Jack Draper closing in on rankings breakthrough as Tommy Paul joins the elite list

The big ranking points up for grabs at the Australian Open will lead to dramatic at the top of the game when the tournament is complete and Jack Draper and Tommy Paul are among those making their move after reaching the second week in Melbourne.
Draper confirmed his staying power in long matches is improving as he backed up five-set wins against Mariano Navone and Thanasi Kokkinakis bu coming back from two sets to one down to see off unseeded Australian Aleksandar Vukic and set up a fourth-round clash with Carlos Alcaraz.
The young Brit has struggled to last the pace in extended Grand Slam matches at the start of his career, but he is proving he is building the physical resistance required to compete for the game’s biggest titles.
“I’m done after two sets most of the time, so I’m proud of my efforts so far,” said Draper.
“That’s just the way it is and that’s something that I’m aware of and I needed to be better at that.
“I still have a long way to go, but this is a huge drive forward, the fact that I’m mentally and physically (capable) – three five-set matches, it doesn’t happen often. That’s a testament to the work I’ve done and the place I’m in. So I’m very, very proud of that.
“I’m obviously not feeling incredibly fresh right now, but I’ll recover again. I’ll do my best to go again for another one.”
The win against Vukic saw Draper move up to No 15 in the live ATP Rankings and he will equal his career high if he stays there when the Australian Open comes to an end.
Draper could move up to No 14 in the rankings if he repeats his win from last summer’s Queen’s Club event against Alcaraz in his next match.
If he can match his run at last year’s US Open and reach the semi-finals, he would be closing in on a place in the top 10.
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The rankings new is even more positive for America’s Tommy Paul, who is set to make his debut in the top 10 of the ATP Rankings after his 7-6(0), 6-2, 6-0 win over Roberto Carballes Baena.
Paul has jumped up two places to No 9 in the live ATP Rankings and he will cement his position in that elite list in the men’s game if he beats Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in his next match.
Another rankings story to look out for is the slide for Novak Djokovic, who is down one position to No 8 in the live rankings as he looks to match and beat his run to the semi-finals in last year’s Australian Open.
Djokovic will be keen to stay in the top eight of the rankings after the Australian Open as that will be crucial to ensuring he avoids battles with Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz in the fourth round of the French Open and Wimbledon.
The Serbian has made it clear that rankings are no longer a concern for him at this stage of his career, as he is focusing his attention on trying to win a 25th Grand Slam title.
Djokovic was hugely impressive in his 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 win over Tomas Machac and believes he is raising is game at the right moment.
“I didn’t have too many drops in the concentration and the level of tennis,” said the Serbian after his latest victory.
“Physically I struggled at the beginning of the second for those 15, 20 minutes but I managed to turn things around from an early break loss in the second. In the third I felt fresher and played really well to close out the match.
“I knew it was going to be a tough test. I didn’t expect to win in straight sets against him because he’s in red-hot form and I’m still to find the best tennis myself. But I think I prepared myself very well and played a terrific match.”
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