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Draper recovered from a slow start to turn the tables against Popyrin. After levelling the match, the World No. 6 had two match point chances on the Australian's serve at 15/40, 4-5. However, he fired a backhand long and then the Aussie blasted a forehand winner to fend off the danger.

With the home crowd roaring on Draper, the 23 year-old rallied from 2/4 in the tie-break to seal victory after two hours and 16 minutes. The second seed moved to match point with a backhand winner before he sealed victory with one of the 14 aces he hit in the match.

"It was a tough match. Credit to Alexei, he played some amazing tennis," Draper said. "My family is here and my friends are here and I love being at home, playing in front of family and friends. It is an emotional moment for me."

Draper is making his fourth appearance at The Queen’s Club, having reached the quarter-finals in 2021 and 2024. The British No. 1, who has wins against Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz at the ATP 500 event, will meet Brandon Nakashima in the last eight. The American defeated British wild card Daniel Evans 7-5, 7-6(4) to reach the quarter-finals, where he will try to stop Draper's bid for a second tour-level title on grass after triumphing in Stuttgart last year.

Popyrin, competing at a career-high No. 21 in the ATP Rankings, also fell in a third-set tie-break last week in ‘s-Hertogenbosch against Zizou Bergs.

Earlier, Roberto Bautista Agut defeated Czech Jakub Mensik 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 to reach the quarter-finals at The Queen’s Club for the first time since his previous appearance in west London in 2016.

The Spaniard, who saved a match point in his opening-round win against Nuno Borges, has now advanced to 14 tour-level quarter-finals on grass, highlighted by his semi-final showing at Wimbledon in 2019 and title in ‘s-Hertogenbosch.

The 37-year-old will next play Holger Rune, who roared back to beat qualifier Mackenzie McDonald 2-6, 6-1, 6-1. 

The World No. 9 Dane is through to the third grass-court quarter-final of his career after runs to the Queen's Club semis and Wimbledon quarters in 2023. He is also into his third quarter-final overall this season, after reaching the Indian Wells final and winning the Barcelona title.

With the victory, Rune improved to 11-1 against players outside the Top 20 of the ATP Rankings since the start of 2023, with his lone defeat coming to Jordan Thompson last year at The Queen's Club.