World number six, Jack Draper, recently discussed the sacrifices involved in pursuing a professional tennis career.
“Professional tennis is relentless,” Draper stated. “We`re competing, training, sacrificing family time almost all year round… We`re literally giving up parts of our lives. It`s tough every single day, and you often question if you can keep going. But to achieve greatness, you have to push through that. On the flip side, it`s crucial to remember that I`m playing a sport I adore, I`m well-compensated, I meet incredible people, and I relish the physical and mental tests. I`m not sure how long my career will last, but I`m committed to giving my absolute all to reach my full potential.”
The British player was also asked about potential comparisons between his game style and that of Rafael Nadal.
“Until I`ve won 14 Roland Garros titles, any comparisons to Nadal are clearly premature,” he remarked. “Like him, I`m a lefty, and Rafa was my childhood idol. I can`t seriously put myself in his category, but I hope there are some shared traits, maybe in our approach to the game or the spin we generate. Naturally, I`d love to incorporate elements of his game, but achieving his level of mastery on clay is still a distant goal for me.”
He added, “I believe that the more high-level matches I play on clay, the more my confidence grows on this surface. Naturally, defeating the world number 12 [Tommy Paul] was a significant win for me. My team and I are pleased with how I`ve been performing in recent matches, and I hope to maintain this momentum.”
