British tennis player Jack Draper, the current No. 5 in the country, is aiming high after facing disappointment in his first ATP Tour final at the Sofia Open. Despite narrowly losing to Adrian Mannarino, the 21-year-old is now fueled by determination to qualify for the prestigious ATP Finals alongside tennis luminaries like Novak Djokovic and rising star Holger Rune.
Draper, already holding five Challenger titles, achieved a major career milestone by reaching his first ATP Tour final. Despite a tight battle, Mannarino secured victory in a 7-6(6), 2-6, 6-3 encounter, denying Draper his inaugural tour-level title.
Motivated by watching Holger Rune’s ascent to the Sofia Open final last year and subsequent success, Draper envisions a similar trajectory for himself. Rune, now a top-10 player, defeating Djokovic and qualifying for the ATP Finals, serves as a source of inspiration for Draper.
Draper’s recent performance in Sofia is set to boost him 21 places up the world rankings to No. 62. Despite facing setbacks earlier in the year due to injuries, the resilient 21-year-old is on a winning streak, claiming nine victories in his last 10 matches and securing a Challenger title in Bergamo.
Draper attributes his enhanced motivation to the challenges posed by his injury layoff. The setback prompted a reevaluation, and the British player focused on improving both his physical and mental aspects to return to the court stronger.
While Draper’s ATP Tour season may have concluded, he remains part of Britain’s Davis Cup squad for the upcoming quarter-final against Serbia, led by world No. 1 Novak Djokovic. Draper’s recent success positions him as a strong candidate for the singles rubbers.
With an eye on the future, Draper is determined to secure a spot among the top eight players in 2024, an achievement that would grant him entry into the coveted ATP Finals. His resilience and commitment to improvement make him a player to watch in the evolving landscape of professional tennis.
Jack Draper in 2023
Now ranked no.82, Draper played his last match on the 11th of November when he was overcome by world no.25 Adrian Mannarino 7-6(6) 2-6 6-3 in the final in Sofia (draw).
At present, during this year the Brit has a compiled 34-14 win-loss record. This year, Draper won 1 title in the Bergamo Challenger. The Brit got to the final in the Orleans Challenger and Sofia.
Jack Draper |
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