In a dramatic showdown at the Queen’s Club Championships on June 21, 2025, British No. 1 Jack Draper fell short in a gripping semifinal against Jiri Lehecka, losing 6-4, 4-6, 7-5. The match, a rollercoaster of intense rallies and high stakes, saw the 23-year-old’s hopes of reaching his first Queen’s final dashed by the Czech star’s relentless serve and clutch shot-making. However, it was Draper’s explosive reaction in the match’s waning moments—smashing his racket into a digital advertising board, damaging it, and grazing his knee—that stole headlines, sparking fierce debate among fans and earning calls for a fine. Despite the controversy, Draper’s run to the semifinals secured him a career-high No. 4 ranking and a top-four seed at Wimbledon, offering a silver lining to a bittersweet defeat.
The Andy Murray Arena in West London was electric as Draper, battling tonsillitis, faced Lehecka, the world No. 30, in a two-hour, 20-minute thriller. Lehecka’s massive first serve, clocking near 140mph, and devastating forehand set the tone early. A careless double fault in the opening game gifted Lehecka a break, and the Czech cruised through the first set 6-4. Draper, struggling with low energy, admitted, “Today’s probably the worst I have felt,” revealing his illness had worsened throughout the week. Yet, his competitive fire burned bright. In the second set, he raised his first-serve percentage to 82%, landing a stunning flicked backhand cross-court winner to earn break points. At 5-4, a pinpoint winner down the line leveled the match, prompting rock legend Jon Bon Jovi, watching from the stands, to rise in applause as “Livin’ on a Prayer” echoed during the changeover.
The third set was a tense battle, with both players holding serve until 5-5. Lehecka’s composure shone as he unleashed a searing backhand winner to break Draper, who, in a moment of raw frustration, pounded his racket into a Dunlop-sponsored LED screen, disabling a section and earning a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct. “I don’t condone that behaviour, but at the same time, that’s kind of where I was at today,” Draper said, acknowledging his intense competitive nature. “When you’re not feeling great, when your energy is really low, you use everything you can to get yourself up.” Lehecka held serve to seal his first grass-court final, becoming the first Czech finalist at Queen’s since Ivan Lendl in 1990. “It means a lot. You don’t meet a player like Jack every day, he’s an amazing competitor,” Lehecka said, praising the crowd’s fairness despite their support for Draper.
The outburst drew sharp criticism online. Fans on social media labeled Draper’s actions “unprofessional,” with one declaring, “Should be fined for the cost of the damage,” and another speculating, “I’m sure Dunlop, who sponsor him, is utterly delighted.” Some even called for a default, though the umpire’s code violation was the only penalty issued. Draper’s frustration was compounded by his health struggles, diagnosed with tonsillitis on Friday. “I’d probably go on court with a broken leg. I wouldn’t have pulled out for anything,” he said, emphasizing his determination to chase a childhood dream of winning Queen’s, a tournament he cherished since posing with the trophy at age 10.
Despite the loss, Draper’s week was a triumph. His victories over Alexei Popyrin and Brandon Nakashima in grueling three-setters showcased his resilience, earning him a favorable Wimbledon seeding to avoid top players like Carlos Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner until the semifinals. Lehecka, meanwhile, advanced to face Alcaraz in the final, buoyed by his eighth career Top-10 win. As Draper shifts focus to Wimbledon, his Queen’s campaign—marred by a moment of temper but defined by grit—signals a bright future for Britain’s rising star, even if it comes with a lesson in composure.
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