1h ago1 hours agoWed 18 Jun 2025 at 10:44pm

In short:

Alexei Popyrin lost to Jack Draper 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) at the Queen's Club Championships.

Popyrin was the last Australian in the men's singles tournament.

What's next?

Wimbledon begins on June 30.

Australia's Wimbledon preparations have taken a hit at the Queen's Club Championships, after Alexei Popyrin exited the tournament at the hands of home favourite Jack Draper.

With Alex de Minaur surprisingly knocked out and Jordan Thompson an injury casualty, it was all down to Popyrin to save the day for the Australian contingent in the round of 16.

But he departed Queen's via a 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) loss to Draper, who will carry Great Britain's hopes in the Wimbledon men's singles draw.

Popyrin had saved two match points at 5-4 down in the final set, before recovering to take a 4-2 lead in the tiebreak.

World number six Draper held his nerve, though, coming up with the crucial big plays to disarm Popyrin and march into the quarterfinals.

"It was a tough match. Credit to Alexei, he played some amazing tennis," Draper said.

"It was a bit up and down but you guys helped get me through that."

Popyrin is at a career-high 21 on the ATP rankings after reaching the fourth round at the French Open.

Elsewhere at Queen's, rising Czech star Jakub Menšík crashed out 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 to veteran Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut.

Menšík received a code violation warning for unsportsmanlike conduct at one stage when he smashed his racquet on the ground.

Queen's is the key lead-up tournament before Wimbledon, which starts on June 30.

AAP