Jack Draper talked at the press conference about his physical condition, revealing some details about his health in the weeks leading up to the first Slam of the year, after his victory over Mariano Navone, in the 1st round of the Australian Open 2025.
ADVERTISEMENT
The British tennis player, at the end of the match won in 5 sets, said he had had serious problems recently.
"I have hardly played tennis in the last month, a few weeks ago I could barely walk. I am proud of the courage I showed to win, but I have to reduce the wear and tear because I am still far from 100 percent physically," said Draper.
The continuous physical problems, especially in the 2022 season, have affected his growth. The return to high levels last year, with the peak reached with the semifinal at the US Open, seemed to have relaunched his career. Now new problems, with the hope that it is only a small ailment.
It took Draper exactly four hours to overcome Navone's resistance in the first round of the Happy Slam. The Argentine toyed with the idea of a coup against the British player for several moments, taking a set lead twice, before surrendering to the Englishman's comeback. The British player won with a score of 4-6 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-2, earning himself the 2nd round of the Australian Major, where he defeatedThanasi Kokkinakis in a five-sets battle.
ADVERTISEMENT
The 23-year-old native of Sutton showed great heart to take home the match, but the hip injury, which forced him to give up much of his pre-season training, still seems not to have been completely overcome.
