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Draper was defeated by the Frenchman 7-5 6-3 after an hour and 40 minutes on Centre Court.

The Briton stayed with the world No.30 throughout the opening set but was broken at the fourth attempt in the final game, handing his opponent first blood.

The former Indian Wells champion looked to respond in the second set, but failed to convert four break-point opportunities at 2-1.

Humbert capitalised on that reprieve by claiming a crucial break of his own, before a love hold secured a 12th ATP final appearance and his second on grass, five years after he triumphed in Halle.

The No.6 seed, who celebrated his 28th birthday, is the first Frenchman to reach the final at Eastbourne since Gael Monfils was runner-up to Novak Djokovic in 2017.

There were two opportunities in the day to see the first British player progress to the men's singles final at Eastbourne.

Earlier in the day, lucky loser Toby Samuel saw his impressive run ended by Zizou Bergs, who came from behind to win 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-2.

Samuel came flying out of the blocks, breaking twice on the way to a 3-0 lead. Although Bergs broke back, the Briton held his serve to take the opening set.

The 23-year-old, who had not won an ATP Tour match prior to this week, broke again on his way to a 5-4 lead in the second.

But he could not convert when serving for the match, with the Belgian breaking back and forcing a tie-break, which he won to level.

It was one-way traffic thereafter as Bergs dominated the decider, reeling off the last five games to prevail after two hours and seven minutes.

The world No.30, who arrived in Eastbourne on a six-match losing streak, now looks to make it third time lucky in an ATP final, having been runner-up in Auckland and ‘s-Hertogenbosch last year.