Jack Draper kept his Queen’s Club campaign alive with a gritty three-set win over Alexei Popyrin, recovering from a slow start to triumph 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (5). Despite not being at his best, the British No 1 showcased the competitive resilience that has driven his rise to the upper echelons of the sport.
From the outset, Draper struggled to find his rhythm. His groundstrokes lacked precision, and he was broken in a scrappy service game midway through the first set. Popyrin, ranked No 21 in the world and known for his powerful serve, capitalised on the opportunity to claim the opener. Draper’s forehand was erratic, and he appeared tentative on the backhand wing, adding to the mounting pressure on his serve.
However, the second set saw a shift in momentum. Draper began to find more depth on his returns, and his serve steadied. With renewed consistency, he raced through the set to level the match. The deciding set was a tense affair, with both players trading powerful serves and probing rallies. Draper had two match points on Popyrin’s serve but failed to convert, setting the stage for a dramatic tiebreak.
Down 2-4 in the breaker, Draper produced a clutch display when it mattered most. He unleashed a series of decisive winners, including a forehand down the line, a backhand bullet, and a pair of aces – the last sealing the match. It was a commanding finish that underlined his growing reputation as a player who delivers under pressure.
This victory not only keeps Draper in the hunt for a maiden Queen’s Club title but also moves him within one win of securing a top-four seeding at Wimbledon. Having begun last year’s grass-court swing ranked outside the top 30, his rise to world No 4 is a testament to his progression and consistency over the past 12 months.
The win also grants Draper more invaluable time on grass ahead of Wimbledon, a surface on which he continues to build experience. He will next face American Brandon Nakashima in the quarter-finals after Nakashima defeated Dan Evans in straight sets.
Beyond Draper’s triumph, British tennis fans received further good news as teenage talents Mika Stojsavljevic, Hannah Klugman, and Mimi Xu were awarded main-draw wildcards for Wimbledon. They will join established names such as Heather Watson, Harriet Dart, Jodie Burrage, and Fran Jones. Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, returning to action following maternity leave, also received a wildcard. On the men’s side, several British players including Evans, Jack Pinnington Jones, and Henry Searle were granted main-draw entries as well, setting the stage for a strong home presence at the All England Club.
