Great Britain star Jack Draper has made no secret of his desire to compete with the top players in professional tennis.
Draper announced himself to the world by reaching the United States Open semi-finals last year, and he has subsequently climbed to number five in the rankings.
However, he withdrew from this year’s tournament due to an arm injury, continuing a frustrating trend of missing events due to fitness problems.
While the rest of Draper’s body is in excellent shape, bone bruising in his left arm is frustrating his efforts to climb even higher in the world rankings.
The issue has forced him to withdraw from Britain’s Davis Cup tie against Poland and could impact his hopes of playing in the season-ending ATP Finals.
Given the work that Draper has put in since joining the ATP Tour, he will be understandably frustrated that injuries are hindering his progress.
The 23-year-old has significantly improved his physique over the past 12 months to aid his hopes of reaching the top in his chosen profession.
He has teamed up with physiotherapist Shane Annun and fitness trainer Matt Little, who were previously part of Andy Murray’s team.
“I have started to really enjoy improving in the gym aspect,” Draper said. “Before, I didn’t really want to push myself. I didn’t really want to feel strong, almost.
“But I feel great in myself now, and I understand the benefits it has on the match court and on these big stages, as well.
“I’ve been leaving no stone unturned. I’ve been doing a lot of leg strength training, a lot of cardio work, and a lot of versa-climber work.
“Ultimately, I’m doing stuff where you’re shocking your body all the time and working it as hard as possible to get the best gains.”
Draper’s desperation to become a top player makes perfect sense given the current state of play in the men’s game.
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have emerged as the dominant forces on the ATP Tour in recent years. The Grand Slams have become their favourite playground.
The pair have powered a long way clear at the top of the rankings, yet the feeling remains that they are making hay while other players underperform.
Draper has the opportunity to change the narrative and emulate what Murray achieved in the face of competition from Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
Several pundits have tipped Joao Fonseca to emerge as the main rival to Sinner and Alcaraz, but Draper also has plenty of noteworthy supporters.
They include former tennis star John McEnroe, who backed the British player to become a regular contender for Grand Slam titles over the next few years.
“I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t win multiple majors,” McEnroe said. “It is incredible how much he’s improving and how great a player he’s become.
“He can do everything. He’s an excellent volleyer – the serve is huge. He took his shirt off, and I was immediately jealous. The guy is in unbelievable shape. He’s got a lot of big things to look forward to.”
McEnroe made those comments after Draper defeated Gael Monfils in four sets at the French Open. He subsequently swept past Fonseca in straight sets in the next round.
While one result in isolation proves little in the grand scheme of things, it highlights Draper’s ability to produce big performances when everything falls into place.
Having worked hard on developing his core fitness over the past year, Draper will be desperate for his arm to heal sooner rather than later.
Competing regularly with Sinner and Alcaraz is achievable if he stays fit, and Draper believes that lofty goal is attainable.
“I don’t want to feel like we’re just letting them do it,” Draper said. “I want to keep on going after them, keep on improving, and hopefully soon be competing with them.”
If Draper can resolve the fitness issues that have plagued him up to this point, tennis fans could be treated to another golden era over the next 10-15 years.
