Jack Draper’s breakthrough fortnight finally came to an end with a narrow loss to Tommy Paul in the quarter-finals at Queen’s.
In the past two weeks, Draper has won a first ATP Tour title, become British number one and beaten reigning Wimbledon and French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz for the biggest win of his career.
However, he looked fatigued at times in a close 6-3 5-7 6-4 loss to the world number 13.
“Physically I felt good. My body’s been great,” the 22-year-old said afterwards.
“It just becomes mentally quite taxing, having to go day after day,” he said.
Despite the loss, Draper has ensured he will be seeded for Wimbledon, which begins on 1 July.
Earlier, Britain’s Billy Harris missed out on a maiden ATP semi-final after a 6-3 7-5 loss to Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti.
Like Draper, Harris has had a memorable week at Queen’s and will now move into the world’s top 150 after his run to the last eight.
Musetti will face Jordan Thompson next after the Australian, ranked 43rd in the world, claimed a surprise 6-4 6-3 victory over American fourth seed Taylor Fritz.
‘Draper’s best is yet to come’
The emotional and physical impact of the past week was always likely to catch up with Draper, but it is a testament to his improved fitness that he kept the match so close.
He and Paul traded breaks at the start of the first set but a poor serve and volley cost Draper, allowing his opponent to break for 5-3 and subsequently serve out the set.
Draper grew into the second set, upping his aggression behind his forehand in particular, and had a set point at 5-4 before Paul responded with three huge serves.
Paul cracked when serving to try and force a tie-break, with a long forehand sending Draper into his 17th deciding set of the year.
Draper kept the momentum going, rattling through his service games, but he began to tire, shouting “energy, energy, energy!” to himself as he saved a break point.
However, a poor service game at 4-3 down ultimately cost him, with a fatigued double fault helping Paul secure the decisive break.
“I was definitely having to pick myself up. I felt quite flat at times,” Draper said.
“But at the end of the day, if I want to be one of the best players in the world, then I have to get used to going deep every week.”
Former British number one Andrew Castle told BBC TV: “Just remember – Jack is 22 and there’s a whole load of improvements still to make.
“His best is yet to come and for me that’s the most exciting thing.”
Paul will face fellow American Sebastian Korda after the world number 23 fought back from a set down to defeat Australia’s Rinky Hijikata.
Harris plans new vehicle purchase with earnings
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He will now make his Grand Slam debut this summer after being given a wildcard for the main draw at Wimbledon, which starts on 1 July.
The 29-year-old from the Isle of Man is guaranteed £60,000 for playing his first-round match at Wimbledon, along with his £121,000 prize money from reaching the Queen’s last eight.
“It’s definitely going to help – it’s expensive getting around in this sport so any money you can get is a massive help,” he said.
“Will I treat myself? A new van, maybe, potentially. I drive a Mini Cooper at the moment.
“It’s a bit tight, I get in and out of a van a bit easier.”
Rybakina retires at rain-delayed Berlin Open
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Elsewhere, third seed Elena Rybakina retired from her Berlin Open quarter-final against Victoria Azarenka with illness.
The 2022 Wimbledon champion appeared to be struggling with abdominal pain and retired when trailing 3-1 in the first set
Rybakina’s season has been curtailed by a gastrointestinal illness, which caused her to pull out of Indian Wells and Rome.
The rest of Friday’s action was disrupted because of the rain with Jessica Pegula’s match against Czech qualifier Katerina Siniakova suspended with the American fourth seed leading 7-6 (7-2) 3-6 4-2.
The two other quarter-finals have been re-scheduled for Saturday, with top seed Coco Gauff set to take on eighth seed Ons Jabeur of Tunisia and world number two Aryna Sabalenka facing Anna Kalinskaya of Russia.
In the men’s Halle Open event, Alexander Zverev reached the semi-finals of the Halle Open with a 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-4 victory over France’s Arthur Fils.
French Open runner-up Zverev will play Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz, who claimed a 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 win against American Marcos Giron.
World number one Jannik Sinner also advanced with a 6-2 6-7 (1-7) 7-6 (7-3) win over Jan-Lennard Struff.