‘A huge step’ – Draper reaches first Queen’s semi-final

With a grueling three-set victory over American Brandon Nakashima, Jack Draper’s first Queen’s semi-final achievement lived up to his childhood dream.

With the 6-4, 5-7, and 6-4 victory, Draper will not face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz or world number one Jannik Sinner until the semi-final stage, which would leave him without a chance to face the top-four seed in the Wimbledon draw next week.

On a hot day in west London, Draper, who had a tough three-set defeat to Alexei Popyrin in the previous round while ill, found himself facing Nakashima in another exhausting encounter.

After taking control of the first set with an early break, Nakashima raised his level to make the encounter a decider and made it a decider.

In the seventh game of the third set, Draper made the crucial breakthrough by turning in his powerful forehand to break down British No. 2 Jacob Fearnley 7-5, 6-2, before winning in the semi-final.

The 23-year-old revealed after the match that he had held the Queen’s trophy as a child when it was a child and will now hope to do so once more this weekend.

According to Draper, “I’ve wanted it since I was a young child.”

“I do have photos of the trophy when I was exactly ten,” I recall on my phone.

I’ve always watched it alongside Wimbledon, which is what it has always been.

“Having Andy Murray win here many years on the trot or whenever he did, just gave it a little more special feeling,” I said.

Draper is attempting to become the first British singles champion at Queen’s since Murray, who won five times in 2016 with his most recent victory.

After beating France’s Arthur Rinderknech 7-5,6-4, he might face top seed Carlos Alcaraz in the final.

With an early break, Draper had a flawless start against Nakashima, but his rest of the day was uneventful.

But because he has become more effective in a year that has resulted in him placing fourth in the world, he still manages to show off his best tennis in the most challenging situations.

Draper showed he isn’t afraid to take risks, and this self-assurance is paying off here, from the second-serve ace that broke off to a brave drop shot at 15-40.

After falling to world number 32 Nakashima for the third set with a stunning forehand winner, Draper improved on his errors in the third and broke serve in the seventh game, which has become a hallmark of his game.

He had anticipated sealing the game with a backhand, but the crowd’s cheers drowned out the automatic line call of “out.”

In the final game, he delivered a 14th ace after serving for the match at 5-4 and was forced to save a break point during that period.

After reaching the semi-finals at Eastbourne in 2022, Draper will now only play his second last-four game on home soil.

His preparations for Wimbledon, which begins on June 30th, will benefit him because he will be considered the great home hope in the grass-court Grand Slam. His top-four seeding is a plus.

Draper continued, “It’s a definite huge step for me.”

“I can recall a year ago when I placed somewhere between 30 and 40. That’s significant progress, especially to be in the top four at Wimbledon in a year.

I “live and breathe the sport,” and I’m driven to constantly improve and excel in order to be the player I always want to be.

When he faced Rinderknech in a close first set, the impact of that initially became apparent.

In his first match, Frenchman Rinderknech overcame his defeat in qualifying and won over American Ben Shelton.

Although he certainly served well and had a no-lose attitude, Alcaraz was always up against it as the match progressed, and the former world no. 1 strengthened as the match progressed.

Alcaraz, who is aiming for another title from Queen’s to complete his 2023 victory before attempting to win a third successive Wimbledon title, said, “I am feeling great playing on grass.”

After putting in a strong performance against Corentin Moutet, France’s qualifier, on Thursday, Fearnley had been playing in his first final-eight match of the ATP Tour event.

Lehecka, a 23-year-old Czech, turned down the opportunity to become world number 30.

Fearnley’s first break of the match had a promising start, but the world no. 60 immediately gave up after three double faults.

Lehecka broke the double break to take the set 6-5 before serving the set, which cost him even more in the end.