One of the most interesting talents that are up and coming is Jack Draper, but an injury cut short what should have been a significant breakout year for him.
Draper advanced to the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open before withdrawing against Carlos Alcaraz due to an abdominal injury. He missed three months of activity due to a shoulder injury sustained at Roland Garros, at which time he was unable to participate in Wimbledon.
He recently returned and seemed to be finally in good health. It’s encouraging to see that he is starting to play tennis like he did prior to getting hurt. As indoor tennis fits his style of play quite well, he intends to continue winning and hopefully end the year on a positive note.
Recently, Draper talked to the media and said: “With this year, having so many injuries and having to come back from them, it definitely builds a lot of strength of character. I knew I just had to get myself in a good place physically and mentally to be at the top of my game.”
He added: “I feel like this year, although it’s been really difficult, dropping out of the Top 100 and all these things, I’ve learned so much and I’m a much better player now than I was nine, 10 months ago. I’m proud of myself, but it’s definitely been difficult.”
In the face of the challenges this season, Draper has counted particularly on the support of his family and team. He said: “The thing with being a tennis player is it’s an individual sport, it’s lonely and stuff, that’s where having amazing people around you, who are always looking out for you, always there for you is so important.”
Draper expressed his plans and said: “Next year, the goal is to carry on where I’ve left off at the end of this year. The main thing for me is always to just keep developing physically. My goal is not to be a Top 100 or a Top 50 player. My goal is to be one of the best in the world.”
Draper in the Orleans Challenger, ranking, and results in 2023
Currently ranked no.106, Draper achieved a composed 21-10 record in 2023. Jack is now competing in the Orleans Challenger where he ousted the world no.108 Radu Albot 6-2 6-2, the world no.356 Tristan Lamasine 6-4 6-4, the world no.174 Gijs Brouwer 6-1 6-4 and the world no.69 Luca Van Assche 7-5 6-3.
Jack Draper will fight against the world no.118 Tomas Machac in the final on Sunday at 5:00 pm on CENTRAL ARENA. Their actual head to head record is 1-0 for Machac.
Jack Draper |
| Embed from Getty Images |
