Although Jack Draper’s season included a fourth-round retirement against Carlos Alcaraz, the withdrawal was not a significant cause for alarm. A pre-season hip injury had limited his preparation, and the accumulated lack of court time eventually took its toll.
Despite the early setback, Draper subsequently enjoyed a successful period, winning the biggest title of his career at Indian Wells and posting strong results during the clay and grass-court seasons. However, a surprise second-round Wimbledon defeat to veteran Marin Cilic served as a reality check and catalyzed a break from the tour.
A persistent arm injury, later identified as a bruised humerus, forced him to withdraw from ATP 1000 events in Toronto and Cincinnati. While the issue sidelined him from competition, it did not halt his training regimen and afforded him a chance to see his favourite band, Oasis, at Wembley.
Having now arrived in New York more than a week ago, Draper is focused on preventing Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz from dominating the major titles for a second consecutive season.
“I don’t want to feel like we’re just letting them do it,” the fifth seed stated. “I want to keep on going after them, keep on improving, and hopefully soon be competing with them.”
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