Draper, Completely Disheartened: "It's one of the hardest defeats I have suffered"

Andrés Tomás Rico | 3 Jul 2025 | 21.55

Draper, completely dejected: "It's one of the hardest defeats I have suffered". Photo: Gettyimages.

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Court 1 at Wimbledon fell silent as Jack Draper, the great hope of British tennis, was surprised by veteran Marin Cilic. The Briton was uncomfortable throughout the match, feeling the pressure of being ranked number four in the world, combined with the expectations of the English when one of their compatriots has a chance to win the title.

As expected, the disappointment was evident in the young Briton during the post-match press conference. There, the 23-year-old tennis player opened up and admitted that there are still many things his tennis needs to improve to compete for big titles. He also confessed that his performance on this grass court tour has been very poor but remains confident that he can show his best level on this surface in the future. He didn't hesitate to praise the great tennis displayed by Cilic.

"Disappointed with my level"

"I'm very frustrated. Obviously, very disappointed. Probably one of the toughest losses I've experienced. I think Cilic played an incredible match from start to finish. He didn't let up. Yes, he deserved the victory. But it hurts a lot."

"Never felt comfortable on this grass tour"

"I'm very disappointed with my game on grass this year, to be honest. At Queen's, I didn't feel very good. I don't know how I made it to the semifinals and had a chance to reach the final. Yes, this year I've realized I've had issues on grass, to be honest. I felt very good on clay. I felt that my game didn't have many flaws, whereas as soon as I stepped on the grass, I noticed a big difference. So it's something I need to consider, how I'm going to develop my game in the long term for next year, to improve as a player. It has undoubtedly highlighted many weaknesses in my game, especially against a player like him, as good as him on grass."

"Didn't feel excessive pressure"

"The experience these days makes me think that what Andy Murray achieved, winning here twice, is simply incredible. It's not the pressure. I just didn't play well enough today. I lost to a better player. I didn't go out thinking I was under a lot of pressure. Like, I don't know, obviously you mention it all the time. Today, I wasn't good enough. That's the main reason. I just wasn't able to find the level I wanted. I fell short."

"Many areas to improve in his game"

"I think on grass, everything. I think I need to improve the hole in my backhand. I couldn't handle his ball pace on my backhand side. I overcooked it. I think a big part of my success this year with my backhand, when I have more time, it's much easier for me because I can generate the speed and spin I want. There are many areas of my game that I still need to work on a lot to be the player I want to be. I want to feel that everything in my game is secure. I think that's what you see in the best players. They're so consistent all the time because they don't have gaps in their game. I think the last two weeks have made me realize that, although I've had an incredible progression in the last 12 months, I still have many areas to improve in my game. In a way, that's exciting, and in a way, it's hard to accept because I thought I was ahead of where I was."

"Confident to succeed on this surface"

"Of course, I can. I think there's a misconception that just because I'm left-handed and 6'3", I have to be incredible on grass. Obviously, I won in Stuttgart, but I don't have much experience on grass. I don't think I've played incredibly well before. Obviously, I've never made it past the second round here. For some players, it's harder than for others. Obviously, I'm determined to change that and make it a surface that suits me very well. I think that's what happens with all surfaces."

"Self-critical for next year"

"When you have the mindset of, even though I don't feel comfortable, I'm going to make it happen, I'm going to make it better for me, it usually works. That's what I've done this year on clay. It's difficult, yes, to find that moment because we don't have much time to play on grass throughout the year. As I said, I think the lessons I can learn from this year are what I have in my power, and I can try to apply them to clay. Obviously, on grass, I need to improve a lot in returns and all those types of things. On clay and hard courts, I fall behind. I like having time to hit the ball, whereas on these similar playing surfaces, like today, you have to meet the ball at the baseline."

"All praise for Cilic"

"I knew he had won in Nottingham. It doesn't surprise me. He has been in the top 10 for many, many years. I saw him grow up. He has always been a great professional and can play incredibly. I don't play against many people on the circuit who I feel intimidate me and take the racket out of my hand. I know it's a grass court. I'm not sure what his stats were, but I'm sure he played an incredible match, from winner count to unforced errors. As I said, he deserved to win. He's a great player. Someone I have great respect for, for what he's doing. Obviously, he has come back from an injury. Today, he was a much better player than me. He deserved to win. Am I surprised by his level? No, he's one of the great players, he has won a Grand Slam. He deserves it."

"His elimination at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, very similar"

"Both played at an outstanding level. Cilic is someone who wants to return to where he used to be. I think yes, there are aspects of my game that I need to improve. Is he playing so well because I let him play like that? Similarly with Bublik. Are they playing so well because I give them short balls, because I'm not doing enough with my ball? I think both had incredible days. But that's what good players do, they punish you. So, yes, I think in a way it's a good thing. I have highlighted many areas of my game in which I have to keep improving if I want to consistently be an elite player and go far in these Grand Slams because everyone is a great player. If you're not good enough, you will be left behind," Draper concludes, entering as one of the names to watch and, between his game and the pressure, leaves as one of the disappointments. Once again, British fans will have to wait to see a compatriot lift the Wimbledon title.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Draper, completamente abatido: "Es una de las derrotas más duras que he sufrido"