Lehecka Ends Draper’s Queen’s Dream in Tense Semi-Final Battle**
Jiri Lehecka maintained his exceptional form on grass, halting Jack Draper’s bid for a maiden home title by defeating the British No 1 in a gripping semi-final clash at the Queen’s Club Championships. The unseeded Czech player emerged victorious after a hard-fought two hours, securing his place in the final with a **6-4, 4-6, 7-5** scoreline.
While Draper had navigated a challenging week, scraping through two tough three-set encounters against Alexei Popyrin and Brandon Nakashima, he appeared to grapple with finding his optimal rhythm on the grass surface. This contrasted sharply with **Lehecka, who had been the undeniable standout performer** throughout the tournament, dismantling opponents including the fifth seed, Alex de Minaur, in the opening round.
Lehecka’s powerful game, built around a **formidable first serve and a devastating forehand**, proved highly effective on the quick surface. He frequently dictated play from the baseline, outmanoeuvring Draper during significant portions of their match and earning a thoroughly deserved spot in his first career grass-court final.
Played under warm conditions in west London, the match began poorly for Draper. His opening service game was marked by **unforced errors and culminated in a double fault on break point**, handing Lehecka an immediate advantage. Lehecka capitalized on this, playing a near-perfect first set. His serving was precise, and he moved through his service games with ease while aggressively attacking Draper’s baseline.
Draper’s serve has often been his lifeline this week, compensating when other parts of his game faltered, particularly his forehand early on. He showcased this resilience in the second set, **serving impeccably** and finally putting pressure on Lehecka’s delivery. This persistence paid off when Lehecka, for the first time in the match, produced a poor service game at 4-5, allowing Draper to secure the crucial break and level the match at one set all.
Matches between two strong servers on grass can sometimes lack extended rallies, but they often boil down to incredibly tense decisive moments. The final set followed this pattern initially, with both players comfortably holding serve. However, it was **Draper who faltered first**. As his first serve percentage dipped, Lehecka seized the opportunity, breaking at 6-5 with a **stunning backhand winner** to clinch the set and the match.
For Lehecka, this victory caps an outstanding week and propels him into the biggest final of his career on grass. For Draper, despite a week of hard-fought wins, the frustration of not finding his best grass-court form was evident, ultimately costing him a shot at a memorable home title.
