Jack Draper fights back from set down to reach last eight at Queen's
The 23-year-old dropped the opening set to tricky Australian world number 21 Alexei Popyrin, but gathered himself to level the match.
He then came through a deciding-set tie-break to win a gruelling contest 3-6 6-2 7-6 (5) in two hours and 13 minutes.
CMAAAN 🗣️ @jackdraper0 #BackTheBrits 🇬🇧 | #HSBCChampionship pic.twitter.com/nYqSqEk5o9
— LTA (@the_LTA) June 18, 2025
If Draper breaks new ground and reaches a maiden semi-final in west London, he will be seeded fourth at Wimbledon.
'It was a tough match, credit to Alexei, he played some amazing tennis,' he said.
'I love playing at home and in front of my friends and family. It's an emotional moment.
'In the first couple of sets it wasn't pretty at all, I need time to adjust to the grass but it's one more under the belt.'
Draper forced two break points in the seventh game of the first set, but two 130mph aces got Popyrin out of trouble.
The Briton then lost concentration momentarily and before he knew it, Popyrin had three break points.
The set quickly disappeared, although play was briefly held up when a bizarre gust of wind engulfed the Andy Murray Arena, sending a spectator's hat flying into Popyrin and large bits of felt from the barriers swirling on to the court.
However, it was Draper who got a second wind with a double break to draw level.
His serving got him in trouble and back out of it after a double-fault gave Popyrin a break point at the start of the decider, with a big serve and then an ace clinching a vital hold.
Popyrin clung on valiantly, saving two match points as he served at 4-5, and in the tie-break he led 4-2.
But Draper stepped on the gas to win five of the last six points, finishing the job with an ace.
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South Wales Argus
an hour ago
- South Wales Argus
Jack Draper moves on from ‘looking like a Ferrari that broke down like a Toyota'
The British number one almost blew a gasket when he dropped the opening set to tricky Australian world number 21 Alexei Popyrin. 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. '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. '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.
The Herald Scotland
2 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Jack Draper moves on from ‘looking like a Ferrari that broke down like a Toyota'
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. '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. '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.
Powys County Times
2 hours ago
- Powys County Times
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. 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. 😤 Tough @jackdraper0 — LTA (@the_LTA) June 18, 2025 '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. '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. '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. YESSSSSSS!!!!!!! @jackdraper0 🗣️ Fighting back to reach the quarters at @QueensTennis ❤️🔥 #HSBCChampionships — LTA (@the_LTA) June 18, 2025 '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. '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.
