On June 17, 2025, British No. 1 Jack Draper, ranked world No. 6, found himself in an unusual BBC interview moments after his commanding 6-3, 6-1 first-round win over Jenson Brooksby at the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club, per BBC Sport. The 23-year-old, playing on the newly named Andy Murray Arena, dominated with 93% first-serve points won and no break points faced, per ATP Tour. However, the post-match interview took a bizarre turn, drawing attention for its awkward exchange, as reported by fans and media on X, like @TennisBuzz, who called it “cringe-worthy,” per.
The interview, conducted by BBC’s John Lloyd, became notable when Lloyd fixated on Brooksby’s unorthodox serving style, describing it as “amateur” with the racket placed behind his neck, per The Sport Review. Draper, visibly caught off-guard, attempted to steer the conversation back to his performance, saying, “I was just focused on my game… it’s tricky coming off clay to grass,” but Lloyd persisted, asking, “Did his serve throw you at all?” per @BBCSport. Draper politely deflected, noting, “It’s different, but I adapted,” while appearing uncomfortable, per Tennishead. Fans on X, such as @GerdaPardiac, echoed Lloyd’s surprise, posting, “Who taught Brooksby that serve? It’s like the racket’s too heavy!” per.
The match itself was briefly halted in the second set due to a medical emergency in the crowd, adding to the day’s drama, with BBC cameras cutting away as medics attended to a spectator, per Motorcycle Sports. Draper, who wrote “Good to be home” on the camera lens post-match, also paid tribute to Andy Murray, joking, “Can’t get rid of this guy!” about the arena’s namesake, per BBC Sport. Despite a recent illness and a practice fall, Draper’s focus remained on his Wimbledon preparations, per LTA.
