Jack Draper Loses Semi-final As Jiri Lehecka Wins, Sets Up Queen's Club Final Showdown Against Carlos Alcaraz

 

Jack Draper fails to make Queen's Club maiden final appearance following his semi-final defeat to Jiri Lehecka 

Jack Draper is out of the HSBC (Queen's Club) Championships, knocked out by Jiri Lehecka in an epic three sets by 6-4, 4-6, 7-5. 

Lehecka had to dig deeper to win against the Briton, who rallied in the second set,  but the tides turned when the Czech converted a break-point advantage at 5/5 in the third. Draper barely could hold back his frustration, smacking his racket on the grass-court. 

"I lost today because I lost to a better tennis player," Draper reflected. "He was better than me in the key moments. He served better. I think he was a bit braver at times." 

Draper was aiming for his second ATP tour-level title this season and could have made his debut final at Queen's Club. Rather, Leheckha seized the match victory to his first grass-court final, making him the first Czech player to reach the milestone at the tournament after Tomas Berdych, who did so at Wimbledon. 

In a separate match, Carlos Alcaraz won his semi-final match against Roberto Bautista Agut in straight sets by 6-4, 6-4. Carlos will be making his second final appearance at the tournament, after his 2023 debut final, which he won. He will face the Czechs in the final, marking their second head-to-head meeting.