Jack Draper reveals double injury scare as he wins his opening Queen’s Club match

Kevin Palmer 17 Jun 2025 5:22 PM

Jack Draper celebrates winning at Queen's

Jack Draper has revealed he had two injury scares prior to his opening match at the Queen’s Club, as he revealed he suffered a ‘heavy fall’ in the build-up to the tournament.

The British No 1 is the second seed at this year’s HSBC Championships and he looked in good form as he sealed a 6-3, 6-1 win over American Jenson Brooksby.

The 23-year-old is tipped to enjoy a big grass court season after a year that has seen him rise into the top four of the ATP Rankings and win his first ATP Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells.

Yet Draper admitted in an honest press conference that he feared he had picked up an injury in the days before his opening match at the London tournament.

“Last week in training I had a little niggle,” he stated. “I had to have a break for a couple of days to see it through. I was training on the courts here and took a really heavy fall. I was limping around for a day or so.

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“But it wasn’t anything that was going to keep me from playing. I got out there today and I felt really good. I’m happy with that. Really happy, because, yeah, you never know how serious something is going to be.

Yesterday I trained and I felt good. Then today I was just fine. Happy with that, and that’s not any concern to me from now on.”

Draper also spoke about the expectations on his shoulders, as he heads into the British grass court season as the big hope for the home fans and insisted he is not worrying about those hyping up his chances to win Queen’s and then Wimbledon.

“To be honest, there is enough stresses and enough things going on. I’m focused on my preparation all the time and focused on other things,” he said.

“Does it enter my mind obviously that I’m highly ranked and that I am probably in that position? Of course. You know, and I obviously, like anyone would do, feel that a little bit, but I also take it in my stride.

“I feel like since I was a young guy, I have always wanted to be at the top of the game, and I knew eventually that would come with it. I feel confident, happy. I feel this is exactly where I want to be, regardless of any external noise.

“That’s where I want to be. I know that comes with certain things, but that’s okay, because I’ve got great people around me, like I have always said.

“I’m always improving. And to obviously play at home, as well, that helps. I remember Andy always saying that, to him, it’s obviously more pressure playing at home and stuff, but at the same time, you’ve got the crowd with you, you have your people around.

“I just don’t think about it too much, and I feel happy to be in this position.”

Draper will take on Australia’s Alexei Popyrin in his second match at the Queen’s Club on Wednesday.