An unfortunate ending 🤝 @alexdeminaur returns to the Acapulco final after Jack Draper is forced to retire due to illness 6-3 2-6 4-0 [RET]. @AbiertoTelcel | #AMT2024
Jack Draper cruelly denied British No.1 spot after De Minaur retirement as bad luck continues
ATPSunday, 03 March 2024 at 09:30
Britain’s tennis star Jack Draper’s bad luck continues, this
time in the Mexican Open. The 22-year-old had to retire from the semifinal of
the competition while facing Australia’s Alex de Minaur.
If Draper would have won that tie, he would cement his place
in the top 30. However, he will now be ranked as high as 37 when the new ATP rankings
are revealed on Monday.
After the match, Draper stated that he would continue to
fight and improve his ranking as that is his primary objective.
“I have spoken about rankings goals with my coach and if I
can stay injury-free and stay on the trajectory I have been on since last
summer, there is no reason why I can’t be ranked in the top 20 by the end of
this year,” said Draper. “That’s my goal, that’s where I want to be. I know I
can go a lot further than that, but one step at a time and that’s a good goal
for me.”
His opponent in the semifinal De Minaur heaped praise on Draper,
who according to him is ‘one hell of a player’ and wished him a speedy recovery
as well.
“He’s a hell of a player, a hell of a talent and I hope it’s
nothing too serious,” he said. “I think those are the types of situations which
are the hardest to control as a player because you’re stuck in two minds.
“One mind is, alright, you can see your opponent hurting. So
let’s just try and put the ball in the court and make him just miss. What you
really have to do is play the same style of tennis that you were that got you
to that stage. So it’s extremely hard to focus in those situations, and often
these are the matches that can complicate themselves.
“Even though I dropped that second set, I knew he was
hurting from then and I just told myself to bring up the intensity, try and get
a head start in the third set and make it a little bit harder for him.
“But honestly, I wish him a speedy recovery. He’s a hell of
a player, a hell of a talent and I hope it’s nothing too serious.”
Just In
Popular News
Latest Comments
- I'd give wildcards to Andreescu tbf when she returns over Shamcanu and HalepSakkariFan2326-04-2024
- She is class on both surface. Depends on if Anna is there too.SakkariFan2326-04-2024
- I think they should be scrapped apart from those who have proved themselves.SakkariFan2326-04-2024
- No shock really. Watching Maria Sakkari trumps the Big Three, let's be honest.SakkariFan2326-04-2024
- Blanch was like a rabbit in the headlights. Should be reserved for the top names imo.SakkariFan2326-04-2024
