UK No.1 Draper Says Lacking Wimbledon Final 12 months Was Blessing in Disguise

By Erik Gudris | @atntennis | Sunday, June 30, 2024

What a distinction a 12 months makes.

For the UK’s Jack Draper that’s actually the case. This time final 12 months, he was compelled to overlook Wimbledon as a result of harm. However he feels that was a blessing in disguise as he now finds himself seeded for the primary time on the All-England Membership.

The 22-year-old Draper spoke to the media forward of this 12 months’s Championships the place he’s the No. 28 males’s seed. His seeding culminates a breakthrough a number of weeks that features successful his maiden ATP title in Stuttgart after which upsetting reigning Wimbledon and Roland Garros champion Carlos Alcaraz at Queen’s Membership.

This summer time’s grass courtroom champions, up to now… 🌱

Jack Draper, Stuttgart #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/BcMJI6kbMK

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 30, 2024

Draper says seeing Alcaraz win Wimbledon at such a younger age final 12 months was extremely motivating for him.

MORE: Djokovic on Wimbledon – “Why Not Give It a Shot?”

“Yeah, I imply, it was actually tough. I clearly did not simply miss this one. I missed Queen’s, the entire grass. I believe I sat on my sofa for many of it, simply sort of actually pissed off, watching all of the matches,” Draper mentioned about lacking Wimbledon final 12 months.

“Clearly watched the total last, which was laborious to observe clearly somebody so younger successful the title, displaying what he is able to. It actually, actually motivated me and was really I believe a blessing in disguise as a result of my physique wasn’t prepared. I do not suppose mentally I used to be prepared both to be a high participant. It was kind of break that I wanted to kind of rediscover the hearth I wanted. From there, I have been nice.”

After his harm final 12 months compelled him on the sidelines, and prompted his rating to drop out the highest 100, Draper labored to enhance his health and total recreation. He additionally added acclaimed coach and former participant Wayne Ferreira to his group for added counsel after Miami.

Thus far, it has confirmed a successful mixture with Draper now at a profession excessive No. 28 rating.

“We have sort of been on a journey since then. It has been nice. He hasn’t actually spoke to me masses the previous few weeks about various things as a result of we’re in match mode. I suppose that will probably be for possibly after the grass and main into the U.S. However I believe basically, I do not know, simply attempting to make my recreation a extra aggressive baseliner as a substitute of somebody who kind of makes lots of balls and waits for the opposite gamers to overlook,” Draper mentioned about working with Ferreira, who beforehand coached Frances Tiafoe.

“So, yeah, he is been superb coming onboard. He works amazingly properly with Trots and the group. Yeah, it is thrilling to see the place my recreation goes to go from right here,” Draper added.

Jack Draper: What. A. Week. ⚡️

The brand new British No.1 follows his Stuttgart Open title win by beating reigning #Wimbledon champ Carlos Alcaraz at Queen’s Membership ✨#Wimbledon | @jackdraper0 pic.twitter.com/6nGtXl5OOZ

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 20, 2024

Draper’s breakthrough win in opposition to Alcaraz at Queen’s Membership had many, particularly within the UK media, salivating over the younger Brit’s possibilities at Wimbledon. Whereas Draper was fast so as to add Alcaraz’s match at Queen’s was one of many Spaniard’s first on grass this 12 months, the Brit he has was it takes to compete with the perfect on a constant foundation.

“I’m excited to see after Wimbledon, as properly, main into the Olympics, the laborious courts, that is once we’ll actually see the place my tennis is at. As I mentioned, the grass, you do get away with sure issues. If my recreation retains on bettering, I hold the mindset, and carry on bettering bodily like I’ve been, I do not see why there’s any cause why I can not be top-of-the-line gamers on the planet. That is my aspiration, that is my objective.”

Draper will face qualifier Elias Ymer of Sweden within the first spherical.

Photograph Credit score: Luke Walker/Getty for LTA