Draper on playing while ill: “I’d probably go on court with a broken leg”
The new world No 4 has been ill this week but is aiming high heading into Wimbledon
Jack Draper (Action Plus/PSNewz)
After his semi-final defeat at Queen’s to Jiri Lehecka, Jack Draper revealed he was playing with tonsillitis – but he never considered withdrawing.
“It had been developing over the week. I have been trying to recover and stuff, but the body, when you have something like that, doesn’t really want to play two hour 20 matches in the heat. You know, it’s probably not good for you, so you’re not going to feel better.
“Yeah, I mean, today’s probably the worst I have felt. Did I think about withdrawing? No, not at all. I’m in the semi-finals at Queen’s. I’d probably go on court with a broken leg. I wouldn’t have pulled out for anything.
“So I went out there, gave all I had, and I can be very proud of that. And also, it’s not an excuse. It’s just the way I feel, you know. I think I lost today because I lost to a better tennis player. He was better than me in the key moments. He served better. I think he was a bit braver at times. While I’m really, really proud of my efforts, but at the same time, obviously gutted with the loss.”
Draper: Tennis players are entertainers
His frustration spilled over towards the end of the match as he struck his racquet against an advertising hoarding, grazing his knee in the process.
“I haven’t felt good all week,” he added. “You know, I tried my best out there to get myself up for the matches and compete my hardest. I think part of that is my ups and downs in the matches. You know, I have been sort of trying to get myself up for each point.
“When you’re in that state, especially on the grass court against these guys who are serving and playing like that, a couple of loose points here and there, you know you’re in big trouble.
“I’m proud of the way I went about things, considering, you know, but it’s tough, because you’re in a position where you’re in a professional sport. You’re an entertainer, an athlete, and you have no choice. No one cares, you know. So you’ve just got to go out there and do the best you can. I’m proud of that. I gave myself a chance.”
Draper: I’m in a privileged position
He confirmed that he would be taking a few days off to rest and then focusing on Wimbledon, where he knows there will be a fervent British crowd cheering him on once more, just as they have at Queen’s.
“I’ve got a job in front of me. I’ve got to play point by point, and I’m not thinking about any pressures or anything like that.
“I think it’s a privilege to be in the position I’m in, and I’m going to go to Wimbledon and I’m going to feel amazing. I’m going to feel great about myself. I have come back there in the position that I have always wanted to be since I was a kid, and, you know, I’ll prepare properly and I’ll prepare the best I can to play some of my best tennis there. I think the home support that I have received is going to help me to do well.”
