Draper: "I wouldn't be here if I didn't feel like I can reach the final again"

The return of Jack Draper to Indian Wells carries special significance. One year after lifting the trophy in the Californian desert, the British player is back on the stage of one of the most important moments of his career, now with the added challenge of defending the title and proving that his level remains intact after challenging months.

Draper faces the tournament with a mix of excitement and caution. After eight months marked by injuries and recovery, the British player acknowledged during the tournament's Media Day that he feels grateful to be back on tour and convinced that he has evolved as a player. "I am very grateful to return to the tour and do what I love," he confessed. 

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A special return to Indian Wells

"I feel that I wouldn’t be here, I wouldn’t be in the tournament if I didn’t feel I could go all the way to the final again. That was probably the main reason why I didn't go to Australia, simply because if I'm going to enter a tournament and compete, I want to feel physically prepared not just to compete but to go all the way. Right now, I'm very grateful to be back on court, back on tour. I feel like I've improved a lot as a player in the last eight months, but I also recognize that I’ve been out and it's a big step back directly after such a long time without competing. My main priority is taking care of my body, making sure that when I step onto the match court, I am fully prepared for whatever comes. I always believe in my tennis, so we'll see how far I can go."

A recovery with important lessons

"I know with some injuries I’ve had in the past, I made mistakes returning too early, and when you come back too soon, you can lose a lot of confidence in your body. I haven't had an injury that has kept me completely off the court. I've been able to practice, I've been able to keep accumulating reps over a long period of time. I just haven't been able to get to the point of being able to compete at the highest intensity I want, nor string together tournaments as I would like and need to get back to being a top player. I have no fear about my arm. I know I have very good people around me. I have experience with this now, and I just want to make sure I do everything right to be able to compete week in, week out and stay on tour."

Concern about the situation in the Middle East

"It's very worrying. I was in Dubai last week. I managed to get out probably on one of the last flights that left. I just hope that the players and all the staff inside the ATP can get here, or more importantly, that they are safe. It's a very worrying situation for all involved, and I hope they can come here. I'm not sure how the situation is right now. Honestly, that's all I can say."

Showing the real side of tennis in his vlog

"Personally, I don't love letting people into my life outside of tournaments or outside of the public domain, but I think it's actually something I'm going to continue to do because I think it's good to share your journey, share your story, and hopefully inspire children and younger generations and show that it's not all highlights, glitz, and glamour. There's a lot more to this sport and lifestyle than that. There are a lot of ups and downs, and I think, apart from the moments seen on social media or in highlights, it's also important to show a more raw side of all of this. I think I'll continue to do it, and hopefully, I can give people a good inside perspective."

A fresh start… even in the look

"There's nothing like a buzz cut. Honestly, you don't have to do anything. What inspired the cut? I don't know, I've been out for a long time. Eight months is tough. Especially in an individual sport, you become quite isolated. There are a lot of tough moments, and when you come out of that and start to feel a bit better about yourself, I just felt like a fresh start. I'm not sure if it's my best haircut or my best style decision, but I think something different is always good. I think I’ll do it again, but maybe let it grow a bit now."

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Draper: “No estaría aquí si no sintiera que puedo llegar otra vez hasta la final”