Wimbledon: Jack Draper falls short at Queen's but secures fourth seed for SW19
Ben Smith 
It might not have been quite the week Jack Draper was hoping for on home turf, but he took a big step forward towards his Wimbledon dream at Queen's last week.
Draper lost in the semi-finals but did enough to claim fourth seeding ahead of the third Grand Slam of the year, and will head to SW19 as the fourth favourite with online betting sites to lift the title.
Free Bets tennis writer Ben Smith has had a closer look at how Draper looked at Queen's last week.
Jack Draper's first grasscourt tournament of 2025 ended in a semi-final loss to Jiri Lehecka, but the British number one did enough to climb to fourth in the ATP rankings, securing a top-four seeding for Wimbledon.
The 23-year-old won three matches at Queen’s Club, quickly seeing off Jenson Brooksby in round one before coming from behind to defeat the powerful Alexei Popyrin in the round of 16.
Draper’s quarter-final triumph over Brandon Nakashima ensured that he would return to his career-high ranking. As a result, he would avoid Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz until the semi-final stage at the All England Club, should he get that far.
Physical setbacks have frequently hindered Draper throughout his career, with everything from hip tendinitis and shoulder strains to acute illnesses and on‑court fatigue proving problematic.
At Queen’s, it was tonsillitis that prevented Draper from being at full throttle. “I have not been feeling well any day,” he said.
“I did my best to get through each match, some of which were very tough. That explains some ups and downs I had this week, but it is normal when you have to face these guys who serve and play so well.
“I am proud of the position I took. I think I was very professional, as an athlete, I had no other choice. No one cares about what happens to you off the court; you have to hold it together out there and do the best you can. That is why I am proud, for giving myself the opportunity."
Missing out on a Queen’s final showdown with Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz was a disappointment for Draper, but he still gained crucial grasscourt sharpness, and with a week’s rest, he heads to SW19 ready and recharged.
As for Alcaraz, he used his week in West London to smooth out some serving issues and reminded everyone why he's co-favourite on tennis betting sites to prevail at SW19 for a third consecutive year.
Since losing to Draper in round two at Queen’s last June, Alcaraz is unbeaten on grass, racking up a dozen victories.
Draper also had success against the Spaniard en route to winning the Indian Wells title in March. With a level head-to-head record over the past 12 months, the man from Sutton will feel he has every chance if he encounters Alcaraz over the next few weeks.
He also holds a win on grass over Sinner, albeit back in 2021, before the Italian transformed into the relentless winning machine he is today. The pair have only met one further time, in the 2024 US Open semi-finals, when Sinner came out on top in straight sets.
In the outright betting market, Novak Djokovic is the only player separating Draper from the top two favourites. The Serb hasn’t won a Grand Slam since the 2023 US Open, but claimed Olympic gold last year and can’t be discounted as he chases a 25th major title.
Djokovic won the pair’s only meeting back in 2021, but Draper has come a long way since, evolving from a promising talent into a genuine Grand Slam contender.
Ben Smith will be providing his pre-tournament tennis betting tips following the Wimbledon draw this week, for both the men's and the women's draws.
