Draper Eyes Queen’s Title, Wimbledon Role Despite Illness

Updated June 18, 2025

Jack Draper is under scrutiny as Wimbledon ‍approaches, carrying ⁤the hopes of British tennis fans. The 23-year-old has expressed comfort with the pressure, a sentiment he aims to prove at the Queen’s Club Championships.

Despite a⁤ slow start in his recent match against Popyrin, where he dropped the first set after Popyrin ⁢secured 11 straight points, Draper is pushing forward. An unexpected gust of wind briefly halted⁢ play, scattering debris onto the court.

Draper revealed he has been battling illness this week, marking the second consecutive match where ‍he has struggled to find his rythm early. This adds another layer of complexity as he seeks to claim his first title at Queen’s.

Securing a spot in the semifinals at ⁢queen’s would guarantee Draper a fourth seeding at Wimbledon, possibly allowing him to avoid early-round ⁢matches against top players like defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner.this Wimbledon seeding plays a meaningful role⁣ in his strategy.

“I’ve not been feeling grate actually, to ⁤be honest, the last day and a half,” draper said. “I was a bit flat out there. My body feels good but I was ‍a bit under the weather.”

While acknowledging the benefits of a ⁤favorable Wimbledon draw, Draper ‍insists his primary focus remains ‍on his immediate performance and preparation.

“It’s obviously a big thing,” draper said. “I think it would definitely help. But simultaneously occurring,I don’t think I will think about that at all. I can’t control who ‍I’m playing, can’t control any of those things, but I can control what I do between now and the next match, and I’ll prepare the best ‍I can.”

What’s next

Draper will continue to focus on his ⁤health and training as he prepares for his next match at Queen’s, aiming to secure a title and improve his Wimbledon seeding.