On June 20, 2025, Carlos Alcaraz, world No. 2 and 2023 Queen’s Club champion, made a candid admission after his grueling 6-4, 6-7(7), 7-5 third-round win over Jaume Munar at the HSBC Championships, which could fuel British No. 1 Jack Draper’s hopes, per Express. Alcaraz, who extended his career-best winning streak to 15 matches, admitted to physical and mental struggles, saying, “I struggled mentally and physically. I honestly still don’t know how I’m here now,” per ATP Tour. This vulnerability, following a 3-hour, 26-minute battle, is “music to Draper’s ears,” as the 23-year-old Brit, ranked No. 4, eyes a potential final showdown after his 2024 upset over Alcaraz at Queen’s, per Tennis365.
Draper, who defeated Alcaraz 7-6(3), 6-3 in the 2024 second round, advanced to the 2025 quarter-finals with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Jenson Brooksby, per BBC Sport. Alcaraz’s admission of fatigue, just nine days after his Roland Garros title, suggests the grass-court transition and a tough draw—facing Arthur Rinderknech next—could expose weaknesses, per The Guardian. Draper, buoyed by his career-high ranking and home crowd, is a seeded semi-final contender against Frances Tiafoe, per ATP Tour. Posts on X, like @TennisFanatic7, highlight sentiment: “Draper’s got Alcaraz’s number on grass!” per. Alcaraz’s 2023 Queen’s title gave him Wimbledon belief, but his 2025 struggles could open the door for Draper to shine, per LTA.
