Tennis-Draper more confident in return to US Open 4th round
By Karl Plume
NEW YORK, Aug 31 (Reuters) -Jack Draper says his "first proper year" on the ATP Tour and a return to his old fitness trainer have him playing more confidently at the U.S. Open after a surprise run to the tournament's fourth round in 2023 ranked 123rd in the world.
Now ranked No. 25 and carrying the torch for British men's tennis following the retirement of his tennis idol Andy Murray this summer, Draper made his return to the fourth round Saturday with a scrappy 6-3 6-4 6-2 win over Botic Van de Zandschulp on the Grandstand hard court.
"I thought I did a really good job overall, and my performance and everything, I think, got better as the match went on," Draper said after dispatching the Dutchman, who only two days earlier ousted tournament favorite Carlos Alcaraz in a second-round shocker.
With a fourth-round date with unseeded Czech Tomas Machac, Draper is hoping a clean bill of health and another year of pro experience will have him playing well into week two in New York.
"I was still really struggling with the shoulder injury when I played here last year. I feel very different now," he said.
"I'm not waking up every day worried about playing five sets. I have so much more confidence in my mind and my body through experiences of playing on the tour now this year consistently."
Draper credits a more mindful approach to training for the consistency that has accompanied his ascent in the rankings after an injury-plagued start to his career.
"I worked hard with trainers and a coach I had in the past. We worked insanely hard, but I broke down physically because of it," Draper said.
"Ever since I got back with my old fitness trainer, Steven Kotze ... I think I learned as well from the injuries that I'd had."
His fourth-round clash with Machac, who beat him in straight sets on clay at the Gonet Geneva Open in May, could prove his toughest draw yet at the year's final major.
"I've been watching his opening rounds here, and he seems like he's really dialed in, not missing many balls at all, and playing great tennis," Draper said.
"If I can just get out there and play some tennis that I know I'm able to, then there's no reason why I can't come through that one."
Reporting by Karl Plume in New York; editing by Jonathan Oatis
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.
