By Tony Fairbairn
- Andrey Rublev [8] def Jack Draper 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-4
- Jack Draper believes he can be ‘one of the top players in the world’ after his fourth round exit to Andrey Rublev
NEW YORK, USA – Jack Draper believes he can be one of the best players in the world after he lost in four sets to Andrey Rublev in the fourth round of the US Open.
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It was a remarkable run to the US Open fourth round but Jack Draper’s journey in New York is over a valiant performance in a four set defeat to Andrey Rublev. A positive start to the match was produced from Draper but it was evident that the Brit wasn’t as comfortable on serve with Rublev securing the break in the fourth game.
After losing the opening set Draper came back with a more consistent and powerful display with his forehand forcing Rublev into defensive positions. The world number 123 saved five break points and secured the break in the sixth game to level the match at one set all.
At times in the third set it looked like it was going to be Draper’s day as he broke in the opening game of the third set before Rublev wrestled back control, breaking twice. In the end Draper had run out of energy but never gave as he forced the world number eight to serve for the match, which Rublev did comfortably.
After the match Draper admitted he feels drained but has learned a lot from the experience in particular about how to train going forwards.
“I gave it all mentally but I was pretty drained honestly,” Draper was quoted by The Guardian as saying.
“I was speaking to my coach and now that we are fit, we can go back to base and try and work each day to be better with that intensity. It is tough when you have been out for so long to have no feedback.
“You come here and play against a top-10 player in the world and they show you their intensity and what they can do on the court. And how you are going to be effective against them? I can train in a different way now.”
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Draper sets ambitious targets ahead of season finale
A very positive tournament for Draper in what has been a really difficult season with the Brit dealing with multiple injuries. Even heading into the US Open, the Brit had fitness doubts having withdrawn from Winston-Salem due to a left shoulder injury.
Now after a turbulent year Draper admits his first goal is to remain healthy and injury-free as he looks for consistent matches.
“After last week, I was obviously very gone,” Draper admitted to The Guardian.
“I thought that maybe I’d hurt myself again, and I wasn’t going to be able to play this week. I’m coming away having had four good matches at a grand slam and I’m going home injury-free, that’s a huge step in the right direction for me and the No 1 thing for me now is to look after my body and make sure that I can end the year strong and just keep going.”
The Brit will be hoping for a strong end to the season as he is up to 76 in the world in the live rankings, climbing 47 places. After thinking about the short-term, Draper wants to focus on long-term goals and the Brit believes he can be one of the best players in the world.
“With the amount of injuries I’ve had and the amount of times I’ve not been able to compete, and I’ve had difficult times in my career, it has honestly been tough to believe I can go all the way in a grand slam right now,” Draper said to The Guardian.
“But if I stay fit and go to Australia and I’m in much better shape and I’ve proved it to myself then there is no reason why I can’t be one of the top players in the world, I do believe that.”
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