Lehecka ruins script to beat Draper in Queen's semi-final

Tennis - Queen's Club Championships - Queen's Club, London, Britain - June 21, 2025 Czech Republic's Jiri Lehecka in action during his semi final match against Britain's Jack Draper Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra REUTERS
Tennis - Queen's Club Championships - Queen's Club, London, Britain - June 21, 2025 Britain's Jack Draper in action during his semi final match against Czech Republic's Jiri Lehecka Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra REUTERS
Tennis - Queen's Club Championships - Queen's Club, London, Britain - June 21, 2025 Czech Republic's Jiri Lehecka celebrates after winning his semi final match against Britain's Jack Draper Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra REUTERS
Tennis - Queen's Club Championships - Queen's Club, London, Britain - June 21, 2025 Czech Republic's Jiri Lehecka celebrates after winning his semi final match against Britain's Jack Draper Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra REUTERS
Tennis - Queen's Club Championships - Queen's Club, London, Britain - June 21, 2025 Czech Republic's Jiri Lehecka celebrates after winning his semi final match against Britain's Jack Draper Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra REUTERS
LONDON - Jiri Lehecka downed Britain's Jack Draper to ruin the script at Queen's Club on Saturday, winning a gripping semi-final 6-4 4-6 7-5 to become the first Czech man to reach an ATP grasscourt final for 15 years.
Fans packed into the Andy Murray Arena at the west London club had arrived expecting to cheer Draper, who will climb to fourth in the world rankings on Monday, into a likely final against Spain's Carlos Alcaraz.
But Lehecka, the world number 30, had other ideas as he produced a stunning display in stifling heat.
"It means a lot. You don't meet a player like Jack every day, he's an amazing competitor," Lehecka said.
Second seed Draper, bidding to follow in the footsteps of five-time Queen's champion Murray, dropped his opening service game and Lehecka barely a put a foot wrong as he took the first set in clinical fashion.
Left-hander Draper saved a break point early in the second set and then broke fellow 23-year-old Lehecka's serve for the first time in the 10th game to level the match.
Both players were rock solid on serve in the decider with Lehecka having the first chance of a break at 4-4 but Draper survived to pile the pressure on his opponent.
Lehecka did not flinch though and broke serve at 5-5 with two stunning passing shots, one a forehand and then a backhand, to leave Draper smashing his racket in rage against a court-side electronic advertising board and receiving a code violation.
There was still the small matter of holding serve to reach the final but Lehecka did that in style, roaring his delight after clinching his first victory against a top-10 player since beating Alcaraz in Doha in February.
The last Czech man to reach a top-level grass-court final was Tomas Berdych at Wimbledon in 2010 and the last to do so at Queen's was Ivan Lendl in 1990.
Alcaraz faces fellow Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut in the day's second semi-final. REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Straits Times

32 minutes ago

• Straits Times

Pope ton continues England revival after India lower order collapse

Cricket - International Test Match Series - First Test - England v India - Headingley Cricket Ground, Leeds, Britain - June 21, 2025 India's Rishabh Pant walks after losing his wicket by LBW, off the bowling of England's Josh Tongue Action Images via Reuters/Craig Brough REUTERS LEEDS, England - A superb unbeaten century from Ollie Pope helped drag England back into the first test against India at Headingley on Saturday, with the home side closing day two on 209-3, 262 runs behind the touring side. India were cruising late in the morning session on 430-3, only to be all out for 471, England taking the last seven wickets in an hour either side of lunch to give themselves hope of mounting a comeback following a disappointing day one. In reply, in more difficult, overcast conditions, test cricket's top ranked bowler Jasprit Bumrah struck to remove England opener Zak Crawley for four before Ben Duckett and Pope steadied the ship to the delight of the home crowd. Bumrah broke their 122-run second-wicket partnership when he bowled Duckett for 62, before Joe Root became the Indian dangerman's next victim moments after Pope had reached his second successive test ton. Root was caught at slip for 28 and Harry Brook was very fortunate to survive in the final over of the day when he was caught at mid-wicket off a Bumrah no ball, but Saturday nonetheless belonged to the home side. Resuming on 359-3, India captain Shubman Gill quickly moved past his highest test score. He was supported by the flamboyant Rishabh Pant as India took control in the morning session. Pant was sweeping and scooping to his heart's content, often ending up on his knees, fittingly moving to his seventh test ton with another six into the crowd, celebrated with a forward somersault. Gill fell for 147 chasing another maximum, while Pant's thrilling innings came to a halt when he was trapped lbw by Josh Tongue for 134. The wicket-keeper's dismissal sparked an Indian collapse as the visitors lost their last five wickets for just 18 runs. Bumrah then did his best to swing the test back in India's favour. After Crawley was caught in the slips, Duckett was dropped on 15 and survived a DRS review, both off the bowling of the Indian talisman. Another fine sweep shot took Duckett to his 14th test half century just before tea, before Bumrah got his reward for keeping England under pressure. Root was given out lbw on seven, a decision that was overturned following a DRS review, while Pope was dropped by opening day centurion Yashasvi Jaiswal when on 60. The joy from Pope's ninth test century was short-lived as Bumrah continued to cause problems. Root edged another ferocious bolt through to the slips, before Brook's fortunate reprieve after his poor shot looped into the air. Given where they started the day, England will take some comfort from how the proceedings ended. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

Straits Times

an hour ago

• Straits Times

In-form Carlos Alcaraz reaches Queen's final, Jiri Lehecka downs Jack Draper

LONDON - Carlos Alcaraz swept past fellow Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut on June 21 to stretch his winning streak and set up a Queen's Club final against Czech Jiri Lehecka. Top seed Alcaraz, 22, had too much firepower for his 37-year-old opponent during a 6-4 6-4 victory, his 17th successive win and the 250th of his career. British fans had hoped to witness a final showdown between Alcaraz and home favourite Jack Draper, but Lehecka ripped up that script with superb 6-4 4-6 7-5 defeat of the second seed. Lehecka, 23, is the first Czech man to reach a top level grasscourt final for 15 years. 'It means a lot. You don't meet a player like Jack every day, he's an amazing competitor,' Lehecka said. Alcaraz, Queen's champion in 2023, was stretched to the absolute limit against compatriot Jaume Munar earlier in the week during a tussle lasting more than three hours. But he was more comfortable against Bautista Agut, who provided stubborn resistance but never really looked like springing an upset on a sultry afternoon in west London. An early break of serve in each set proved sufficient for Alcaraz, who reached his fifth final in a row. 'I'm feeling I'm playing great tennis and feeling more comfortable,' said Alcaraz, who won his fifth Grand Slam title this month at the French Open. 'I love stepping on court and love playing with a smile on my face. That's why I'm making good results.' Lehecka silences crowd Earlier, world number 30 Lehecka silenced the crowd by beating Draper, whose run to the semi-finals means he will be seeded fourth at Wimbledon which starts on June 30. Second seed Draper, bidding to follow in the footsteps of five-times Queen's champion Andy Murray, dropped his opening service game and Lehecka barely a put a foot wrong as he took the first set in clinical fashion. Left-hander Draper saved a break point early in the second set and broke fellow 23-year-old Lehecka's serve for the first time in the 10th game to level the match. Both players were rock solid on serve in the decider with Lehecka having the first chance of a break at 4-4 but Draper survived to pile the pressure on his opponent. Lehecka did not flinch, though, and broke serve at 5-5 with two stunning passing shots, one a forehand and then a backhand, to leave Draper smashing his racket in rage against a court-side electronic advertising board and receiving a code violation. Lehecka still needed to hold his serve to reach the final and he did so in style, roaring his delight after clinching his first victory against a top-10 player since beating Alcaraz in Doha in February. The last Czech man to reach a top-level grasscourt final was Tomas Berdych at Wimbledon in 2010 and the last to do so at Queen's was Ivan Lendl in 1990. Draper said he would take a few days off to recover from tonsillitis. 'I'm proud of the way I went about things, considering, but it's tough,' Draper said. 'My main goal is to go into Wimbledon as prepared as possible and as fresh as possible.' REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

Straits Times

2 hours ago

• Straits Times

Pope ton continues England revival after India collapse

Cricket - International Test Match Series - First Test - England v India - Headingley Cricket Ground, Leeds, Britain - June 21, 2025 India's Rishabh Pant walks after losing his wicket by LBW, off the bowling of England's Josh Tongue Action Images via Reuters/Craig Brough REUTERS LEEDS, England - A superb unbeaten century from Ollie Pope helped drag England back into the first test against India at Headingley on Saturday, with the home side closing day two on 209-3, 262 runs behind the touring side. India were cruising late in the morning session on 430-3, only to be all out for 471, England taking the last seven wickets in an hour either side of lunch to give themselves hope of mounting a disappointing day one. In reply, in more difficult, overcast conditions, the highest-ranked test bowler in the world, Jasprit Bumrah, struck to remove England opener Zak Crawley for four before Ben Duckett and Pope steadied the ship to the delight of the home crowd. Bumrah broke their 122-run second-wicket partnership when he bowled Duckett for 62, before Joe Root became the Indian dangerman's next victim moments after Pope had reached his second successive test ton. Root was caught at slip for 28 and Harry Brook was very fortunate to survive in the final over of the day when he was caught at mid-wicket off a Bumrah no ball. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.