Draper seals top-four ranking and semi-finals spot with victory over Nakashima at Queen’s
The Briton edged out Brandon Nakashima 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 in a close encounter in London. He’ll play Jiri Lehecka in the last four
Jack Draper, Queens, 2025 © Action Plus / Psnewz
British No 1 Jack Draper has earned a valuable fourth seeding at Wimbledon by overcoming a tenacious effort from Brandon Nakashima, defeating the American 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 to reach the semi-finals of Queen’s for the first time in his career.
In-form and playing in front of his home fans in the British capital, Draper faced his sternest challenge of the tournament so far as he came up against a highly-accomplished grass-court competitor in Nakashima.
On a hot and humid day in West London, a typically serve-dominated grass-court encounter was made even more so by an especially dry and quick-playing court.
Draper earned the sole break of the opening set in the third game, smothering Nakashima’s service with intimidating returns full of depth and pace to seal the breakthrough.
That break proved to be pivotal, as the Briton successfully held serve until the close of the set. But he was made to work for it by the American.
Draper was unable to convert three set points on his opponent’s serve in the ninth game before saving three break points of his own in the next en route to holding serve, eventually clinching the first set on his sixth set point.
The second set was again a case of who blinks first on serve. After eleven straight holds, it was Nakashima who made the decisive move in the twelfth game, finally breaking Draper’s serve on his second set point to clinch the middle stanza and send the contest to a deserved decider.
A tense third set followed, with it becoming increasingly clear that a momentary lapse from either man would likely decide the outcome. And so it proved to be the case, with Draper seizing on the moment in the seventh game to nudge a break up.
A couple of games later, and the Briton saved two break points before serving out a hard-fought win to reach the last four and earn that milestone No 4 ranking – much to the delight of the London crowd.
top-four seeding significant for draper at wimbledon
Landing inside the world’s top four means that Draper cannot meet the world No 1 or 2 until the semi-finals at SW19. In real terms, that means he avoids Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz until at least the last four.
For Draper, though, the focus is less on his seeding for Wimbledon and more so on dealing with each match as it comes.
“I keep on getting asked about top four seeding but I have to get to the semis first,” he told the crowd on Andy Murray Arena following victory.
“To get to that position is an incredible feeling. It is testament to the work me and my team have done and I am proud of that.
“The support I’ve received this week has been amazing. I am used to battling on the grass but to be in the semi-final here is something I’ve wanted since I was a kid, so it means everything to me.
“I think at times I’ve not played some great tennis and in those moments I’ve just tried to believe in myself and I think that is where the confidence has come from. Hopefully, I can carry onto the next round and get better.”
Draper will face another stern test tomorrow when he takes on the considerable talent that is Czech Jiri Lehecka for a place in a career-first final at Queen’s.
