Jack Draper came through another tough match to book his spot in the semi-finals at Queen’s for the first time.
As was the case against Alexei Popyrin in his previous match, Draper needed three sets to overcome Brandon Nakashima in Friday’s quarter-final.
His performance was somewhat inconsistent as his forehand looked erratic at times and he did not look as comfortable with his movement.
But to the delight of his home crowd, Jack Draper produced his best tennis when he needed it most and moved one step closer towards Sunday’s championship match.
Britain’s Davis Cup captain Leon Smith was happy with Jack Draper’s post-match comments at Queen’s
After world number four Taylor Fritz failed to win a match at Queen’s, Draper needed to reach the semi-finals at Queen’s to be guaranteed a top four seeding at the Wimbledon Championships.
His 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 victory over Nakashima earned him a place in the semi-finals and Draper will leapfrog Fritz and Novak Djokovic in the ATP rankings to return to his career-high ranking of number four.
A number four seeding means that Draper will not have to play any of the other top four seeded players at Wimbledon, likely to be Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev, until the semi-finals.
Post-match Draper was asked about this, played it down and outlined how much work he still has to do. “I’ve got to get to the semis first. It’s another step in the right direction.
“At Wimbledon, regardless of seeding, each match is very difficult, because obviously you’ve got loads of top players in the draw, a bit like this week. But it gives me confidence knowing I’m in that position and I’m going to be in the right place for that.”
Britain’s Davis Cup captain Leon Smith heard these comments and was thrilled with Draper’s response. “I was thinking please play it down and he did, which is great, because everyone talks about this and I understand it, this top four seeding,” he told BBC Sport.
“But you have to get there. Jack I think answered that brilliantly. It is great but let’s look at the be all and end all.
“If you are going to win the tournament you are going to have to beat someone somewhere. So I love the fact that he played it down, that is the right thing.”
Jack Draper becomes the sixth British man to reach the Queen’s semi-finals since 1980
Draper’s latest victory means he has become the sixth British player to reach the Queen’s semi-finals since 1980.
He is the first player to achieve this feat since Cam Norrie in 2021. The 29-year-old reached the final but finished runner-up following a three-set defeat to Matteo Berrettini.
Draper will take on Jiri Lehecka in his semi-final, which will be a tricky contest given the Czech player’s form.
He has yet to drop a set at Queen’s, and he upset Alex de Minaur in his second match in West London this week.
Draper has won two of three previous meetings, including February’s Doha Open semi-final, which he came from behind to win 3-6 7-6(2) 6-3.
