish tennis star faced compatriot Charles Broom in the final, who had defeated British No 3 Dan Evans earlier in the tournament.
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Katie Boulter came from a set down to beat Karolina Pliskova
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Just like Boulter and Draper, Fearnley went down a set to start the match before fighting back for the biggest victory of his career.
Both players came through qualifying to reach the final but it was the Edinburgh-born player who came out on top.
As a result of winning the title, Fearnley will climb a staggering 251 places up the rankings to 274th in the world.
Broom also reached a new career-high ranking of 235th in the world despite losing to Fearnley.
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