ATP Tour

Draper’s fashion faux pas in the heat... but Briton marches into Eastbourne SFs!

Jack Draper continued his impressive return to action on the grass courts of the Lexus Eastbourne Open on Thursday afternoon.

The Briton saw off Gabriel Diallo 6-1, 6-4 with an accomplished quarter-final performance at the ATP 250 on the English south coast. Draper, who until Eastbourne had not competed since April due to a knee injury, converted four of nine break points he earned to overwhelm Canada’s Diallo, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

“It feels amazing. I love this tournament,” Draper said in his on-court interview. “I came here four years ago and haven’t been back since… I’m incredibly happy to be here and to get some matches under my belt is a great feeling. Really proud of my performance today. I thought it was quite a strong performance against a tough player.”

Draper has now defeated all of Marcos Giron, Jack Pinnington Jones and Diallo in straight sets in Eastbourne to book his first semi-final appearance of the season. The former No. 4 player in the PIF ATP Rankings is delighted with the way his comeback tournament has gone so far, especially considering the sweltering heat that is currently sweeping across the United Kingdom.

“I feel great,” Draper said. “Obviously it’s been a difficult year with a lot of injury setbacks and everything, but I’m gaining more confidence in my body. Winning helps obviously. I’m not sure about how good an idea it is to wear all black. I was definitely feeling it yesterday. That’s the only kit I’ve got with me, so I hope it’s not hot again tomorrow.”

Draper is being supported this week by former World No. 1 Andy Murray, who is coaching the lefty across this grass season. Awaiting Draper in the last four in Eastbourne will be sixth seed Ugo Humbert, who overcame his fellow Frenchman Quentin Halys 6-3, 6-4.

British representation also remains in the top half of the Eastbourne draw, after lucky loser Toby Samuel continued his dream run on home soil with a 6-3, 6-4 triumph against Juan Manuel Cerundolo. The 23-year-old Samuel, who had not won a tour-level match prior to this week, notched his first Top-50 win by overcoming Argentina’s Cerundolo in the pair’s first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting.

Samuel has risen 19 spots to No. 123 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings this week, setting him up for a new career high in this coming Monday’s edition of the PIF ATP Rankings. The Briton will face World No. 48 Zizou Bergs for a championship-match spot, after the Belgian defeated another home favourite, Jan Choinski, 6-3, 6-3.