Madrid Open star Jack Draper fires warning to Djokovic and co after 'letting' rivals win
Jack Draper is ready to cause trouble for the top players.
Jack Draper believes he is physically ready to compete with the top players and must now overcome a mental hurdle if he wants to beat them.
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The British No. 2 faced multiple injury setbacks last year and was forced to miss Wimbledon and the entire British grass-court season.
He is now enjoying his best start to a season but lost his last three matches in a final set tiebreak and was left angered by his latest defeat to Taylor Fritz.
Speaking ahead of the Madrid Open, Draper said: “I look at my results and I feel like physically I’m getting better and better. I think it’s a bit mentally now, just trying to get through those matches. I think all the matches I’ve lost in the last six months have been three sets, none have been an easy win to them.”
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Last week, Draper pushed world No. 13 Fritz to a decisive tiebreak before losing it 7-1. The 22-year-old is feeling the effects of his close losses, admitting he let his rivals beat him.
Draper continued: “It’s tough, you can go one or two ways, you can get tight and then start going within your shell and they start hitting winners and stuff. Or you can show yourself and try and win points yourself and I feel like the last few times I’ve let them play and let them beat me.”
But the world No. 43 is using it as motivation and will put himself to the test in Madrid, where he opens against a qualifier.
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He added: “After the Fritz match I was so angry, I think I went straight to the gym actually. My way of dealing with it is these things happen, these guys are the best players in the world for a reason and it motivates me more.
“My coach said, How are you feeling? There’s a chance in the next couple of weeks to start feeling sorry for yourself. And I was like, No, not at all. I’m really motivated to want to keep on going because these losses are actually fuelling my fire a lot because I don’t feel like I’m playing exceptional tennis and yet I’m giving myself the chance to beat these guys who are the top players in the world.
“I think I’ve got the right mentality and I’m ready to keep on working, keep on trying to get those wins.”
