Draper reveals the key to his defeat against Alcaraz: "I can't afford that"

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Jack Draper arrived at these quarterfinals of the Rome ATP eager to demonstrate his improvement on clay in recent weeks. He had faced Ruud in the Madrid final and saw Carlos Alcaraz as his major test to gauge his level on this surface. Unfortunately, Draper encountered a superb version of Carlitos, leaving him no room to dream of victory and leaving him completely demotivated.

In his press conference, Draper acknowledges that Alcaraz was better than him but regrets being so negative throughout the match. He attributed his physical condition as a factor in not displaying his best level today. Nevertheless, he believes he learns a lot from defeats and is already looking forward to preparing for Roland Garros.

Match feelings

He played a great match. On my side, I feel I had many ups and downs. My concentration was inconsistent. I couldn't overcome it against him. Carlos was more consistent and tactically played a great game.

If he feels tired

I have played a lot in the last four weeks. I don't want to admit it, but tiredness probably affected me, not just today but throughout the week. It was hard to maintain my level during matches. Today, facing someone like Alcaraz, I can't afford that. You can't have those dips because it penalizes you. I don't think tiredness is why I lost because Carlos was better, but it surely had an impact.

What he has learned in these four weeks

I have played very well. I am proud of how I am approaching the clay season. I have had great results. If I want to be a top-level player, I need to be consistent week after week. I am disappointed in how I acted today. Mentally and emotionally, I have had tough weeks. I don't want to be just average. I want to be up there. These defeats hurt, but as I said, Carlos was better. I have to accept that and start over, prepare well for Roland Garros, knowing I can have more chances against these players.

Roland Garros

Five-set matches are like a roller coaster. They demand more physically. I have only played once in Roland Garros in my life. I hope to bring my game to the court and leave everything where I left it. I am eager to showcase my best tennis in Paris.

Handling defeats

As time goes by, defeats hurt more because I know I can do well. I am learning to deal with defeats but in a positive way. They motivate me to improve my game and compete better against these players. Today, I was a bit negative overall. Normally, I am not that negative; even if I am angry, I give my best. It's an area I am working on to improve. I have been on tour full-time for about a year and a half or almost two years. I need time to adjust. I have 100 wins, and I see these elite guys have 300. The longer I stay on the circuit, the more exposure I will have against them on big stages, which will help me become a better player mentally.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Draper revela la clave de su derrota ante Alcaraz: "No puedo permitirme eso"