In-form Draper takes on gritty Popyrin.
Second seed Jack Draper faces unseeded Alexei Popyrin today in Round 2 of the Queen’s Club Championships (HSBC Championships). The Brit looked sharp in his opener, easing past Jenson Brooksby in straight sets.
In contrast, Popyrin had to grind out a tough three-set win over fellow Aussie Aleksander Vukic, with back-to-back tiebreaks deciding the final two sets. Draper enters as the man in form and with home support behind him, all eyes are on whether he can keep the momentum rolling on London grass.
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Draper has been on a tear this season, riding a wave of form that includes a title run in Indian Wells, where he took down Holger Rune in straight sets and also toppled big names like Carlos Alcaraz, Ben Shelton, and Taylor Fritz along the way.
The Brit also made finals in Doha and Madrid, backed up by a quarterfinal in Rome and career-best fourth-round showings at both the Australian Open and Roland Garros. Statistically, he’s been firing on all cylinders: 237 aces so far, winning 74% of first-serve points and converting 39% of his break point chances.
Popyrin has reached a career-high ranking of World No. 21. His season has been more of a mixed bag. He’s found some footing on clay, reaching quarterfinals in Monte Carlo and Geneva, and also notched a personal-best fourth-round finish at Roland Garros.
However, outside those flashes, he’s struggled to go beyond the Round of 16 elsewhere. His serving remains solid, with 170 aces and 73% first-serve points won, but he’s been less clinical on return, converting just 27% of his 188 break opportunities.
Jack Draper holds a 1-0 edge over Alexei Popyrin in their head-to-head. Their lone meeting came earlier this year in Doha, where Draper sealed a straight-sets win, edging out the second set in a tiebreak. As they square off again today, the stage is set to see whether the Brit can double down or if Popyrin has a response in store.
| Year | Event | Round | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Doha | Round of 32 | Jack Draper | 6-2, 7-6(4) |
| Jack Draper | Category | Alexei Popyrin |
| 6 | Current Ranking | 21 |
| 104-58 | Career W-L | 104-125 |
| 25-7 | YTD W-L | 11-13 |
| 3 | Career Titles | 3 |
| 0 | Grand Slams | 0 |
| 1 | YTD Titles | 0 |
With Draper playing the best tennis of his career and showing consistency across all surfaces, he comes in as the clear favorite. Popyrin has the firepower to cause trouble, but given the current scenario, Draper has the edge.
Prediction: Jack Draper in straight sets
At 2/13, Draper is the overwhelming favorite, reflecting his red-hot form and top-tier results. Popyrin’s 9/2 underdog odds suggest an upset is unlikely unless the Brit has an off day.
Here are the betting odds according to BetMGM:
Jack Draper: 2/13
Alexei Popyrin: 9/2
Here are the odds for total games as well as total sets for both players (sourced via BetMGM):
Total Games Under 21.5: 21/20
Total Games Over 21.5: 8/11
Total Games by Draper Over 12.5: 3/5
Total Games by Popyrin Over 9.5: 10/11
Total Sets Over 2.5: 39/20
Total Sets Under 2.5: 2/5
(All Odds According to BetMGM: BetMGM offers exclusive promo codes, bonus deals and accurate odds for users upon signing up. Use BetMGM to ace your betting game in all sports!)
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