Jack Draper will have headed into Queen’s this year with the title in his sights, but in the end, had to settle for a semi-final exit.
In the end, that was all he needed to accomplish his pre-Wimbledon mission of achieving a top-four seed.
However, the Brit quite clearly wanted more, exhibited by the demolition of his racquet during his defeat to Jiri Lehecka.
Since then, many have rushed to suggest that the 23-year-old might be buckling under the pressure of being the British number one, and the tidal wave of expectations that come with that title.
But, several things that Jack Draper has said over the last week suggest otherwise.
What has Jack Draper said about Wimbledon?
Clearly keen to offset that pressure, the youngster has spoken with remarkable maturity and intelligence whenever asked about being the British number one.
Speaking after that loss to Lehecka, he admitted: ‘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 behaviour, 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 spilt over a little bit too much.’
But then, Draper admitted his true feelings about Wimbledon: ‘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.’
Leon Smith loved what Draper said after beating Brandon Nakashima too, smartly alleviating expectations ahead of Wimbledon further.
And even Jacob Fearnley backed him up, claiming: ‘He was 5-5 in the third, and he obviously really wants to do well in front of the British fans and he got broken in a pretty crucial moment and Jiri was serving really good, so he probably thought that it was over.
‘And I also saw that he said he was feeling a bit sick so that’s going to have an effect on your mental state and I’m sure he just had a moment of weakness and lashed out, and that’s, I think it’s extremely normal.’
Jack Draper is ready for the pressure
Having spoken with intelligence to manage expectations, Draper seems more than ready for the pressure that entering Wimbledon as the British number one commands.
After all, 2025 has been a year of rapid growth for the Englishman, soaring to a career-best ranking and poised to challenge at the All-England Club.
His racquet smash in the semi-final is not indicative of an individual cracking under pressure, but rather an emotional player who cares about winning or losing.
After his Davis Cup match back in September, in a dead rubber match vs Felix Auger Aliassime, he once again smashed his racquet despite there being nothing on the line.
Draper is a fierce competitor, no matter the competition, and that attitude will carry him far in his career. Wimbledon will blend added pressure with wildly increased backing, and for the Brit, it should buoy him to prove the section of the media wrong who have suggested that he is not ready.
