Jack Draper reveals his new big plan to solve a recurring problem
Jack Draper is being backed to break into the top ten of the ATP Rankings in 2025, but he needs to solve one big issue to turn that dream into a reality.
Draper confirmed his potential when he made it through to the US Open semi-finals in August and he is closing in on a place in the top ten of the ATP Rankings for the first time.
A long run at the Australian Open next month could fire Draper into the elite ten names in the men’s game, yet fitness issues continued to be a concern for the 22-year-old Brit.
Draper’s ambitions have been hampered by injury problems over the last couple of years and that has continued during the off-season, as he was forced to cancel a planned training block with French Open and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz in Spain due to a small injury concern.
“It was something that we were really excited about and something that me and James (Trotman), my coach, had been talking about for a while, trying to go out and hit with the best players in the world and get that exposure,” said the 22-year-old of the planned trip to work with Alcaraz.
“It’s obviously very disappointing that I can’t go out. But that’s the thing in sports sometimes, you have these disappointments, you have these little challenges and little setbacks that come in your way and you’ve got to think about how you’re going to make the most (of things).
“I always try to have a positive outlook on things. For me at this stage of my career, what’s most important is that I can have a long career.
“I’ve been working incredibly hard the last couple of weeks to hopefully improve next year. I did have a little bit of a niggle in my hip area.
“In terms of going away to Spain and training at that level of intensity with Carlos, I had to make that call because it’s not fair on him if I go and I’m not 100 per cent.
“The whole reason I’m going in the first place is to be 100 per cent and go to the best of my ability with him. I hope it’s just a short-term little thing.
“I don’t think it’s anything too serious but, because of tennis and the way it is with timelines and short turnarounds, it’s important that I look after my body, and important that I don’t try and do anything to potentially make it worse and jeopardise the start of my season.”
Now Draper has confirmed he is looking to step up his training plan, which includes using HotPod Yoga, which mimics the effects of a more intense physical activity and increases your heart rate, providing a challenge for your cardiovascular system.
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Draper has struggled playing in the heat and he is clearly keen to do all he can to resolve that issue.
“I know lots of other young players, we’re constantly trying to understand our bodies better,” he told the BBC
“We’re constantly trying to have an understanding of how we’re going to manage our bodies better for the long run and what we need to do, what exercises we need to do, what maybe not to do, not to push in certain ways because it might have an effect on that certain part of the body.
“So I’m definitely there right now, I’m trying to understand more about my body so that I can have a hopefully long, successful career.
“We live in the UK, it’s not the sunniest here. I was planning on going away to get some more heat, but it’s just kind of getting that exposure, that’s something I’m definitely looking into.
“Obviously tennis follows the sun, so we’re trying to just adjust and acclimatise early so that I’m ready for what’s to come.”
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