US OPEN

September 2, 2022

Jack Draper

Press Conference

K. KHACHANOV/J. Draper

6-3, 4-6, 6-5 [Ret.]

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Hard lines, Jack. Tell us what it was that gave way in your body and how difficult was it to make that decision to stop?

JACK DRAPER: Yeah, it was just the top of my hamstring, like the insertion between the hamstring and the groin. I've had problems with it before, and maybe this time it was just a lot of tennis I've played in the last seven weeks maybe just caught up a little bit on me.

I think I did it 2-Love in the third. I went out to a wide ball and I just felt a twinge. I feel like when you strain something, and getting worse, there is just no going back from that, really.

Especially at this level you can't compete if you're injured, you know. So, yeah, it was a tough one.

Q. Hard luck, Jack. How frustrating is it? Because obviously you turned the match around, looking like you're in a really good position.

JACK DRAPER: Yeah, Karen came out and played a really good opening asset. I think I got broken my second game. I was a little bit off the pace, but then I was trying to find my level and my rhythm. Sometimes you can't always play amazing tennis. I was fighting hard and trying to get in the match. I think I did a good job with that.

But I think there is a lot of positives I can take from the match, but I think the main thing is that I still need to improve my body. My body is just not ready to go really deep in this tournament. Today at this time, it's broken down on me. That's the reality of it. I just need to keep on improving.

Q. Do you have a sort of timeline in your mind when you think that you'll kind of be fully prepared for the rigors of the tour and kind of put this stuff behind you?

JACK DRAPER: As in when do I think I'll be peaking?

Q. Well, I mean, basically that process of getting your body kind of fully equipped to cope with what is very physical week-in, week-out regimes.

JACK DRAPER: Yeah, I'd say this is my first year playing fully, you know, competitive tennis week in, week out. I think probably by the time I'm 25 I'll be in that position probably. You know, I was a really, really late developer. There's players who have developed really early, and they're ready to do it when they are 22, 21, whatever that is. But I think my journey I'll be at my peak when I'm 25.

Doesn't mean to say in the next few years I can't do incredibly well still. I believe in my ability and I believe in the work I'm doing that I can do damage in all these events.

I think I will be at probably the peak of my powers probably when I'm 25.

Q. Do you have any indication how serious this is, how long we are talking being out, days, weeks? Especially looking at Davis Cup, other things...

JACK DRAPER: When I did this last time, I think I did it last year, and it probably was healed in two or three weeks. Not a long time. Obviously, you know, playing on court today, if it's getting worse and worse, I'm just prolonging that period.

That's why I had to stop. I've had to make a lot of these types of decisions in the last three years. I think I know when I can keep pushing and keep going. It's not going to get any worse. Obviously something like this just, yeah, it gets worse.

Q. Now that you have kind of experienced the last few tournaments, playing ATP level, what is kind of the most challenging thing, physically and otherwise, of playing week after week, recovering, playing tournaments?

JACK DRAPER: Yeah, I suppose the thing I'm learning, the thing I'm getting used to is you win against Felix, have a great win, but then you have to go again in tennis. It's every match is a new match. Just a different match to prove yourself, a different match to play good tennis and be mentally all there and physically ready to do it.

So those demands, especially on the tour, from what I have learnt the last few weeks, have been really challenging. I think I've done a really good job, but I've still got a long way to go and a lot to improve and a lot to learn. I think probably just more exposure to it, it just gets easier.

Q. Unlucky today, but you spoke about positives you can take from this match. There's a lot of positives you can take from the tournament as a whole and your year. Can you reflect on what this week has been like after the year you've had.

JACK DRAPER: Yeah, like I said, it's been a really positive week for me. This is my second slam on merit. It's very different playing the five-set matches. Beaten a couple of really good players, and I felt like today I was coming back, you know. I would have had a chance to win that match if I was injury free.

I think in terms of reflecting, I can be very positive about the year I've had so far as well. When I look back in probably 2020, I was thinking about stopping tennis during COVID. So to think I'm here now and I've broken the top 50 this week, I'm very proud of myself.

I think I'm so happy to have amazing people around me to help me do it.

Q. You seem incredibly calm, and not relaxed, but you must be also extremely disappointed, because this is your career high so far, and injuries come up again. Is it having gone through so much? You mentioned, I don't know how close you were to quitting tennis during COVID, is that why you are able to deal with this more easily?

JACK DRAPER: Yeah, I've had a lot of experiences being injured and having a lot of low moments for sure in the last few years.

You know, I know the only way to do it is to keep your head up and stay positive, with your shoulders back and just keep moving forward. There's plenty of worse things going on in the world than getting injured in the third round of the US Open when I'm 20 year old. I've got to keep on trying to stay positive, improving, and just getting more exposure to this level.

Basically I think all there is is just trying to get my body more robust. I've come such a long way with that. I think Miami last year I couldn't manage a set at this level. Now I'm able to I think play five sets. I've got a lot of experiences yet to come and a lot of work to do, but I've come such a long way and I don't think I can be getting down about that.

Q. During that lockdown period you were talking about the grind of some of the tournaments, and they weren't necessarily the most glamorous. Are you quite relishing being on the big stage in New York and seeing some more upscale places?

JACK DRAPER: Yeah, I mean, when I started tennis, you know, you obviously love it when you're younger and you're seeing all the big tournaments. Then when you come out of the juniors, I don't think anyone quite realizes what they're getting into in the tennis world. When it goes into the futures and the challengers, it's brutal out there. You're not getting many rewards for your hard work at the start. It becomes very challenging.

Obviously that lockdown period is, I think a lot of people reflected on how they were feeling, you know, their journey and stuff. Yeah, during that period I was just like, you know, I'm injured a lot, I'm not getting a lot from this.

But, you know, I took some time off, and then I stuck at it, and I'm glad I did, because obviously all the work I'm doing and having good people around me constantly over the last few years has helped me to get to this position.

I think the exciting thing is I've got such a long way to go, I can improve so much. My game is nowhere near, probably at 60% of my capacity, you know. I honestly believe that. I believe that I've got such a long way to go and a lot to improve, so I think I'm ready to do it, but it's just going to take time.

Q. I realize the injury might stop you this time, but have you had chats with Leon about Davis Cup and how much does that kind of figure in the things you want to do?

JACK DRAPER: Yeah, I mean, when I think of Davis Cup, I think we've got three guys in the top 50 now, but also I'm the fourth. Whatever Leon decides, it's his decision. Obviously we've got great doubles guys, really good options on the singles, especially after today I'm probably not going to be ready.

But obviously if I get the call up, you know, I'd love to be a part of the team. But if not, I totally get it because it's pretty exciting we've got three amazing players ahead of me, so whatever Leon decides, you know, I'm happy with.