Tim Henman makes bold Jack Draper rankings prediction after ‘breakthrough’
Jack Draper was disappointed to pull out of the Australian Open due to a fitness issue in his fourth-round match against Carlos Alcaraz, but Tim Henman still believes he “made a breakthrough” in Melbourne.
Draper described his hip problem as a “ticking time bomb” after limping out of his match with Alcaraz, as the injury he had heading into the event caught up with him.
The British No 1 went into the tournament with little preparation but came through three five-set matches, which he saw as a positive step in his development.
“I have been unbelievably surprised with how much I have been able to play and put my body through, more than I have ever done before,” said Draper.
“I think it’s just one of those things, just massive overload. This area of my body, if I don’t get that right and I don’t make good decisions, I don’t want to miss three or four months because of that.
“From the third game, I felt like it was getting worse. I actually woke up this morning, didn’t feel too bad. When I got out there and Carlos’ intensity – I’m someone who throws my body around, gives it my all.
“From the third game, I felt like I had multiple areas that were really in pain, and especially the hip.
“I didn’t feel amazing before my last match but obviously got out there and it felt OK. Maybe it’s a little bit of a ticking time bomb, considering I had no preparation and no work for my body.
“I have come and I played a ridiculous amount of tennis and I have broken down.”
Now former British No 1 Henman has joined Draper by suggesting his run in Melbourne was a step forward in his career, as he believes his fitness concerns are a mix of mental and physical issues.
Tennis News
Jack Draper reveals his new big plan to solve a recurring problem
The 12 men to win their first ATP title in 2024: ft. Jack Draper and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard
“I think his performance in Australia was so good for him mentally,” said Henman.
“He obviously missed some of the off-season, but he came through three five-set matches and that was a step forward.
“Twelve months ago, you see him winning a fairly straightforward five-set match and he is vomiting on the court. That, to me, is 99 per-cent mental.
“He puts in so much work on the practice court and I’ve seen him working so hard in training and in the gym.
“So to come through three five-setters when he was not in the best shape of his life was massive for him.
“That will give him so much belief that he can play the long matches.
“When you first play five-set matches and you lose a tough first set, I promise you it feels like a long way to the winning line.
“You are only a set down, but you still have to win three and wow, it feels like a long way off.
“When you have been through the process a few times, you start to understand how to deal with it mentally and that massively helps the body respond better to the challenge.
“For him to get through to the fourth round in those circumstances was brilliant and I feel he is only just scratching the surface in his career.
“He’s not had a full season and has always had setbacks, but the way he is training the team he has around him, that won’t happen as much.”
When asked to assess where his ranking could be at the end of this year, Henman made a bold claim.
“Top 10, for sure,” he added. “Can he qualify for the ATP Finals at the end of the year? Why not. He’s an outsider, maybe, but that’s the conversation around Jack now.
“It’s all about Jack maximising his potential. How good he is going to be, we don’t know, but we won’t have long to find out.”
Sky Sports is the home to more live tennis than anywhere else. Watch year-round action including the ATP and WTA Tours and US Open exclusively on Sky Sports and NOW.
READ NEXT: Novak Djokovic or Rafael Nadal? Jack Draper names his ATP ‘GOAT’
