Jack Draper to take on ATP star who has backed him all season – ‘I go with Draper… I will hit the same note’

Andrey Rublev has been predicting big things for Jack Draper all season long and the British youngster is finally coming good, although Rublev will hope that his prophecy doesn’t come to pass at the US Open.

The duo will square off in fourth round of the US Open on Monday after Draper marked his return to full fitness with three brilliant wins at Flushing Meadows.

Playing in only his second top-level tournament since injuring his shoulder at the French Open in May, Draper defeated veteran Radu Albot in the first round, stunned 17th seed Hubert Hurkacz in the second round and then saw off the challenge of American qualifier Michael Mmoh to reach the last 16 of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career.

Up next is Rublev and the world No 8 is aware of Draper’s prowess as he has been backing the 21-year-old to have a stellar hard-court campaign.

Players were asked for one bold prediction for the hard-court season during a light-hearted ATP Tour campaign and Rublev replied: “In Australia they were also asking me for predictions for this year and I said Draper. I go with Draper and I will hit the same note.”

They were then asked who will be the biggest surprise during the hard-court season and again he “hit the same note” as he answered “Draper” with a smile on his face, although this time Jannik Sinner also backed the British youngster.

“For me, Jack Draper is coming back from injury and if he feels good, I pick him. It’s never easy to play against lefties,” the Italian said.

Rublev, though, will no doubt be confident ahead of the fourth-round clash as he has won his previous two meetings against the British youngster with the most recent one a 6-4, 6-2 win at the Citi Open in August last year.

Draper, meanwhile, is happy that his body is holding up following his lengthy spell on the sidelines and he is setting his sights high.

“When I am playing, I’m not here just to be here and be happy to play. I’m a competitor when I get into the matches. I want to win everything,” he said. “Definitely at the start of the week, there was real concern about my body and with the year I’ve had, whether I’d be able to play one match.

“Obviously it’s the best-of-five sets, so it’s completely different to what a three-set match even holds.

“You know, we just wanted to stay fit this trip. That was kind of the goal, you know, to get consistent competition in, because that’s just something I haven’t had.

“To come here this week and to play the way I have and to compete the way I have and for my body to hold up has been, it’s been pretty special for me, really.”

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