Jack Draper battled his way into the quarter-finals at Queen's Club, overcoming a tough challenge from Alexei Popyrin in a three-set thriller. The British No. 1 showcased his resilience and fighting spirit, much to the delight of the home crowd, as he secured a 3-6, 6-2, 7-6(5) victory on the Andy Murray Arena.
Popyrin, currently ranked at a career-high No. 21, proved to be a formidable opponent. Draper dropped the opening set after Popyrin broke to lead 5-4, but the 23-year-old Briton responded strongly, winning four consecutive games in the second set to level the match. A bizarre moment occurred during the match when a gust of wind sent a spectator's hat flying onto the court, adding a touch of the unexpected to the tense atmosphere.
The deciding set was a hard-fought affair, with both players holding serve and creating few opportunities for breaks. Draper held two match points while Popyrin was serving, but the Australian fought back to win four consecutive points, leveling the score at 5-5. Eventually, the set went to a tie-break, where Popyrin initially gained the upper hand, leading 4-2. However, Draper demonstrated his mental fortitude, winning five of the final six points to clinch the victory with a powerful ace.
Draper acknowledged the importance of the home crowd's support, saying, "There's days where I need that extra support, today was one of them. Tough match and credit to Alexei, it was a bit up and down but you guys helped me through that so thank you." He also expressed his emotions about playing in front of his family and friends, stating, "My family and friends are here and I love being at home and playing in front of them so it's an emotional moment for me honestly."
This marks Draper's third quarter-final appearance at Queen's Club. To reach the semi-final would guarantee him a fourth seed at Wimbledon, a significant advantage for the Championships.
Other players advancing to the quarter-finals include Holger Rune, who defeated Mackenzie McDonald, and Roberto Bautista Agut, who overcame Jakub Mensik. Mensik received a code violation warning for unsportsmanlike conduct during his match.
