British tennis prospect Jack Draper is gearing up for a promising start to the new season, determined to climb the ATP rankings after overcoming injury setbacks. Currently ranked at No. 62, Draper acknowledges the mental strength and perspective gained from last season’s challenges.
Heading into his first event of the year in Adelaide, the 22-year-old has already notched two impressive wins, signaling his readiness to elevate his game. Reflecting on the past year, Draper emphasized the resilience required to bounce back after dropping outside the top 100.
“I had to learn a lot about myself last year, and I dropped outside the top 100. I had to grind myself back. I feel like I’m just a lot stronger mentally and I have a lot more perspective of being in a good position,” Draper shared.
Expressing disappointment over missing Wimbledon and other events due to injuries last summer, Draper highlighted his determination to evolve his playing style. He emphasized his focus on being more aggressive on the court, aiming to win points rather than relying on opponents’ mistakes.
“In terms of my tennis, I feel like I’m improving. I’m trying to come forward more. I’m trying to win the points instead of letting the other players make a mistake or something, which is what I feel like I was trying to do last year. I feel like both things I’ve improved,” Draper explained.
Buoyed by a successful pre-season, including training at the National Tennis Centre in London and competing in the UTS event against top players, Draper arrives in Australia with confidence.
Setting ambitious goals for the year, Draper, when asked about his ranking aspirations, stated, “If I can stay injury-free and stay on the trajectory I have been on since last summer, there is no reason why I can’t be ranked in the top 20 by the end of this year. That’s my goal, that’s where I want to be.”
While acknowledging the potential to go even further, Draper remains focused on taking one step at a time, with a top-20 ATP ranking serving as a significant milestone in his journey towards tennis excellence. Tennis enthusiasts will be eagerly watching as Draper aims to fulfill his goals in the upcoming season.
Draper in Adelaide, ranking, and results in 2024
Ranked world no.62, Jack has achieved a compiled 2-0 match record in 2024. Jack is now playing in Adelaide where he ousted the world no.26 Sebastian Baez 6-1 6-3 and the world no.55 Miomir Kecmanovic 5-7 7-69 7-67.
Jack Draper will square off with the world no.14 Tommy Paul in the quarter on Thursday at 6:30 pm on CENTRE COURT. Their record is 1-0 for Draper.
Draper has scheduled to compete next at the Australian Open (Australian Open). He will start to play the tournament from the main draw that will commence on the 14th of January.
Jack Draper |
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