Jack Draper regrets outfit as Brit joins Toby Samuel in Eastbourne Open semi-finals to continue injury comeback - 'The only kit I’ve got with me'
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Updated 26/06/2026 at 20:35 GMT+1
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Jack Draper has endured an injury-hit tennis season, but his progression to the Eastbourne Open semi-finals has sparked hopes that the Brit could be a force to be reckoned with at Wimbledon in July.
'One of my biggest inspirations' - Draper thanks Murray for joining coaching team
Video credit: SNTV
A knee issue kept the former British men's No. 1 from competing since retiring at the Barcelona Open in April.
But less than a week before the start of Wimbledon, Draper showed his promising grass-court credentials by beating Gabriel Diallo 6-1 6-4 and marching into the final four at Eastbourne.
The 24-year-old reached this stage once before, in 2022, and he was delighted to match his best finish at the tournament.
”It feels amazing. I love this tournament,” said Draper in his on-court interview. "I came here four years ago and hadn’t been back since, so even though I missed Queen’s last week and maybe wouldn’t have played here, I’m incredibly happy to be here and to get some matches under my belt.
”I’m really proud of my performance today. I thought it was a strong performance against a tough player."
Draper pulled out of Queen's earlier in June to give his body more time to recover ahead of Wimbledon, instead opting for Eastbourne in his bid to return to full match sharpness.
The backend of his 2025 season was hampered by an arm injury, but now under the guidance of Andy Murray, Draper is hopeful that his fitness concerns are behind him.
”I feel great," said Draper. "It’s been a difficult year with injury setbacks, but I’m gaining more confidence in my body. Winning helps, obviously.
”It was a strong performance today, and each match has gone that way, so I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
But with a heatwave gripping Europe and the United Kingdom, there is one thing Draper would like to change for his semi - though, sadly, he may not have a choice.
"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," said Draper.
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Draper is set to face France's Ugo Humbert in his semi-final on Friday.
There was British interest in two of the other quarter-finals, with lucky loser Toby Samuel shocking Juan Manuel Cerundolo 6-3 6-4 to reach the semi-finals.
The British men's No. 5 replaced Cerundolo's brother Francisco at the start of the event, defeating more Argentine opposition in the form of Thiago Agustin Tirante on his way to a final-four showdown with Zizou Bergs.
”I was pretty nervous in that last game,” Samuel said. ”I’m happy to have got through that one, otherwise it would have been a bit tight the rest of the set.
”It’s been crazy, I’m so grateful to be in this situation here. It’s surreal, playing my first ATP event and making the semi-finals also.”
It was Samuel's first win over an ATP top 50 opponent, having claimed his first ATP Tour victory at the start of the tournament.
But Britain's Jan Choinski did not have the same fortune, falling 6-3 6-3 to Bergs on Thursday.
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