Jack Draper moves on from ‘looking like a Ferrari that broke down like a Toyota'
Jack Draper says he no longer looks like a Ferrari but breaks down like a Toyota after stepping up his Wimbledon preparations by reaching the quarter-finals at Queen's Club.
The British number one almost blew a gasket when he dropped the opening set to tricky Australian world number 21 Alexei Popyrin.
Advertisement
But despite feeling under the weather, he gathered himself to level the match and then went through the gears in a deciding set tie-break to win a gruelling contest 3-6 6-2 7-6 (5) in two hours and 13 minutes.
In years gone by such a test of endurance in the blazing heat of west London would have been too much for Draper, but now there is a lot more reliability under the chassis.
'I have always worked really hard off the court,' he said. 'I think that's helped me play more consistently on the tour. I have felt better and better every grand slam I have played.
'You know, before I felt like my energy wasn't that strong, and I felt like I looked like a bit of a Ferrari but I was a bit of a Toyota, like broke down quite easy.
Advertisement
'Now I'm starting to feel generally stronger and confident in myself.'
If Draper breaks new ground and reaches the last four in west London, he will be seeded fourth at Wimbledon, ensuring he would avoid defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and world number one Jannik Sinner until the semi-finals.
Alexei Popyrin proved a tricky opponent (Ben Whitley/PA)
'It's obviously a big thing. I think it would definitely help,' he added. 'But at the same time, I don't think I will think about that at all.
'Anything that I have sort of done in tennis, or achieved, I have never really thought about it. I've just kept on going.
'I focus on what's important to me, what I can control. I can't control if I go out there on Friday and play a great match.
'I'll give myself the best opportunity to hopefully do that. And of course if I'm in that position, you know, it helps going to Wimbledon.
Advertisement
'To be honest, I don't think I have been that great. I think I have competed really hard. I think my serve's been pretty good.
'But the tennis I know I can play and the tennis that's got me to the position I'm in, I think there is still a lot of improvement to come.
'My goal is to peak at Wimbledon, you know. I'm going to give myself a chance each day to get better.'
There is to be no quarter-final battle of Britain at Queen's after Dan Evans bowed out.
The 35-year-old, who caused the shock of the first round by beating seventh seed Frances Tiafoe, was narrowly beaten 7-5 7-6 (4) by another American, Brandon Nakashima.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Chris Wilder out as Sheffield United's US owners make managerial change
SHEFFIELD, England (AP) — Sheffield United parted ways with manager Chris Wilder on Wednesday after failing to secure a return to the Premier League. The club, which came under American ownership in late December, immediately installed Ruben Selles as Wilder's replacement. Advertisement Sheffield United lost to Sunderland in the Championship playoff final at Wembley Stadium last month to miss out on promotion. Wilder was in his second spell at the Yorkshire club after leading it to promotion in his first stint from 2016-21. 'A Blade through and through, the legacy Chris and his staff have created here will never be forgotten,' Sheffield United said in a statement. U.S.-based COH Sports completed the purchase of Sheffield United in late December. The group is led by Steven Rosen and Helmy Eltoukhy, who became the club's co-chairmen. ___ AP soccer: The Associated Press
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
The Red Room: Reshaping the Squad – Leadership, Defence, Attack
Liverpool's Summer Plans: Ruthless Evolution Under Slot Squad Overhaul Signals New Era Liverpool FC are preparing for a major summer of transition, with Arne Slot at the helm of what looks to be one of the most ambitious rebuilds in recent years. The message from Grizz Khan and The Red Room was clear: this isn't change for the sake of it—it's targeted, necessary, and strategic. Advertisement As Mike succinctly put it: 'We're not just selling fringe players; we're upgrading the bench while keeping the core of the team intact.' This strategic refresh is not just about buying players—it's about letting go of some beloved names. Andy Robertson's potential move to Atlético Madrid surprised many fans, but as Welsh Mo noted, 'He's earned the right to choose. He's been loyal, but the rhythm he needs isn't guaranteed now.' With the club moving for Milos Kerkez, Robertson's departure would mark a symbolic end to the Klopp era. Yet it's also the beginning of Slot's blueprint. Striker Search Prioritised The pressing need for a clinical No. 9 was repeatedly highlighted throughout the discussion. Luis Díaz, Cody Gakpo, and Diogo Jota all offer flexibility, but none have cemented themselves as reliable goal-getters through the middle. The consensus was clear—Liverpool can't afford another Nunez-style gamble. Advertisement Scouse Mo was crystal clear: 'It's Isaac or Julian Álvarez. No stopgaps, no projects. We need 15+ goals guaranteed.' Lew agreed, urging the club to act now: 'You don't wait around for someone else to swoop in. We've shown ambition this summer—go full pelt.' While names like Hugo Ekitike and Ivan Toney are being floated, Mike offered a pragmatic view: 'I'd take Ekitike at £60m. He reminds me of Isak at Real Sociedad before the breakout.' However, the key theme was quality over quantity. If Isak can't be secured, many felt it's better to wait and trust the club's recruitment process, just as they did with Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker. Defensive Reinforcements on Radar Centre-back options were another hot topic. Joe Gomez and Jarell Quansah both came under scrutiny, especially with Joel Matip's departure and Ibrahima Konaté's injury record. Mike proposed leveraging Quansah as part of a deal: 'Use him in a swap—Newcastle like him. Drop £25m off Gordon's fee. Everyone wins.' Advertisement But Scouse Mo took a more long-term view: 'Quansah has time on his side. Gomez? He's never fit. I'd rather have someone available.' The panel largely agreed that if one of them stays, another left-footed centre-back should arrive—Jorrel Hato was a recurring name. His ability to cover both CB and LB roles adds versatility Liverpool currently lack. Leadership Transition Managed Carefully With Jordan Henderson, James Milner, and now possibly Robertson gone, leadership becomes a crucial intangible. But the panel wasn't overly concerned. Welsh Mo said: 'We've got Van Dijk, Alisson, Salah. Now we need to let new leaders emerge.' Lew expanded on that, saying: 'Keeping Robbo for the dressing room's sake is sentimental. But we're moving forward.' Slot's emphasis appears to be on energy, mentality, and availability—not loyalty. The rebuild isn't just about skill—it's about resetting the culture. Advertisement As Mike stated: 'This isn't Klopp's team anymore. Slot needs his own group of soldiers.' Conclusion: Liverpool Mean Business From the potential departures of Robertson and Simicas to the push for Isak and the rise of Kerkez, Liverpool's summer is shaping up as a calculated shift towards modern football under Slot. The club are trimming sentiment and doubling down on high availability, tactical flexibility, and long-term planning. The next few weeks will define Slot's first season. One thing's for sure—Liverpool aren't standing still.
Fox Sports
34 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Samsonova saves two match points to oust Pegula at Berlin Open
Associated Press BERLIN (AP) — Liudmila Samsonova saved two match points before beating third-ranked Jessica Pegula 6-7 (8), 7-5, 7-6 (5) on Wednesday to reach the quarterfinals of the Berlin Open. The 20th-ranked Samsonova recorded 18 aces against the defending champion in a match that lasted 3 hours, 21 minutes at the grass-court tournament. 'I can't believe that I am here standing, it's incredible,' Samsonova said in her on-court interview. 'Maybe with the adrenaline right now I'm OK, but I think later it's not going to be so OK.' Samsonova, who beat Naomi Osaka in three sets Tuesday, saved two match points on her serve at 5-4 in the deciding set against Pegula. Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka's match against qualifier Rebeka Masarova was suspended overnight because the court became slippery. Play was halted after Sabalenka won the first set 6-2. Earlier, Ons Jabeur beat the fourth-seeded Jasmine Paolini 6-1, 6-3 in the second round. Paolini was runner-up at Wimbledon last year. Jabeur was a Wimbledon finalist in 2022 and 2023. Paolini was playing for the first time since winning the French Open doubles title with fellow Italian Sara Errani. Paolini lost to Elina Svitolina in the fourth round of the French Open singles. ___ More AP tennis:
