Jack Draper is on the cusp of a major breakthrough in his tennis career, as he prepares to face Czech player Tomas Machac in the fourth round of the US Open. With a string of impressive performances under his belt, the British number one is confident that he can make a deep run in the tournament.
Draper’s Journey to the US Open
The 21-year-old has come a long way since his junior days, when he was considered one of the most promising young players in the world. After a few false starts, Draper finally began to live up to his potential last year, reaching the fourth round of the US Open, where he lost to Andrey Rublev. This year, he has continued to build on that success, winning his first ATP title at the Stuttgart Open in June and beating Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz at Queen’s.
Despite his recent success, Draper remains humble and focused on his goals. “I feel very different to last year,” he said in a recent interview. “I think I barely played any tennis in the year, struggling with injuries all the time, and then obviously came here. I think I was still sort of very nervous and unsure before matches, whether I would get through this one, [thinking] am I going to cramp in this one? Am I going to break down physically in this one? I feel very different now. I’m not waking up every day worried about playing five sets.”
US Open Preview: Can Draper Make a Deep Run?
The US Open is one of the most prestigious tournaments in tennis, and Draper knows that he will have to be at the top of his game if he is to make a deep run. He will face a stiff test in the fourth round against Tomas Machac, a talented young player from the Czech Republic. Machac, 23, beat Belgium’s David Goffin in straight sets to reach the fourth round of a major for the first time.
Despite the challenge ahead, Draper is confident that he has the skills and the experience to win. “I feel very different now,” he said. “I’m not waking up every day worried about playing five sets. I’m feeling good physically, and I’m feeling good mentally. I’m ready to go out there and compete.”
The men’s singles draw at the US Open is packed with talented players, but Draper has a good chance of making a deep run. The top seeds in the tournament, including Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz and Italy’s Jannik Sinner, will be looking to make a strong impression, but Draper has the skills and the experience to compete with the best.
Top Seeds in Action
The top seeds in the men’s and women’s singles are both in action during the evening session on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Poland’s Iga Swiatek, the world number one, takes on 16th seed Liudmila Samsonova, while Italy’s Jannik Sinner faces American 14th seed Tommy Paul. Sixth seed Jessica Pegula of the United States opens play on the main showcourt against Russia’s Diana Shnaider.
In addition to the top seeds, there are plenty of other talented players in action at the US Open. Daniil Medvedev, the only former New York champion left in the men’s singles draw, faces Portugal’s Nuno Borges, while Wimbledon finalist Jasmine Paolini takes on fellow French Open runner-up Karolina Muchova.
British Interest at the US Open
There is also plenty of British interest at the US Open, with a number of talented players competing in the singles and doubles competitions. In addition to Draper, other British players competing in the tournament include Harriet Dart, Olivia Nicholls, and Joe Salisbury.
Salisbury, who won the Wimbledon men’s doubles title with American partner Rajeev Ram, is competing in the men’s doubles competition at the US Open. The pair are looking to win their fourth successive title in the competition and will face a tough test in the early rounds.
In the women’s doubles competition, Dart and French team-mate Diane Parry are in action, while Nicholls and partner Tereza Mihalikova of Slovakia will also be looking to make a deep run.
A Look Back at Draper’s Career
Draper has come a long way since his junior days, when he was considered one of the most promising young players in the world. He won his first junior title at the age of 15 and quickly established himself as one of the top young players in the world.
Despite his early success, Draper struggled to make an impact in the senior game, struggling with injuries and inconsistent form. However, he has worked hard to overcome these issues and is now starting to reap the rewards.
“Draper is a talented player who has the potential to achieve great things,” said former British number one Greg Rusedski. “He has a strong game and is capable of competing with the best players in the world. I think he has a good chance of making a deep run at the US Open.”
Draper’s Injury Problems
One of the major challenges that Draper has faced in his career is injury. He has struggled with a number of different injuries, including a serious knee injury that kept him out of the game for several months.
Despite these setbacks, Draper has worked hard to overcome his injury problems and is now enjoying a run of good form. “I feel very different now,” he said. “I’m not waking up every day worried about playing five sets. I’m feeling good physically, and I’m feeling good mentally. I’m ready to go out there and compete.”
Draper‘s good form has been reflected in his results, with a number of impressive wins in recent tournaments. He won his first ATP title at the Stuttgart Open in June and followed up with a victory over Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz at Queen’s.
What’s Next for Draper?
With his run at the US Open, Draper is looking to make a deep run in the tournament and establish himself as one of the top players in the world. He will face a stiff test in the fourth round against Tomas Machac, but is confident that he has the skills and the experience to win.
“I’m feeling good physically, and I’m feeling good mentally,” he said. “I’m ready to go out there and compete. I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead and I’m confident that I can make a deep run in the tournament.”
Regardless of the outcome, Draper is sure to be a player to watch in the coming years. With his talent, work ethic, and determination, he has the potential to achieve great things in the world of tennis.