Jack Draper admitted climbing into the world’s top four was a “huge step” but insisted it means no guarantees of success at Wimbledon.
Draper ensured he will be the fourth seed at SW19 after reaching the semi-finals at Queen’s Club for the first time.
The British number one battled past American Brandon Nakashima 6-4 5-7 6-4 on the Andy Murray Arena.
Draper is now two wins away from becoming only the second home men’s singles winner in the Open era – after the man in whose honour the court is named.
YEEESSSS!! @jackdraper0 is a semi-finalist at the #HSBCChampionships for the first time ❤️🔥#BackTheBrits 🇬🇧 | @QueensTennis pic.twitter.com/ynfGUdvLaq
— LTA (@the_LTA) June 20, 2025
But more importantly, Draper has moved above Novak Djokovic and Taylor Fritz in the world rankings to a career-high of four.
That means at Wimbledon, the 23-year-old can avoid Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, the world numbers one and two respectively, until the semi-finals.
“I’ve got to get to the semis first,” he smiled, before adding: “I think it’s a definite huge step for me.
“I remember last year going in ranked around 30 or 40. To be inside the top four one year around, that’s massive progress, a testament to my team, the dedication I have had for tennis, the work I have put in on a daily basis.
“You know, I live and breathe the sport, and I’m obsessed with progressing and obsessed with becoming the player that I want to become all the time and achieve the things I want to.
“It’s another step in the right direction. At Wimbledon, regardless of seeding, each match is very difficult, because obviously you’ve got loads of top players in the draw, a bit like this week.
“But it gives me confidence knowing I’m in that position and I’m going to be in the right place for that.”
In the semi-finals Draper will face Czech world number 30 Jiri Lehecka, who ended Jacob Fearnley’s promising debut run.
The British number two looked heavy-legged in an error-strewn 7-5 6-2 defeat.
Fearnley was scheduled to play the opening match despite a gruelling three-setter against Corentin Moutet the day before, followed by a win in the doubles – alongside Cameron Norrie – over Lehecka and Fritz.
“Obviously if I’d known I was going to be put on first the day after playing a long match in 32 degrees and playing another doubles match late at night, then I probably wouldn’t have played doubles,” he said.
“It’s just difficult to predict those things sometimes. It’s just about being smart about it, really.”
Top seed, top form 🥇@QueensTennis | #HSBCChampionships | @carlosalcaraz pic.twitter.com/9K6l47y9Yo
— ATP Tour (@atptour) June 20, 2025
Top seed Alcaraz eased through to the other semi-final after beating Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech 7-5 6-4.
Alcaraz, who spent almost three and a half hours on court on Thursday beating fellow Spaniard Jaume Munar, said: “I could feel better but honestly I thought I would be feeling worse than I am right now.
“But as tennis players we have to do what we have to do and that’s to recover and play the next day. I am glad today was one hour and 20 minutes.”
Alcaraz will meet another Spaniard, Roberto Bautista Agut, after the 37-year-old knocked out fourth seed Holger Rune in three sets.
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