"I probably would have gone on court even with a broken leg," Draper opens up after Queen's exit
Jack Draper won't be playing his first Queen's final. The British player, who will return to world No.4 on Monday after the tournament, was eliminated by an in-form Jiri Lehecka who seized his opportunity in the decisive moments (6-4, 4-6, 7-5).
The Indian Wells Masters 1000 champion from earlier this season leveled the match by winning the second set but couldn't maintain momentum in the third.
During the post-match press conference, the 23-year-old revealed he's been battling tonsillitis since the start of the week and wasn't at full physical capacity.
"Today was probably the worst I've ever felt physically. Did I think about quitting? Not at all. We're in the Queen's semifinals. I probably would have gone on court even with a broken leg."
"There's no way I would have withdrawn. I stepped on court giving everything I had, and I'm really proud of that. Still, it's no excuse. I lost to a player who was better than me, especially in the big moments. He served better too."
"I feel like sometimes he was braver than me as well. I can be proud of the effort I put in, but at the same time, I can only be frustrated with the loss."
"When you're in that physical state, especially on grass against players who are so comfortable serving and volleying, you just lose a few points and suddenly you're in big trouble."
"Like I said, I'm proud of how I fought given the circumstances, but it's not easy. You're in this position where you're playing elite professional sport."
"You're an athlete, and in a way, you have no choice—you have to get the job done. People don't care what you're going through. So you have to go out there and give your best. I'm still happy because I gave myself a chance until the end," Draper told Tennis Up To Date.
