Jack Draper loses Queen’s quarter-final clash against American Tommy Paul as the British ace fails to build on epic victory over Carlos Alcaraz

Jack Draper admitted his exploits of the last two weeks – culminating in that emotional victory over Carlos Alcaraz – caught up with him as he was knocked out in the quarter-finals of the cinch Championships.

‘The match yesterday (against Alcaraz), it felt like there was a lot of energy and emotion invested in that,’ said the 22-year-old after his 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 defeat at the steady hands of world No13 Tommy Paul.

‘I was definitely having to pick myself up. I felt quite flat at times and that showed in my decision-making. I played a few sloppy shots.

‘But at the end of the day, if I want to be one of the best players in the world I have to keep backing up my performances and get used to going deep every week. That’s what I was disappointed about today.

‘But credit where credit’s due: Tommy played some really good stuff.’

The 22-year-old looked weary at times as he was beaten 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 by American world No13 Tommy Paul 

Paul certainly looked the fresher of the two and, as the only seed remaining, the 27-year-old from New Jersey is the favourite to win his first Queen’s Club title

The British No1 had played – and won – eight matches in 10 days before this, including a first title of his career in Stuttgart.

‘Energy, energy, energy,’ Draper shouted to himself as the match slipped away in the deciding set, and he received a warning after blasting a loose ball out of the Queen’s Club.

‘It just becomes mentally quite taxing, having to go day after day,’ he admitted.

‘I felt like I was having to really get myself going today. Maybe the last couple of weeks catching up with me.’

Paul certainly looked the fresher of the two and, as the only seed remaining, is the favourite to win his first Queen’s Club title.

Draper was unable to back up his emotional victory over Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz (right)

The 27-year-old from New Jersey is someone Draper can look to: Paul struggled on the big stages earlier in his career but he has become battle-hardened and used to chiselling out close matches.

‘That’s the next stage for me now. I want to go deep in tournaments and back it up every week,’ said Draper, who will take a week of rest and practice before Wimbledon. ‘My body is in a good place, these are just things I have to get used to at the highest level and learn.

‘I’m still young. I’m trying to piece a lot of things together.’

Draper’s defeat ended the British challenge at Queen’s, with Billy Harris earlier being outclassed by world No30 Lorenzo Musetti, 6-3, 7-5. The 29-year-old had earned only £232,000 in his career but has added £112,000 in a week, between prizemoney here and the promise of a Wimbledon wildcard.