Jack Draper vs Brandon Nakashima LIVE!
Jack Draper produced a gritty performance to continue his run at Queen’s, battling to a narrow 6-4 5-7 6-4 victory over Brandon Nakashima. The Briton’s performance was far from perfect. He missed eight break points on the day, but recovered from his wobbles to set up a semi-final meeting with Jiri Lehecka, who knocked out Jacob Fearnley earlier in the day, and secure a top-four seeding for Wimbledon. The British No1, the only home contender still in the tournament, broke the world No32 Nakashima early in the first set and stayed neck-and-neck into the late stages of the second before squandering a final service game to tee up a similarly tense decider, which would again be settled in its latter stages.
He is keeping his feet on the ground ahead of Wimbledon, though, saying the seeding, which guarantees he cannot meet Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz until at least the semi-finals, means little to him.
“I've got to get to the semis first,” he pointed out. “That isn't guaranteed.”
Draper vs Nakashima latest news
- Draper leads in the deciding set
- Nakashima hits back
- Draper closes out set one
- Early break for Draper
- Match start: ~1:30pm
- How to watch: BBC
Draper heads to Wimbledon as fourth seed after downing Nakashima
16:45 , Arthur FerridgeJack Draper produced a gritty performance to continue his run at Queen’s, battling to a narrow 6-4 5-7 6-4 victory over Brandon Nakashima.
The Briton’s performance was far from perfect. He missed eight break points on the day, but recovered from his wobbles to set up a semi-final meeting with Jiri Lehecka, who knocked out Jacob Fearnley earlier in the day, and secure a top-four seeding for Wimbledon.
The British No1, the only home contender still in the tournament, broke the world No32 Nakashima early in the first set and stayed neck-and-neck into the late stages of the second before squandering a final service game to tee up a similarly tense decider, which would again be settled in its latter stages.
He is keeping his feet on the ground ahead of Wimbledon, though, saying the seeding, which guarantees he cannot meet Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz until at least the semi-finals, means little to him.
GAME, SET, MATCH: *Draper (6-4) (5-7) 6-4 Nakashima
16:12 , Arthur FerridgeDraper wobbles in his final service game, but battles back to progress in the tournament.
He quickly fell to a 30-0 deficit, before answering back with another snappy ace to pull himself back into contention.
Nakashima then hit a powerful smash to force a pair of break points, but Draper dug in, yelling in celebration after recovering to deuce.
He aced on his second serve to set up a first match point, and, after missing so many break points earlier in the match, converted at the first time of asking to move on to the final four.
Draper (6-4) (5-7) 5-4 Nakashima*
16:04 , Arthur FerridgeNakashima shakes off the blow of Draper’s previous break and holds his serve.
He is not going down without a fight, but Draper will now serve for the win.
*Draper (6-4) (5-7) 5-3 Nakashima
16:01 , Arthur FerridgeThat is precisely what the doctor ordered. Draper holds serve at pace, and bears an expression of confident defiance as he looks to close out the game.
If that body language was telling, so too is that of Nakashima, whose shoulders have noticeably slumped. He will serve to stay in the match.
BREAK: Draper (6-4) (5-7) 4-3 Nakashima*
15:58 , Arthur FerridgeDraper picks his moment and takes the lead late in the third set!
He takes the lead at 40-15, and thinks he has won it with a well-hit diagonal ball, but his celebrations are curtailed by the digital umpire.
It is second time lucky for the British No1, though, as he catches Nakashima wrong-footed and finishes with a rifled forehand.
Time to get this one over the line.
*Draper (6-4) (5-7) 3-3 Nakashima
15:54 , Arthur FerridgeThe British No1 looks to be finding his groove again here.
He leads at 30-0 and can be seen quietly congratulating himself, before hitting a pair of quick aces to close out the game.
The challenge now, though, will be to overcome Nakashima’s serve, something he has not managed to do for close to two hours.
Draper (6-4) (5-7) 2-3 Nakashima*
15:50Nakashima holds his serve to love in a game which lasted barely three minutes.
*Draper (6-4) (5-7) 2-2 Nakashima
15:48 , Arthur FerridgeThe crowd are really willing Draper forward here.
He hits the net with an awkward backhand to give Nakashima an early in in this game, but recovers to hold his serve to 15 to a spirited round of applause.
It remains all square in the third set here at Queen’s.
Draper (6-4) (5-7) 1-2 Nakashima*
15:45 , Arthur FerridgeNakashima continues to ride the wave and holds his serve again.
There is still so little to separate this pair as the second set wears on.
*Draper (6-4) (5-7) 1-1 Nakashima
15:41 , Arthur FerridgeWith his first serve of the third set, Draper fires a 124mph serve straight down the middle, and all Nakashima can do with that is say ‘fair enough’.
He answers back with a sweet drop shot to equalise, before Draper pulls back ahead with another ace.
After an intervening double fault, he closes out the game to 30.
The fans have not been terribly lively today, as they were for Raducanu last week, but that winner gets a solid round of applause.
Draper (6-4) (5-7) 0-1 Nakashima*
15:38This is all or nothing now, and Draper is well aware. He battles back from 30-0 to tie the game, but cannot apply any more pressure than that.
Nakashima pulls through to close out the first game.
Draper (6-4) (5-7) 0-0 Nakashima*
15:34 , Arthur FerridgeNakashima serves to kick off the decider.
BREAK, SET: *Draper (6-4) 5-7 Nakashima
15:32There will be no tiebreaker here. Nakashima comes up trumps at exactly the right time.
Draper opens this final service game with an ace before promptly falling to a 40-15 deficit.
Nakashima squanders his first of two set points, but Draper misses to hand him the set.
Draper (6-4) 5-6 Nakashima*
15:27That tiebreaker is really looming large now. Another brace of untouchable aces mean Nakashima has again held his serve, and Draper will serve to stay in the set.
The American has already hit 12 aces today.
*Draper (6-4) 5-5 Nakashima
15:24Another rapid hold from Draper goes into the history books, taking us to five all.
This set, and this match as a whole, could be decided by a tiebreak sooner rather than later.
Draper (6-4) 4-5 Nakashima*
15:20 , Arthur FerridgeThe heat, fast approaching 30 degrees, looks to be affecting both players here. We are starting to see a marked increase in clumsy unforced errors.
Nakashima hits into the net from close range to tie the game at 30 all, but Draper cannot capitalise, and looks frustrated about it as he sits back down for a break.
*Draper (6-4) 4-4 Nakashima
15:17 , Arthur FerridgeThat is the closest we have come to a break point for quite some time, as Nakashima takes two, yes two, points out of Draper’s latest service game.
The Briton recovers well, though, and we remain on serve through eight games in the second set. There is little to separate this pair.
Draper (6-4) 3-4 Nakashima*
15:12 , Arthur FerridgeBusiness as usual from Nakashima, who hardly blinks as he blitzes his own service game, again failing to drop a point.
*Draper (6-4) 3-3 Nakashima
15:10 , Arthur FerridgeAs now seems to be in fashion, it is another simple hold for Draper.
There is little to report from the game, which leaves us at three apiece in the second set.
Who will blink first?
Draper (6-4) 2-3 Nakashima*
15:06 , Arthur FerridgeThat may well be Nakashima’s most comfortable service game of the afternoon.
He cruises through to a straightforward hold, dropping just the one point.
*Draper (6-4) 2-2 Nakashima
15:03 , Arthur FerridgeThe heat, which is considerable by west London standards, seems to be getting to Draper here. He just looks a little bit leggy.
Nakashima is presented a chance to break, but Draper comes back from behind to tie the affair at deuce.
And he pulls another ace out of the bag to hold his serve.
Draper (6-4) 1-2 Nakashima*
14:57We remain on serve in the second set as Nakashima cruises through his hold.
There is a slight blip as he misses an easy finisher beyond the baseline, but he recovers in short order.
*Draper (6-4) 1-1 Nakashima
14:54 , Arthur FerridgeDraper’s first serve of the second set is in stark contrast to Nakashima’s marathon bout last time around.
The Briton drops one point in an expedited tie.
Draper (6-4) 0-1 Nakashima*
14:51 , Arthur FerridgeWinning the first set seems to have given Draper something of a shot in the arm here - he comes into the second set with some gusto, fighting through some lengthy points as he looks to force Nakashima into a mistake.
But the American holds on, just about, converting his first service game of the second set despite Draper’s best efforts.
The game is epitomised by one mammoth point in which Draper gassed out with gut-busting cross-court sprints, rescuing a handful of seemingly impossible shots, but did not quite manage to take the spoils.
Draper (6-4) 0-0 Nakashima*
14:46 , Arthur FerridgeNo rest for the weary. We are back underway.
SET: *Draper 6-4 Nakashima
14:44 , Arthur FerridgeAfter suffering his first major stumble of the afternoon, falling to 40-0, Draper recovers to close out the first set.
The first of three break points goes the way of Draper after a lengthy rally.
The second falls to the Briton after a similarly extended rally, ending with a classy drop shot before he aces to force deuce.
Nakashima rescues yet another set point from Draper’s first advantage, and he again holds on for the second.
It is third time lucky, though, as he aces to tie up the first set.
Draper 5-4 Nakashima*
14:35Nakashima is beginning to get frustrated here. Leading the game 30-15, he has Draper caught in the corner on his heels, and is presented a gilt-edge chance to finish his point at the net.
He misses a routine drop-shot, though, to take the game to 30-30, from where Draper won again to force a first set point, which he failed to convert.
Draper led from deuce, but again failed to convert the set point. From deuce #2, he bent a stunning forehand finisher around Nakashima to force a third set point, but again it went begging.
Nakashima eventually got his act together and closed out the game by way of an unforced Draper error.
*Draper 5-3 Nakashima
14:27 , Arthur FerridgeAnother largely routine hold from Draper, who is serving with impressive precision. He lashes an ace past Nakashima, which the American tries in vain to return.
There were no rallies to speak of in that game. Draper is in a high gear and cruising towards a first-set win.
Draper 4-3 Nakashima*
14:24Nakashima’s latest serve is in stark contrast to Draper’s. He holds his serve to love, converting the game in just a couple of minutes.
*Draper 4-2 Nakashima
14:22 , Arthur FerridgeWe have a game on our hands.
Nakashima shoots out of the gates in this game, flying to a 15-40 advantage, but, similar to his opponent, cannot convert the break points. Two confident points from Draper see him pull back to deuce.
He hits a cross-court finisher narrowly wide at the first advantage, before shooting wide to hand Nakashima a third chance to break.
The game was again extended, though, as Draper recovered with an excellent point at the net. He again went ahead, again shot wide, and we moved to deuce four.
And at long last, Nakashima hits into the net to allow Draper to hold his serve after a ten-minute game. That will be a frustrating one for the American.
Draper 3-2 Nakashima*
14:12 , Arthur FerridgeDraper is hitting some remarkable shots here.
As if to sum up Nakashima’s afternoon so far, Draper hits an incredible backhand finisher to pull ahead in the game, doing the same with his forehand to tee up two break points.
But the American recovers, pulling back to deuce and winning the advantage at the first time of asking. Draper’s conversion rate on the break points thus far today is unenviable.
*Draper 3-1 Nakashima
14:08 , Arthur FerridgeDraper extends his advantage to two, converting his serve in unproblematic fashion.
Nakashima is struggling with his returns, twice firing long as he failed to respond to Draper’s shots.
BREAK: Draper 2-1 Nakashima*
14:02 , Arthur FerridgeThe first break point of the afternoon falls to Draper, but he cannot convert it, spending the point on the back foot after struggling to return Nakashima’s well-hit serve.
From deuce, the American hits a tidy ace but fails to close the game out. He claims the second advantage, too, but misses a drop shot finisher to return to a third deuce.
Draper goes ahead for a second break point of the game, but again fails to return Nakashima’s serve.
It is third time lucky for the Briton, though, who picks up an early lead.
*Draper 1-1 Nakashima
13:54 , Arthur FerridgeAnything Nakashima can do, Draper can do better. The American lost just one point in his opening service game, the Briton drops none.
He announced himself to the court with an ace on his first serve of the day, hopefully setting the tone for the afternoon.
Draper 0-1 Nakashima*
13:51 , Arthur FerridgeA straightforward opener from Nakashima, who drops just one point as he claims his first game of the day.
MATCH START: Draper 0-0 Nakashima
13:49 , Arthur FerridgeWe are underway at Queen’s! Nakashima takes on the first service game, and wins the first point of the day.
Draper wins the toss
13:43 , Arthur FerridgeDraper gets an early victory on the board after correctly calling the coin toss.
The players are here!
13:40 , Arthur FerridgeThe British No1 Draper and Nakashima take to the court, both dressed in burgundy.
Draper, a native of SW London, unsurprisingly has the crowd on his side.
It will be game time here shortly.
Down goes Fearnley
13:30Lehecka downs Fearnley in straight sets 7-5 6-2.
That clears the Andy Murray Arena for Draper and Nakashima, which will be underway very soon.
Don’t go anywhere!
Fearnley broken
13:22 , Arthur FerridgeDraper and Nakashima could be underway sooner rather than later.
Lehecka is up a break in the second set, and requires just two more game wins to close out the match.
It isn’t quite happening for the Scot today.
Fearnley down one set
13:13 , Arthur FerridgeJacob Fearnley’s Queen’s Club campaign is in jeopardy here - he loses the first set to Lehecka 7-5.
He is on serve in the second, though.
Draper overcomes mistakes to beat Popyrin
13:08 , Arthur FerridgeDraper recaps his win over Popyrin: “I have always been a really good competitor. That’s something I pride myself on: trying my absolute best for every point whenever I play.
“I think that comes from when I was younger. I think I have an older brother that helps with that. I was lucky enough to have coaches who made me very competitive as well.
“I played up as well, so I was always quite small, and I had to fight hard for every point if I wanted to make any headway in the match.
“I think I have always had that, and I think that’s one of my biggest strengths, to be honest. Especially on a day like today where I wasn’t my best, wasn’t feeling my best, but I came through and I gave myself another chance.”
Head to head
12:59 , Arthur FerridgeToday will be the fourth meeting between Draper and Nakashima.
Draper won their first meeting in 2023, an indoor hard-court match in Bergamo, 6-1 3-6 7-5.
In professional ties, the spoils are at one apiece. Nakashima knocked Draper out in the semi-finals at the Next Gen ATP Finals, before Draper got his own back at Stuttgart, their only meeting on grass, winning 6-3 6-3 before going on to win the tournament as a whole.
Draper wins: 2
Nakashima wins: 1
Checking in on Fearnley
12:49 , Arthur FerridgeJack Draper and Brandon Nakashima cannot play until Jacob Fearnley and Jiri Lehecka can clear the court.
As things stand, they are on serve in the first set. Fearnley leads 5-4, while Lehecka leads in the game.
Standard Sport's prediction
12:43 , Arthur FerridgeJack Draper is in the midst of what is quite comfortably the best season of his career, and the stars are aligning for him to launch a serious assault at Wimbledon.
To win Queen’s in the build-up would be the perfect preparation.
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, though. There is plenty of tennis yet to be played before we can start thinking about majors.
But with Wimbledon close on the horizon and the home crowd at his back, there is little to suggest he will stumble today.
Draper to win, 6-4 6-4
Nakashima's tournament so far
12:37 , Arthur FerridgeBrandon Nakashima enjoyed a dramatic opening round as he faced the Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
It was a three-set affair featuring one marathon tie breaker, ultimately ending 6-7(12) 7-6(7) 6-4.
His round of 16 was rather more straightforward, though, as he beat Dan Evans 7-5 7-6(7), ending the Briton’s fairytale run after he upset Francis Tiafoe in his opener.
Draper's tournament so far
12:29 , Arthur FerridgeJack Draper’s Queen’s Club run has not been entirely straightforward.
He downed America’s Jenson Brooksby 6-3 6-1 in his tournament opener, but required all three to beat Australia’s Alexei Popyrin on Wednesday.
He fell in the first set there, but rallied back to win 3-6 6-2 7-6(5).
How to watch Draper vs Nakashima
12:22 , Arthur FerridgeTV channel: In the UK, live free-to-air coverage of the action at Queen’s Club begins today at 1pm BST on BBC Two, continuing through to 6pm.
Live stream: You can also watch all the matches live online via the BBC Sport website and BBC iPlayer.
Live blog: Of course, you can follow all the action live right here with Standard Sport!
What time will Draper vs Nakashima start?
12:15 , Arthur FerridgeDraper vs Nakashima will take place today, Friday, June 20, 2025.
The match has been scheduled as second in the Andy Murray Arena, after Jacob Fearnley vs Jiri Lehecka, with players likely to walk out onto the court at approximately 1.30pm BST.
Good afternoon!
12:07 , Arthur FerridgeHello, and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Jack Draper vs Brandon Nakashima in the Queen’s Club Championship quarter-final.
Follow along here for minute-by-minute updates and all the latest news.
