As Draper descends on Manchester, reflection is needed
TENSION can be expressed and display itself in a range of different ways within the body, especially when a high-pressure moment means so much.
Carlos Alcaraz’s limbs shut down on him as he grappled with debilitating muscle cramps during his 2023 French Open semi-final with Novak Djokovic – their first Grand Slam meeting after an exciting first three-set meeting exceeded expectations in Madrid twelve months earlier. Their friendly rivalry has only intensified since.
The Spaniard, still only 21, responded in a way very few have managed over the past two decades: he pipped the legendary Serb to win in very different ways at the next two Majors, both finals, twelve months apart on hallowed Wimbledon turf.
As Jack Draper explained in press after last Friday’s semi-final defeat by eventual champion Jannik Sinner, a friend off court, the presence of experience in these moments – win or lose – is what separates himself from many others in-and-around his age-group right now. Troublesome injuries mean 2024 is still the 22-year-old’s first full year on tour and he’s improving constantly, steadily building up resistance.
Humid conditions with temperatures reaching 26 degrees Celsius quickly proved an uncomfortable hindrance for the Brit, cognisant of how nerves from being excitable negatively impacted him in what was perhaps the biggest match of his career to date.
“I’m definitely someone who is, I think, quite an anxious human being. When you add all that together, sometimes I do feel a bit of nausea on court and a little bit sick when it gets tough,” Draper said afterwards, per the Telegraph.
He vomited a few times and continued playing on an afternoon where his inconsistent first serve couldn’t afford to be faltering as often as it proved.
Against Australia’s no. 1 and #10 seed Alex de Minaur in the quarterfinal, he was clinical behind that serve. This time, it foreshadowed a courageous-but-clunky showing in an exhausting match for both, with unpredictable peaks and troughs.
Sinner was making his fourth Major semi-final appearance – all in the last 15 months – and that experience saw him hold firm under duress with awe-inspiring points like these reinforcing why he’s the world number one and a man in form after injury.
Draper matched him for two hours but as the deficit worsened, his reserves weakened and set three quickly became a foregone conclusion before long.
On his anxiety in high-pressure situations and what he needs to do in bridging the gap to those challenging for Majors, the message was clear:
“I’ve got quite a strong mentality and use up a lot of mental energy a lot of the time because I want it so badly, but that doesn’t necessarily help. That sort of anxiety and feelings can build up, especially in these five-set matches.
Definitely a strength but also a weakness; have to continue to work on it. I don’t think I need to do anything different, just a matter of time. I’m constantly trying to improve, got great people around me, doing all the right things.”
“With Jannik, Carlos [Alcaraz] or some of these young players, they’ve been on tour for three or four years now, constantly playing, learning, taking wins and experiencing losing in Grand Slam quarters or semis.
I just need to keep on learning, growing, having situations like this where I came unstuck and [asking] how am I going to do it different next time?”
- Draper on his mindset now, having reached a juncture in his career he wants to experience more
Sinner gave his friend Draper a similarly glowing assessment to the one Olympic champion Alexander Zverev directed his way in 2021 when addressing the media post-match too. Three years later, the Italian – then himself a rising star – is very much the hunted man with two Majors to his name.
“He’s made his breakthrough this week, playing some amazing tennis. His ball-striking and choosing the right shots in the right time — there are some feelings you have with certain players, he’s one of them. I know that he’s potentially winning some big titles in the future.”
There’s a reason why Andrey Rublev, Felix Auger-Aliassime and others all publicly pinpoint him when asked about the sport’s next breakout star. So long as he stays patient and has better luck with injuries than he has in recent years, there’s a sense of inevitability about how he’ll grow from these heartening defeats.
The Davis Cup of it all
The tennis calendar is unforgiving and there wasn’t much time for introspection or downtime, but that activity will probably help Draper after the 22-year-old joined Team GB for their Davis Cup group stage fixtures on Tuesday lunchtime.
The camaraderie surrounding a team environment is unique in an otherwise lonely sport and much like Sinner experienced first-hand last season, Draper will look to emulate his friend’s success representing Great Britain as their top-ranked player.
This represents the first meet since Andy Murray’s retirement post-Olympics, their current crop has a different feel to it – especially with Cameron Norrie (wrist) still a few weeks away from hitting again after being sidelined since June through injury.
British captain Leon Smith hinted at Draper being rested midweek with other group games to play before their opening day win over Finland. Draper sported strapping on his right thigh before an hour’s hitting practice with Britain’s no. 10 ranked player Charles Broom and it goes without saying, he’ll be dealing with a few niggles.
When asked about weighing up selection before watching the US Open semifinalist in Manchester, Smith told the BBC: “I have to select the team to do what is best, not just for Wednesday, but also we have really important matches at the weekend… just have to weigh up risk versus reward a little bit.”
Late bloomer Billy Harris and Dan Evans reeled off singles victories before the latter’s doubles rubber alongside specialist Neal Skupski. Argentina (Friday) and 2022 champions Canada (Sunday) complete the set for GB, keen to qualify top of Group D before the tournament’s last-eight, held in Spanish city Malaga come mid-November.
Picture source: Getty Images, quotes hyperlinked
Mo and Sports 