British No.1 Jack Draper has spoken frankly about the pressure of playing on the Tour after sealing his place in the quarter-finals of the Madrid Open.
Draper, who is the highest-ranked player left in the Masters 1000 tournament, produced a comprehensive 6-2, 6-2, win over Tommy Paul. Sealing his first Tour-level win over a top 20 player on clay and his fifth in a row. His four previous victories were achieved on hardcourt at the Miami Open.
Since October, Draper has won 21 out of 23 matches against players ranked outside the top 10. During this period he has shot up the ATP rankings to a current career-high of sixth. Depending on how far he goes in Madrid, he could overtake Novak Djokovic next week and crack the top five.
“I think the more matches I play at this level will keep helping my confidence on this surface,” said Draper, who had only reached the quarter-finals of two other ATP clay events before Madrid.
“Obviously a win today, in that kind of way, against someone who is ranked 12 in the world is a big thing for me.
“I’m just happy with the way I’m approaching the matches, my training and everything. I’m looking forward to keep on continuing, hopefully trying to get better and better on this surface and just in general. “
Whilst the 23-year-old is currently in the best form of his career so far, he admits that being at the top of the sport can also take its toll. Making similar comments to that of Carlos Alcaraz who spoke frankly about coping with the limelight during his Netflix documentary series. Alcaraz isn’t playing in Madrid due to injury but has returned to practice.
“I doubt myself every day. Can I keep going?” Draper told reporters when asked if he can relate to Alcaraz’s struggles.
“There’s no denying I think that in any professional sport, but especially in tennis, it’s so relentless. We’re playing, we’re competing, we’re away from our families, we’re just sacrificing our lives. I think if you do this sport properly as well and give it everything every day, you know, it’s tough.”
Elaborating further, Draper says he is well aware that hard work is required if he wishes to become the best in the world. He has won three titles so far, including the Miami Masters in March.
“If you want to be great then these are the things you have to do. It’s not like we’re… there’s much harder work out there, you know, putting things in perspective,” he continued.
“I do a sport I love, I get to travel with amazing people, earn good money. And, you know, it is really, really mentally challenging, physically challenging, but I think, yeah, I kind of, I enjoy that.
“So I don’t know how long I’ll play for, I don’t know if I’ll play until I’m in the mid 30s, I don’t know when I’ll play until, so I’m just going to try and make the best out of my career, hopefully try and fulfil my potential.”
Draper will next play Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi.
