On June 21, 2025, British No. 1 Jack Draper, ranked world No. 4, lost his composure during a tense 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 defeat to Jiri Lehecka in the Queen’s Club Championships semifinals, smashing his racket against a sponsor’s electronic advertising board and wincing in pain, per Daily Mail. The incident occurred after Lehecka’s brilliant backhand winner broke Draper’s serve at 5-5 in the third set, prompting the 23-year-old to vent his frustration by striking the board, an action that appeared to jolt his hand, causing him to grimace, per Express. Umpire Mohamed Lahyani issued a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct, warning Draper, who was also battling tonsillitis, per The Telegraph.
Draper, under pressure as the home favorite, had fought back to level the match after losing the first set, but his 29 unforced errors, including a critical double fault at 5-5, and Lehecka’s 14 aces proved decisive in the 2-hour, 7-minute clash, per ATP Tour. The outburst, captured by Sky Sports, drew mixed reactions on X, with @MailSport noting, “Draper’s emotions got the better of him,” while @TennisFanatic7 sympathized, citing the physical toll, per. Despite the loss, Draper’s run secured a top-four Wimbledon seed, avoiding Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz until the semifinals, per LTA. Lehecka, the first Czech finalist at Queen’s since 1990, faces either Alcaraz or Roberto Bautista Agut next, per BBC Sport.
