“It’s the maturity. Doing it when it matters”Jack Draper learns difficult lesson after French Open fourth-round defeat

Britain’s Jack Draper has admitted that he is still ‘a long way behind’ the likes of Italy’s Jannik Sinner and Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz. The 23-year-old, who is already regarded as one of the most talented players in the world in the men’s singles category, suffered a surprising defeat in the fourth round of the Frech Open on Monday to Alexander Bublik with a score of 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.

The defeat was a shocking one to some extent because Draper was identified as one of the favourites to go all the way and battle it out to secure the ultimate prize. The London-born star spoke to the media after the match, where he admitted that he still has a lot of distance to cover before competing for big titles with the likes of Sinner and Alcaraz.

Draper was of the opinion that those two players are ‘one or two years’ ahead of him and that he is getting there, but it will take more time to become consistent in big events such as the Grand Slams.

“Yeah, big time,” he said. “For sure. I still think I’m a long way behind those [Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz] boys, a little bit. I’ve still got a lot to learn. If you look at the matches, they’ve probably played double the amount that I’ve played. They’re probably a year or two years ahead of me. Obviously achieved a lot more. A lot more experience. I have a lot to do to catch up with them in all honesty. My level is getting better all the time, but it’s not just the tennis. It’s the maturity, the consistency… doing it when it matters. These are the tournaments it matters. I’ve got a lot to go still to get to them. I think I’m working hard and doing the right things. Definitely really difficult to not get the opportunity to play Jannik or whoever it is in the quarters.”