HSBC CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 21, 2025

Jack Draper

Queens Club

Press Conference

J. LEHECKA/J. Draper

6-4, 4-6, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Obviously this is not the result you were hoping for, Jack, but any positives that you can take away from this week at Queen's?

JACK DRAPER: Yeah, I mean, obviously my best result here. I lost to a better player today on the day. A couple of shots here and there, and at this level you obviously can't do that.

I felt like it was a solid week. I didn't play my best tennis, but at the same time, the improvements since last year, you know, I gave myself a chance of being in the final tomorrow. Didn't quite get over the line. That's tennis really.

So I look to keep on improving from here to hopefully do better at Wimby.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. You've shown your frustration at the end. Was that the frustration over the way you played or just the opportunity lost out there?

JACK DRAPER: A bit of everything, really. The way I sort of playing at times. Obviously the fact that, you know, I have worked so hard to get myself in that position. You know, I really tried to get myself up, get the energy going.

You know, when you see that ball go past you on that point, you know, it's very tough to see yourself breaking the next game, although I tried my best on that.

I don't condone obviously that behavior, but at the same time, that's kind of where I was at today. I was trying to use everything I could. I tried to compete every ball. But in the end, anger just spilled over a little bit too much.

Q. Did you hurt your knee when you did it?

JACK DRAPER: No, just a little graze.

Q. You sound a bit better than a couple of days ago, but did you have a bit of stomach trouble again during that match?

JACK DRAPER: No, no. Just some phlegm. Been battling some -- yeah, got tonsillitis. I haven't felt good all week. You know, I tried my best out there to get myself up for the matches and compete my hardest. I think part of that is my ups and downs in the matches. You know, I have been sort of trying to get myself up for each point.

When you're in that state, especially on the grass court against these guys who are serving and playing like that, a couple of loose points here and there, you know you're in big trouble.

I'm proud of the way I went about things, considering, you know, but it's tough, because you're in a position where you're in a professional sport. You're an entertainer, an athlete, and you have no choice. No one cares, you know. So you've just got to go out there and do the best you can. I'm proud of that. I gave myself a chance.

Q. Do you think about whether you're going to train right away or maybe give yourself a couple of days and shake the whole thing off?

JACK DRAPER: No, no, no. I'll definitely have some days, give myself a break for a few days. I definitely need that. My main goal is to go into Wimbledon as prepared as possible and as fresh as possible.

You know, I've got a week and a bit to do that. I think it's a real positive that I have been able to get four matches on the grass.

Q. With what happened at the end, was that a frustration that you kind of felt? Was it building just during this match or have you felt that building during the week because you haven't been able to find your best level for whatever reason?

JACK DRAPER: No, a little bit, like I said, you know, when you're not feeling great, when your energy is really low, you use everything you can to get yourself up. I'm almost getting angry to get fired up. When you do that, when you give everything you have, not just in tennis, like in anything, you're obviously a bit less mellow and playing a bit more on a tightrope. So when you try your best and things don't go your way, it's easy to spill over. That's what happened out there.

Like I said, I don't want to behave like that, in all honesty, but that's just the way I sort of am as a competitor. Sometimes I just play on a bit of a tightrope. I don't want to be behaving like that, yeah.

Q. You have talked about how you feel losses tougher now because you know what you're capable of. How do you digest a loss like this? Obviously a missed opportunity, but the end goal is Wimbledon, right? How do you keep those things in mind?

JACK DRAPER: Yeah, I mean, look, I'm obviously very gutted right now. You know, I gave myself a chance. I could have been out there tomorrow. You know, this is a tournament I have watched since I was young and always really motivated to come here.

I think it hurts a bit more because it's at home. Obviously it isn't the big one, but I play every match, you know, every match I lose, I take it really hard, you know. So especially here, as well.

So it will definitely take me a couple of days. Like all these losses, I just use it as fuel and as motivation to get better. Now have got to improve some things in the next week.

You know, I'm really happy, like I said, to be able to go up four matches on the grass. I think that's a real plus going into Wimbledon.

Q. When did you know you had tonsillitis? Was there any chance you might have had to withdraw from a match here?

JACK DRAPER: Yesterday. You know, it had been developing over the week. I have been trying to recover and stuff, but the body, when you have something like that, doesn't really want to play 2 hour 20 matches in the heat. You know, it's probably not good for you, so you're not going to feel better.

Yeah, I mean, today's probably the worst I have felt. Did I think about withdrawing? No, not at all. I'm in the semifinals at Queen's. I'd probably go on court with a broken leg. I wouldn't have pulled out for anything.

So I went out there, gave all I had, and I can be very proud of that. And also, it's not an excuse. It's just the way I feel, you know. I think I lost today because I lost to a better tennis player. He was better than me in the key moments. He served better. I think he was a bit braver at times.

While I'm really, really proud of my efforts, but at the same time, obviously gutted with the loss.

Q. Obviously it was an expectant home crowd you have been playing in front of all week, and at Wimbledon it's going to be even more intense. What have you learned from this week from the pressure of playing at home? And how can you use those learnings to succeed at Wimbledon?

JACK DRAPER: Yeah, obviously there is a little bit of that, but at the same time, I have really felt the home support. I think it's got more every match I played, I felt like. That's something that really is an advantage and drives me on.

When I'm out there, I don't think about any of that. I've got a job in front of me. I've got to play point by point, and I'm not thinking about any pressures or anything like that.

I think it's a privilege to be in the position I'm in, and I'm going to go to Wimbledon and I'm going to feel amazing. I'm going to feel great about myself. I have come back there in the position that I have always wanted to be since I was a kid, and, you know, I'll prepare properly and I'll prepare the best I can to play some of my best tennis there. I think the home support that I have received is going to help me to do well.