Jack Draper's Queen's hopes dashed by big-serving Jiri Lehecka
Lehecka became the first Czech finalist since Ivan Lendl 35 years ago after a 6-4 4-6 7-5 victory.
It was a tough loss for Draper on home soil with the British number one angrily smashing his racket and damaging a digital advertising hoarding as the match slipped away.
But it has been a successful week for the 23-year-old, with his run to the last four earning him a top-four seeding at Wimbledon.
'It means a lot,' said Lehecka. 'You don't meet a player like Jack every day, he's an amazing competitor.'
One poor service game at the start, punctuated by two aces and a double fault on break point, ultimately cost Draper the first set.
He did not get a sniff on the Lehecka serve, with his fellow 23-year-old regularly sending down aces approaching 140mph.
Jiri Lehecka celebrates reaching the final (Adam Davy/PA)
In the second Draper began making inroads, a stunning flicked backhand cross-court winner helping bring up his first break points.
But Lehecka repelled all four to hold for 2-2, with Draper beginning to cut a frustrated figure on the baseline.
With singer Jon Bon Jovi watching from the posh seats, the tension was briefly lifted with a blast of his biggest hit 'Livin' on a Prayer' at the change over.
Draper re-emerged in a blaze of glory, an ace sealing a hold to love before a winner down the line levelled the match.
Jon Bon Jovi, top left, was in attendance for the semi-final (Adam Davy/PA)
Lehecka forced a break point at 4-4 but netted after a long, tense exchange and Draper survived.
However, Lehecka was looking the stronger and, after a comfortable hold, snatched the break for 6-5 with a stunning backhand winner.
Draper smashed his racket in anger, earning a code violation, before Lehecka finished the job to win in two hours and seven minutes, ensuring Britain's wait for a first Queen's winner since Andy Murray in 2016 goes on.
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The British number one smashed his racket, damaging a digital advertising hoarding and grazing his knee, as his semi-final against Jiri Lehecka slipped away from him. Draper explained he was low on energy due to the illness and was getting angry in a bid to gee himself up. But when world number 30 Lehecka fizzed a backhand past him to break for 6-5 in the deciding set, the 23-year-old exploded with rage. 'It was bit of everything, really,' he said. 'The way I was sort of playing at times. Obviously the fact that I've worked so hard to get myself in that position. I really tried to get myself up, get the energy going. 'When you see that ball go past you on that point, you know, it's very tough to see yourself breaking in the next game, although I tried my best on that. 'I don't condone that behaviour, but at the same time, that's kind of where I was at today. 'I was trying to use everything I could. I tried to compete every ball. But in the end, anger just spilled over a little bit too much.' Draper had sounded under the weather earlier in the week and discovered he had tonsillitis on Friday. 'I haven't felt good all week,' he added. 'I'm proud of the way I went about things, considering, but it's tough, because you're in a position where you're in a professional sport. 'You're an entertainer, an athlete, and you have no choice. No one cares, you know. So you've just got to go out there and do the best you can. I'm proud of that. I gave myself a chance. 'Today's probably the worst I've felt. Did I think about withdrawing? No, not at all. I'm in the semi-finals at Queen's. I'd probably go on court with a broken leg. I wouldn't have pulled out for anything. 'So I went out there, gave all I had, and I can be very proud of that. And also, it's not an excuse. It's just the way I feel. 'I lost today because I lost to a better tennis player. He was better than me in the key moments. He served better. I think he was a bit braver at times.' Lehecka is in dreamland 🇨🇿@jirilehecka prevails past Draper 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 to become the 2nd Czech finalist in the Open Era@QueensTennis | #HSBCChampionships — ATP Tour (@atptour) June 21, 2025 It has still been a successful week for Draper, who will now take a few days off to recover in time for Wimbledon, where he will be seeded fourth thanks to his run in west London. Draper dug deep impressively to level the match after dropping the first set, but Lehecka, regularly firing down serves touching 140mph, was stronger down the finishing straight. The 23-year-old became the first Czech to reach the final at Queen's since Ivan Lendl in 1990 after a 6-4 4-6 7-5 victory. Lehecka will be a big underdog on Sunday, however, as he faces former champion, five-time grand slam winner and world number two Carlos Alcaraz. The 22-year-old won the all-Spanish semi-final against Roberto Bautista Agut – a man 15 years his senior – 6-4 6-4. In the crowd was British number one Emma Raducanu, whom it was this week announced will be Alcaraz's mixed doubles partner at the US Open later this year. Alcaraz, the two-time defending Wimbledon champion and into his fifth straight final, ominously declared after his latest win: 'Grass mode is activated.' He added: 'I said at the beginning of the tournament I was trying to feel more comfortable every day. 'I feel I'm playing great tennis, more comfortable after every match and making the final here in Queen's is so special.'
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an hour ago
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Jack Draper shares his tonsillitis struggle as Queen's campaign comes to an end
The British number one smashed his racket, damaging a digital advertising hoarding and grazing his knee, as his semi-final against Jiri Lehecka slipped away from him. Draper explained he was low on energy due to the illness and was getting angry in a bid to gee himself up. Draper explained that he has tonsillitis (Adam Davy/PA) But when world number 30 Lehecka fizzed a backhand past him to break for 6-5 in the deciding set, the 23-year-old exploded with rage. 'It was bit of everything, really,' he said. 'The way I was sort of playing at times. Obviously the fact that I've worked so hard to get myself in that position. I really tried to get myself up, get the energy going. 'When you see that ball go past you on that point, you know, it's very tough to see yourself breaking in the next game, although I tried my best on that. 'I don't condone that behaviour, but at the same time, that's kind of where I was at today. It was a frustrating afternoon for the British number one (Adam Davy/PA) 'I was trying to use everything I could. I tried to compete every ball. But in the end, anger just spilled over a little bit too much.' Draper had sounded under the weather earlier in the week and discovered he had tonsillitis on Friday. 'I haven't felt good all week,' he added. 'I'm proud of the way I went about things, considering, but it's tough, because you're in a position where you're in a professional sport. 'You're an entertainer, an athlete, and you have no choice. No one cares, you know. So you've just got to go out there and do the best you can. I'm proud of that. I gave myself a chance. 'Today's probably the worst I've felt. Did I think about withdrawing? No, not at all. I'm in the semi-finals at Queen's. I'd probably go on court with a broken leg. I wouldn't have pulled out for anything. 'So I went out there, gave all I had, and I can be very proud of that. And also, it's not an excuse. It's just the way I feel. 'I lost today because I lost to a better tennis player. He was better than me in the key moments. He served better. I think he was a bit braver at times.' Lehecka is in dreamland 🇨🇿@jirilehecka prevails past Draper 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 to become the 2nd Czech finalist in the Open Era@QueensTennis | #HSBCChampionships — ATP Tour (@atptour) June 21, 2025 It has still been a successful week for Draper, who will now take a few days off to recover in time for Wimbledon, where he will be seeded fourth thanks to his run in west London. Draper dug deep impressively to level the match after dropping the first set, but Lehecka, regularly firing down serves touching 140mph, was stronger down the finishing straight. The 23-year-old became the first Czech to reach the final at Queen's since Ivan Lendl in 1990 after a 6-4 4-6 7-5 victory. Lehecka will be a big underdog on Sunday, however, as he faces former champion, five-time grand slam winner and world number two Carlos Alcaraz. Emma Raducanu (left) watched Carlos Alcaraz in action (Adam Davy/PA) The 22-year-old won the all-Spanish semi-final against Roberto Bautista Agut – a man 15 years his senior – 6-4 6-4. In the crowd was British number one Emma Raducanu, whom it was this week announced will be Alcaraz's mixed doubles partner at the US Open later this year. Alcaraz, the two-time defending Wimbledon champion and into his fifth straight final, ominously declared after his latest win: 'Grass mode is activated.' He added: 'I said at the beginning of the tournament I was trying to feel more comfortable every day. 'I feel I'm playing great tennis, more comfortable after every match and making the final here in Queen's is so special.'
