British No. 1 Jack Draper, aged 23, achieved a significant milestone by reaching his first-ever semifinal at the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club, defeating American Brandon Nakashima 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 in a grueling quarterfinal match, per Tennis365. This victory propelled Draper to a career-high world No. 4 in the Live ATP Rankings, leapfrogging Taylor Fritz by 15 points to 4,650, ensuring a top-four seed at Wimbledon, starting June 30, per. The seeding guarantees Draper avoids world No. 1 Jannik Sinner or defending champion Carlos Alcaraz until at least the semifinals, offering a favorable path at his home Grand Slam, per ATP Tour.
Draper’s match against Nakashima, played under intense heat on the Andy Murray Arena, showcased his resilience. He secured the only break in the first set at 2-1, saved three break points to close it out, and broke again in the third set’s seventh game to seal the win with 12 aces, per. Despite physical challenges, including a recent fall and illness, Draper declared the achievement “means everything,” per Motorcycle Sports. His rise from No. 6 to No. 4 marks him as the highest-ranked British male at Wimbledon since Andy Murray in 2017, per. Posts on X, like @atptour, celebrated his return to the Queen’s quarterfinals, reflecting fan excitement, per.
Draper, who upset Alcaraz at Queen’s in 2024, now faces Jiri Lehecka in the semifinals, aiming for his second grass-court title after Stuttgart in 2024, per Sky Sports. His journey, backed by coach James Trotman and a revamped fitness regimen, signals his emergence as a global contender, per.
