Draper's transformation: "I am no longer worried if I have to play five sets"

Jack Draper is one of the great positive surprises of a US Open 2024 that emerges as an unbeatable opportunity for many underdogs. The Briton has already reached the fourth round at Flushing Meadows after neutralizing Botic van de Zandschulp, who couldn't replicate the outstanding level he showed against Alcaraz. What has changed in Draper to now be a standard-bearer of consistency? How do you assess the major surprises happening in New York? It's always good to listen in a press conference to someone who keeps his feet firmly on the ground.

- Great victory over Botic, who had surprised Alcaraz recently. Everyone pointing out that he had a great opportunity ahead... did it weigh on you?

"I think I played a great match overall. Pretty solid. In the first set, my serving wasn't too good, but the rest of my game was very solid. I got better as the match progressed; the beginning was a bit lethargic. I feel like I'm still learning how to play five-set matches. I know I have to pace myself and not go full out from the start because matches can become very long. My performance, nonetheless, I think it was good, getting better as the match advanced.

Regarding the opportunity ahead... honestly, I barely thought about it. Besides Carlos (Alcaraz) being a great champion and an incredible player, I wasn't thinking about facing him before yesterday; I was just focusing on my recovery. I watched the match, of course, and I know that when someone like Botic is on his game, he's extremely dangerous. I wouldn't have ruled out him coming out and surprising Carlos. Sometimes it's hard when people unanimously say, 'Oh, he should win this match.' Botic comes from defeating the #2 in the world, who has won several Grand Slams. He played a great match and of course, he could beat me too.

It's hard to take that into account, but at the same time, I knew it was a great opportunity for me, and it wouldn't be easy for him either. It's not easy to follow up what is possibly the biggest win of your career on the biggest stage in the world. I'm happy with how I dealt with the situation."

- How do you feel compared to the Draper who played the US Open a year ago?

"I feel very different from last year. I had barely played tennis last year, struggled with injuries all the time, and was very nervous and unsure before matches. I wondered if I would cramp up in the middle of a match or get injured; I was still dealing with a shoulder injury. Now I feel different. I no longer wake up every day worried about playing five sets. I have much more confidence in my body and mind, gained from the experience of consistently competing on the circuit this year. It's a bit strange: I feel, on one hand, that I've played many matches, but at the same time, I feel like this is truly my first year on the circuit, and I am understanding things better all the time. Next year, I believe, will be the same: I will be a better player mentally, physically, emotionally, in every way. I am very proud of how I've progressed."

- When did you start feeling confidence in your body and stopped worrying about breaking down?

"There was a moment in my tennis where everything was quite complicated. I've always been someone who works extremely hard, and my injuries sometimes arose from excessive work and perhaps not doing what was necessary. Before, I worked incredibly hard, but physically, I broke down because of it. I simply wasn't doing the right work. Since I reunited with my former physical trainer, Steven Kotze, who has worked with Andy (Murray), Dan (Evans), all the British players, I've learned from the injuries I had. I always had the same injuries with the abdomen and hip: as soon as I fixed them and built a foundation around my physique, from there I could truly push forward. I didn't feel something specific at a particular moment; I've just grown all the time, and I feel much better from the work I've done and the experiences I've had in competition."

- Are the defeats of Alcaraz and Djokovic discussed in the locker room? How surprising are they?

"It's clear that it's unusual, but both played in the Olympic final, and you can see that it took a toll on both. The Olympics are taxing for everyone, but they made it to the final, and it was a very emotional event for both. For Novak, it was his biggest goal, and coming here after such an emotionally demanding event is not easy. The same goes for Carlos: he has won in Paris, at Wimbledon... it's no wonder he might feel tired and emotionally drained. That said, I watched both matches: I think Botic played tennis at an extremely high level against Alcaraz, and as for Popyrin, I saw the first two sets before going to sleep and didn't feel Djokovic played incredibly badly. Perhaps his serve was below par, but Popyrin played a tremendous match, plus he had won in Montreal. Right now, there are many players on the circuit who are very dangerous and on any given day can play an incredible match against the best in the world."

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