"It is a very prestigious event and it is great to play for your country" - Jack Draper on the importance of the Davis Cup
ATPFriday, 13 September 2024 at 05:30
British tennis star Jack Draper has seen his stock rise over the past few weeks following his stellar performance at the 2024 US Open, and he is hoping to channel that momentum when he represents Great Britain at the Davis Cup this week.
Draper stunned the tennis circuit during the two weeks of Flushing Meadows, powering past his opponents without dropping a set to reach the semifinals. However, his dream run was ended by World No.1 Jannik Sinner, as the Italian prevailed in an exhausting three-set match.
New responsibilities come with the added pressure, says Draper
The 22-year old was among the second-tier players at last year's edition of the Davis Cup. However, as Britain's new No.1 player, Draper finds himself in a different position as he's expected to lead his team to victory.
"I feel good in this new role, last year with Murray and Norrie was a great experience and playing in front of the crowded Manchester audience is extraordinary," said Draper. "The team is there, even rotating we remain a competitive group and hope to do a great job. What does the Davis Cup mean? The truth is, it’s very interesting. Before playing it is difficult to understand the meaning but it is a very prestigious event and it is great to play for your country.
"Compared to the other years this year I had less time to rest but it happens also to others and is something that I do not have to think about, then play at home. US Open? I’m doing very well after this tournament, reaching the semi-finals of a Slam is great and it shows that I am working well.
" Obviously I still have a lot to improve, now I want to do well here and then I’ll go to Asia. I just want - when I have time - to look back and say that I’m proud of myself. Tennis is a sport for present, we can not win every week and therefore every week needs to learn and adapt to the challenges that we face."
"Compared to the other years this year I had less time to rest but it happens also to others and is something that I do not have to think about, then play at home. US Open? I’m doing very well after this tournament, reaching the semi-finals of a Slam is great and it shows that I am working well.
" Obviously I still have a lot to improve, now I want to do well here and then I’ll go to Asia. I just want - when I have time - to look back and say that I’m proud of myself. Tennis is a sport for present, we can not win every week and therefore every week needs to learn and adapt to the challenges that we face."
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Growing up in a household where soccer was king, my earliest memories are filled with chants from packed stadiums and the rhythm of a ball being passed across neighborhood streets. But somewhere along the way, the quiet elegance and raw emotion of tennis pulled me in. What began as a curiosity became a lifelong passion; not just for the sport itself, but for the stories it tells: of grit, of heartbreak, of improbable comebacks and human resilience.
As a tennis writer, I bring the observational lens of someone who didn’t grow up in the sport, but fell in love with it as an outsider; a perspective that lets me see both its technical beauty and its emotional depth. Over the years working with TennisUpToDate, I’ve had the privilege of reaching more than 3.5 million readers worldwide, with one of my features ranking among the site’s top three articles.
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