Jack Draper's aspirations of winning Queen's were dashed by Jiri Lehecka in a captivating semi-final match, where the British number one fell short while battling tonsillitis.

The 23-year-old, who suffered a 6-4 4-6 7-5 defeat, had been feeling under the weather for a few days but remained determined to pursue his childhood dream of reaching the final on home turf.

Despite losing the first set, Draper managed to claw back and claim the second set before engaging in a fierce battle with his Czech opponent in the third set.

However, Lehecka secured a crucial break at 5-5, leading Draper to express his frustration by smashing his racquet against the advertising boards, realizing the impact it had on his chances.

Ultimately, Lehecka sealed the victory in west London, securing a spot in Sunday's final, where he will face either top seed Carlos Alcaraz or Roberto Bautista Agut.

This marks Lehecka's fifth ATP Tour final appearance, while the search for a British singles champion continues since Andy Murray's last win in 2016.

Following the defeat, Draper plans to take a few days off to recuperate before resuming his preparations for Wimbledon, commencing on 30 June.

Reflecting on his performance, Draper, who was diagnosed with tonsillitis on Friday, stated, "Today's probably the worst I have felt. Did I think about withdrawing? No, not at all. I'm in the semi-finals at Queen's. I'd probably go on court with a broken leg. I wouldn't have pulled out for anything."