Jack Draper is hoping for success on home soil this year British number one Jack Draper joked that his body used to break down easily despite "looking a bit like a Ferrari", but believes a decision to tune up means he is now more capable of going the distance in matches. The 23-year-old came out on top of a gruelling encounter with Australian Alexei Popyrin at Queen's on Wednesday, recovering from going a set downto win 3-6 6-2 7-6 (7-5)and progress to the quarter-finals. Draper is ranked sixth in the world and seen as the great British hope in men's tennis as Wimbledon approaches. He has never progressed beyond the second round of his home Grand Slam but he said after his win against Popyrin that he has been working on his strength and fitness to help last the distance in difficult matches. "I have felt better and better every Grand Slam I have played," he said. "Before I felt like my energy wasn't that strong, and I felt like I looked like a bit of a Ferrari but I was a bit of a Toyota, like broke down quite easily. "Now I'm starting to feel generally stronger and confident in myself." Draper said that a turning point for him came at the Australian Open at the start of the year. There he won three five-set matches in a row to set up a fourth-round meeting with world number two Carlos Alcaraz. However, Draper - whose pre-season was disrupted by a hip injury - retired while trailing 7-5 6-1. Despite that, he feels going the distance in those three previous matches was a significant moment. "I have always worked really hard off the court," Draper said. "I think it's helped me play more consistently on the tour, and I think those matches at the start of the year in Australia really helped me to get over that hurdle." This video can not be played 'Unbelievably good!' - Draper's best moments against Popyrin Following last year's retirement of three-time Grand Slam winner Andy Murray, the spotlight is now firmly on Draper. He has three career singles titles but last year achieved his best result at a major by reaching the semi-finals of the US Open. Draper is now hoping to be at his optimum once Wimbledon gets under way later this month, to give himself the best chance of going even further on home soil. Winning Friday's quarter-final at Queen's against American Brandon Nakashima will also ensure he is seeded fourth at Wimbledon, meaning he would avoid facing the likes of defending champion Alcaraz and world number one Jannik Sinner. "My goal is to peak at Wimbledon," he said. "I'm going to give myself a chance each day to get better. I've been hitting the ball better and better in practice each time, but sometimes that doesn't necessarily adjust to the match court straight away. "The tennis I know I can play and the tennis that's got me to the position I'm in, I think there is still a lot of improvement to come."
I looked like a Ferrari but broke down easily - Draper
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"Jack Draper Seeks Improved Performance at Wimbledon After Recent Success"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
Jack Draper, the British number one ranked sixth in the world, is optimistic about his prospects at Wimbledon this year, following a recent victory over Australian Alexei Popyrin at Queen's. Draper, who has struggled with injuries in the past, humorously likened his physical condition to that of a Ferrari that broke down easily, but he believes that his recent training has improved his strength and endurance on the court. In his match against Popyrin, Draper came back from a set down to win 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5), showcasing his resilience and determination. He acknowledged that he has been focusing on his fitness to better handle the demands of lengthy matches, stating that he feels increasingly stronger and more confident as he prepares for the home Grand Slam. Historically, Draper has not progressed beyond the second round at Wimbledon, but he is determined to change that this year.
Draper highlighted a pivotal moment in his career during the Australian Open earlier this year, where he won three consecutive five-set matches before facing world number two Carlos Alcaraz. Although he had to retire from that match due to a hip injury, he felt that those challenging encounters helped him build the mental fortitude needed to compete at a higher level. With the retirement of Andy Murray, the spotlight has shifted to Draper as the next big hope for British men's tennis. He aims to peak at Wimbledon by improving daily and is looking forward to the upcoming quarter-final against American Brandon Nakashima. Winning that match would secure him a fourth seed at Wimbledon, allowing him to potentially avoid facing top players like Alcaraz and world number one Jannik Sinner early in the tournament. Draper remains focused on his goal of advancing further in the tournament, believing that there is still room for improvement in his game as he continues to prepare for the challenge ahead.
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