Former World No.4 Thinks Jack Draper’s Defeat at Queen’s is Blessing in Disguise Ahead of Wimbledon

Jack Draper has never progressed to the third round of Wimbledon and lost in the second round last year.

Former World No.4 Thinks Jack Draper’s Defeat at Queen’s is Blessing in Disguise Ahead of Wimbledon

Jack Draper (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

Jack Draper was inching closer to his second title of the season. After the clay swing, he kick-started his campaign on grass at the Queen’s Club Championships.

After breezing past Jenson Brooksby, Draper dropped a set in his next three matches. He came from a set down to knock out Alexei Popyrin before overcoming Brandon Nakashima to schedule a clash in the semifinal against Jiri Lehecka, which he ended up losing with a 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 scoreline.

Draper was one of the favorites to win the home event, given that he has a grass-court title under his belt. Last year, he came from a set down to defeat Matteo Berrettini in the Stuttgart Open final.

Next, Draper will be preparing for his home Grand Slam event, the Wimbledon Championships. According to former World No.4 Pat Cash, the defeat at the Queen’s is a blessing in disguise for the 23-year-old because there won’t be much pressure on him from the media and the fans. He told BBC:

I think the worst thing that could happen to him is that he wins the tournament and then everyone talks about him possibly winning Wimbledon. The pressure is off now.

Lehecka tied the head-to-head record over Draper to 2-2 and this was the second time they met this year following the Qatar Open semifinal which Draper won. The Chilean ace, after the win, set up a clash with five-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz in the final.

Jamie Murray backs Jack Draper to win Wimbledon

Jack Draper has reached the fourth round of every Grand Slam tournament, except the Wimbledon. Twice he reached the second round, in 2022 and 2024. Last year, compatriot Cameron Norrie ended his run in straight sets.

Jack Draper (via X/The Tennis Letter)
Jack Draper (via X/The Tennis Letter)

Despite his previous performances in the grass-court Major, he still will be entering the tournament as one of the contenders, according to Jamie Murray. According to Murray, Draper is the favorite to lift the title after Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, both of who now share the last six Grand Slam titles between them. He told BBC:

He’s got so much good in him. He’s having an amazing year. We’re really hoping he’s going to have a great Wimbledon. He will be absolutely one of the favorites behind Sinner and Alcaraz heading into that tournament.

Sinner was the semifinalist in 2023 and had reached the quarterfinals last year. Alcaraz will be entering Wimbledon as the two-time defending champion. In the previous two seasons, he upset 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, denying him his Calendar Slam in 2023 and his historic 25th Major last year. The 22-year-old will also be aiming to complete the Channel Slam for two consecutive seasons.

Jack Draper has won one title this season

Last year, Draper lifted two titles and also reached a Grand Slam semifinal for the first time (at the US Open where he lost to eventual winner Sinner). Then this year, after giving the walkover to Alcaraz in the fourth round of the Australian Open, Draper lost the Qatar Open final to Andrey Rublev.

Jack Draper
Jack Draper (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

Three weeks later, the Briton captured the biggest trophy of his career. After denying Alcaraz a chance to defend his title by beating him in the semifinals, Draper reached the championship match of the Indian Wells Masters and breezed past Holger Rune.

After exits in his early-round matches in Miami and Monte Carlo, Draper progressed to the Madrid Open final but couldn’t cross the final hurdle in the form of two-time French Open finalist Casper Ruud. Before starting his campaign on the grass swing, Draper reached the French Open fourth round for the first time (lost the match to Alexander Bublik).

Also read: Carlos Alcaraz Jokes About Singing Career After Jannik Sinner’s Opera Debut