Out! Great Brit hope Jack loses in second round

BRITAIN'S No 1 male tennis star Jack Draper crashed out of Wimbledon yesterday in a crushing defeat to big-serving Marin Cilic.

- By Geoff Maynard and Yasmin Syed at Wimbledon

The 36-year-old Croatian proved too tough a nut to crack on a sunbathed Court One and claimed the first set 6-4.

Cilic was ruthless in the second set, winning 6-3 as Draper struggled to find any rhythm or answers.

But the British player began a fight back in the third set, winning 6-1 as the crowd got behind him.

In a titanic fourth set battle, which kept spectators on the edge of their seats, Draper saved two break points in the eighth game.

But he could not hold on in the tenth and lost the set 6-4.

The disappointed player - who had looked annoyed at several close line calls - went straight off court at the end of the match after briefly acknowledging the crowd.

Draper's dad Roger, mum Nicky, older brother Ben and grandad Chris were all watching his second round game.

The star has previously said Chris and wife Brenda introduced him to tennis. And he has spoken glowingly of his grandad's care for Brenda, who has Alzheimer's. Overon Centre Court, adventurer Bear Grylls and his wife Shara were in the Royal Box as sunshine and 23C temperatures made it a glorious afternoon for watching tennis.

The couple were joined by actress Celia Imrie.