Jack Draper disclosed his battle with tonsillitis following a tough loss to Jiri Lehecka in the semi-finals of the Queen’s Club Championship.
The British No. 1 secured fourth seed status at Wimbledon due to his performance in the tournament, but missed out on a final clash with Carlos Alcaraz, falling 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 to Lehecka.
Draper learned about his tonsillitis on Friday, yet he never considered withdrawing from the competition. “I haven’t felt well all week,” he noted. “I’m proud of how I handled things under the circumstances, but it’s tough because, in a professional sport, you have to perform regardless of how you feel.”
“You’re expected to entertain and compete, and nobody cares why you might feel unwell. I went out there and did my best, which I’m proud of,” he explained. Despite feeling at his worst during the match, Draper had no thoughts of pulling out, stating that he would play even with a serious injury.
He attributed his defeat to a superior player and acknowledged that Lehecka performed better in crucial moments, particularly in serving. A poor service game at the beginning hindered Draper, who struggled to gain momentum throughout the match.
Draper fought back in the second set and created opportunities to break Lehecka’s serve, yet failed to convert. Tension mounted as both players missed chances to gain an advantage, but ultimately, Draper was broken late in the third set, leading to a disappointing end for the British star.
Lehecka’s victory marks a continued wait for a British winner at Queen’s since Andy Murray in 2016, while he made history as the first Czech finalist since Ivan Lendl. “It means a lot to me,” said Lehecka, who praised Draper’s competitive spirit.
