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Jack Draper’s Journey to the Australian Open

Jack Draper, the 23-year-old tennis player, has faced a challenging path leading up to the Australian Open. A persistent hip issue has hindered his preparations, resulting in his absence from the United Cup and the cancellation of a training camp with the renowned four-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz.

In an effort to acclimatize to the Australian heat, Draper has been employing various strategies. He has been utilizing saunas and cycling in heated environments, also making sure to arrive in Australia two and a half weeks ahead of the tournament’s commencement.

“It’s not just the tennis, it’s a big mental game as well and it’s how we recover after points and deal with stress in general, whether that be the tennis or the conditions,” Draper explained, emphasizing the psychological aspects of the sport.

Draper expressed optimism about his physical readiness, stating, “I think my prep for the heat this year has been a lot better than previous years.” This statement highlights his commitment to improving his performance in challenging conditions.

As the 15th seed at Melbourne Park, Draper has been gearing up by practicing with elite players, including world number one Jannik Sinner and 24-time Grand Slam titleholder Novak Djokovic. He remarked, “They just bring such a high quality to the practice court. It’s really great to be able to spar with that kind of level of intensity and work ethic.”

With his first-round match against Argentina’s Mariano Navone scheduled for Monday, Draper appears to be focused and ready to take on the challenges of the tournament.

Source
www.bbc.com