Carlos Alcaraz vs Roberto Bautista Agut live: Queen’s tennis scores and results after Draper crashes out
Top seed Carlos Alcaraz fought past Roberto Bautista Agut to book his place in the final after Jack Draper crashed out to Jiri Lehecka
Jack Draper‘s dreams of a home final came to an end at the hands of fellow rising star Jiri Lehecka as the big-serving Czech stormed to victory semi-final victory at Queen’s Club.
Lehecka became the first Czech finalist since Ivan Lendl 35 years ago after a 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 victory, a tough loss for Draper on home soil as he angrily smashed his racket, damaging a digital advertising hoarding as the match slipped away.
It was nevertheless a successful tournament for the British No 1, whose run to the last four guaranteed him a top four seeding at Wimbledon, meaning he’ll avoid playing big guns Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner until at least the semi-finals at SW19.
Talking of Alcaraz, the Queen’s top seed booked his place in the final at Queen’s as he dispatched compatriot Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 6-4 in the second semi-final of the day.
Follow the action from Queen’s Club with The Independent
*Jack Draper 4-6, 1-1 Jiri Lehecka
Draper needs to find a way to get the Lehecka first serve back to at least force a proper point to be played. Easy to say, of course, far harder to do.
He does a decent job of that in this second game of the second set and forces 30-30.
A superb return of a rocket Lehecka first serve but Lehecka pulls out a drop-shot winner on the stretch to bring up game point. That earns a fist pump from the Czech and he seals the hold on the following point.
Jack Draper 4-6, 1-0 Jiri Lehecka*
The crowd are really trying to urge Draper on here. He wins the first couple of points and there is supportive applause and cheers for the Brit.
In the end it’s a regulation hold to 15. A good start to the second set. He was broken in the first game of the match but looked solid after that, so there’s still plenty of hope
*Jack Draper 4-6, 0-0 Jiri Lehecka
Can Draper shake off that first set and get a foothold in this match? If he wants to reach the final, he’ll have to do it the hard way
SET! Jack Draper 4-6 Jiri Lehecka - LEHECKA WINS THE FIRST SET
A seventh Lehecka ace matches Draper’s first-set total and builds a 30-0 advantage for the underdog.
The Brit does win the next point by patiently staying in a rally and seeing his opponent go long but a netted return brings up two set points for Lehecka.
And it’s there! Lehecka goes deep and Draper squirts a backhand wide. JIRI LEHECKA WINS THE FIRST SET 6-4
Jack Draper 4-5 Jiri Lehecka*
Cleaner, much cleaner from Draper. He moves 30-0 ahead and then whips that lefty forehand just inside the baseline for another winner.
A two-handed backhanded is just out of the reach of a scrambling Lehecka and that’s a hold to love. Perfect preparation ahead of a final chance to stay in this first set - he must break his Czech opponent in this next game to avoid losing it.
*Jack Draper 3-5 Jiri Lehecka
Lehecka is finally giving Draper a look at some second serves and the Brit at last has a sniff at 15-30.
Two monstrous aces from the Czech put him back in charge at game point though and he comes forward to power an unreturnable forehand to hold serve once more. He’s now just a game away from winning the first set.
Jack Draper 3-4 Jiri Lehecka*
Brilliant touch from Lehecka, floating a finessed backhand winner all the way across the court, dropping it just over he net. Ooohs and claps from the Queen’s crowd.
Draper reels off the next three points though and then overcomes another double fault to notch another important hold. Still just the one break down.
Can he finally have a proper go at the Lehecka serve now?
*Jack Draper 2-4 Jiri Lehecka
There is no chance for Draper on Lehecka’s serve at the moment. He surges through another hold and needs just two more to lock down this opening set now.
Jack Draper 2-3 Jiri Lehecka*
Lehecka wins the first point on the Brit’s serve again but this time Draper bangs down two aces in response. However, a sloppy double fault makes it 30-30 for his third service game in a row.
This is stress you can’t keep fending off but on this occasion, the second seed does get over the line with another big first serve and then a crunched cross-court forehand. Most important thing is Draper gets the hold to remain just one break down
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