British hope beats former champion

Parmar now faces Pete Sampras

British hope Arvind Parmar has set up a mouth-watering clash with Wimbledon champion Pete Sampras after a superb win over Scott Draper in the first round of the Stella Artois Championships.

British number four Parmar defeated the left-handed Australian in three sets 7-6 2-6 6-0 at Queen's club on Monday.

The 22-year-old from Hitchin won a tight first set on the tie-break but looked in real trouble when Draper, who won his only career singles title here in 1998, raised his game to storm through the second set 6-2.

But Parmar, who received a wild card into the tournament, responded in kind in the decider and cruised through that 6-0 in stunning fashion as Draper took out his frustrations on his racket, slamming it into the lush grass.

I'm going to go out there and enjoy it. This is why I play the game

Arvind Parmar

"I came into it knowing I had a good chance," said Parmar.

"Scott has not been playing great recently, and it was a good opportunity to get a good win.

"The second set began with a terrible first game which set the tone for the rest of the set, and I was happy to get that out of the way and start fresh.

"Then I was 0-40 down in my first service game but took it one point at a time and I'm delighted.

"I had a good start to the year in Australia and playing well out in Asia, and that has given me a lot of confidence to go out there with nothing to lose and give it my best shot."

Parmar, who qualified for Wimbledon last year before losing in the second round to Greg Rusedski, now faces six-time Wimbledon champ Sampras in the second round.

The second-seeded American received a first-round bye.

"I've heard he's pretty useful," Parmar joked.

"But I'm going to go out there and enjoy it. This is why I play the game."