In a surprising turn of events at the prestigious All England Club, British number one Jack Draper suffered an early exit from the 2025 Wimbledon tournament after a shocking second-round defeat at the hands of 36-year-old Marin Cilic. The fourth seed lost 6-4 6-3 1-6 6-4, marking yet another disappointing first-week exit for Draper at Wimbledon.
Cilic, who reached the SW19 final in 2017 but is now ranked 83rd in the world, capitalized on Draper's errors and dominated the opening two sets with his powerful serve and deep returns. Draper, who was widely considered as a fourth favorite for the men's title, struggled to find his rhythm and was pushed back behind the baseline throughout the match.
With the clouds gathering overhead, Draper was in a position he had never been in before - needing to win a professional match from two sets down. However, he was unable to pull off the comeback, as Cilic's wily play and impressive service game proved too much for the home favorite to handle.
An emotional Draper acknowledged Cilic's win, stating that he "played an incredible match from start to finish" and that "he deserved the win." Draper's wait for his Murray moment at Wimbledon continues, as he still has yet to reach the third round in any of his four appearances at the All England Club.
Meanwhile, Draper's fellow countrymen, Daniel Evans and Lloyd Glasspool, advanced to the next round, offering a glimmer of hope for British tennis fans.
Cilic, who has had his own share of struggles with injuries, expressed feelings of immense joy and gratitude for his victory. "My emotions are just incredible," he said. "Where I was two years ago, I can't even describe. It has been a long journey."
As the post-Andy Murray era of British tennis unfolds, fans will be eagerly awaiting Draper's next outing on the tennis court, hoping for a more successful result.
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