“That’s just the way I am” – Jack Draper makes brutally honest admission about his controversial outburst during shock Queen’s Club exit

On June 21, 2025, British No. 1 Jack Draper, ranked world No. 4, made a candid admission about his controversial outburst during his 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 semifinal loss to Jiri Lehecka at the Queen’s Club Championships, saying, “That’s just the way I am,” per Sportskeeda. The 23-year-old, battling tonsillitis and intense pressure as the home favorite, smashed his racket against a sponsor’s electronic advertising board after Lehecka’s stunning backhand winner broke his serve at 5-5 in the third set, earning a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct from umpire Mohamed Lahyani, per Daily Mail. Draper, visibly in pain after the outburst, reflected post-match, “I’m always going to be hard on myself… I don’t think it’s a bad thing. That’s just the way I am, and it’s not going to change,” per Sportskeeda.

The 2-hour, 7-minute match saw Draper, who had risen to a career-high No. 4 after reaching the semifinals, struggle with 29 unforced errors and a critical double fault, while Lehecka’s 14 aces and 17 winners secured his first ATP 500 final, per ATP Tour. Fan reactions on X were mixed, with @TennisFanaticUK slamming Draper’s behavior as “unacceptable,” while @DraperSupport urged leniency, citing his illness, per. Despite the loss, Draper’s run guarantees a top-four Wimbledon seed, avoiding Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz until the semifinals, per LTA. Lehecka faces Alcaraz in the final, per BBC Sport.