GRIM LESSON FOR DRAPER

Veteran Cilic shows No.1 Brit still has a long road to travel

- By Jeremy Cross

JACK DRAPER walked onto No.1 Court as hot favourite to beat veteran Marin Cilic and reach the third round at Wimbledon for the first time in his career.

What happened instead resulted in the British No.1 receiving a harsh lesson in how much progress he still has to make if he is to go on to become a great of the game.

Having cruised through round one, Draper knew he faced a much sterner test in the shape of the Croatian.

What he did not realise was just how good Cilic can still be.

The former world No.3 has undergone two knee surgeries since 2024 and had to return to the Challenger Tour in order to battle back to this stage.

But the unseeded 36-year-old still possesses a wealth of experience, with this being his 15th Wimbledon, not to mention a massive serve.

He reached the final in 2017, losing to Roger Federer, and also won the US Open back in 2014.

That means he is no mug.