Questions about what comes next can wait another year. Jack Draper, the rising star of British men’s tennis, faced a tough lesson from veteran Marin Cilic on Court One on Thursday, departing Wimbledon with new insights to apply in his developing career.
There has been considerable optimism around Draper’s potential this summer following his rapid climb in the ATP rankings and his win at Indian Wells earlier this year. That this was only his fourth Wimbledon appearance—with none of his previous matches going past the second round—did little to dampen expectations. Yet, perhaps inexperience played a role here, at least in how Draper handled the match, while the 36-year-old Cilic, a finalist at Wimbledon in 2017, reminded everyone of his enduring skill.
Cilic’s powerful serve and fierce forehand have long been strengths, but after more than two years away from the sport due to a knee injury requiring multiple surgeries, it was unclear how sharp he would be. A clue came last month in Nottingham, where Cilic won the grass-court tournament, becoming the oldest winner in ATP Challenger history. Here, he looked fully recovered, even appearing quicker on his feet than his younger opponent.
The first set saw Cilic dictating play, with Draper scrambling to keep up. The Brit stayed competitive but left little margin for error. At 4-3, Drape fell behind 40-0 on his serve but fought back to win—a fleeting sign of promise. However, at 5-4, Cilic pounced once more, converting his third break point with a backhand winner off a weak second serve from Draper.
Frustration crept in for Draper. Early in the second set, a mistimed backhand sailed long, and he shook his head in dismay. Cilic, sensing the shift, increased his intensity and broke serve again. By 4-2, Draper was visibly upset, arguing with umpires over close calls made by Wimbledon’s automated line-judging system. The situation was unraveling for him.
The third set provided a brief resurgence. Draper regained focus and played his best tennis of the match, countering Cilic’s attacks and delivering some sharp shots of his own. A crushing backhand from deep secured a break, prompting a fist pump from Draper. There was hope as he comfortably held serve to take the set.
Cilic, who had entered the tournament with renewed confidence after his long absence, was unaffected by the momentary shift in momentum. His experience and composure ultimately proved too much for the young Brit.
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