Jack Draper’s run at the Lexus Eastbourne Open ended in the semi‑final, where sixth seed Ugo Humbert dispatched the 24‑year‑old 7‑5, 6‑3 in just 1 hour 42 minutes. The Briton learned Friday that his Wimbledon opener pits him against world No 7 Taylor Fritz, a first‑round match made tougher by an injury‑scarred, unseeded season this season.

Draper had arrived in Eastbourne on a high, beating Marcos Giron, Jack Pinnington‑Jones and Gabriel Diallo without dropping a set. He seized an early break at 30‑0 in the first game but could not convert, and Humbert clinched the opening set after saving four break points. The Frenchman saved another set point in the second, sealing the win in the match.

The semi‑final loss dashes Draper’s hopes of a maiden ATP title on home soil, yet the week proves he can compete on grass after a year marred by a racket‑arm injury that first surfaced in Madrid. Humbert celebrated with the crowd’s birthday chant and advances to face Belgium’s Zizou Bergs in the final, while British hopeful Toby Samuel jumps to No 123 after his own breakthrough for the season.