Jack Draper admitted his frustration boiled over during his straight-sets victory against Czech qualifier Vit Kopriva at the Italian Open in Rome, a match that saw him advance to the last 16.
The British number one held a set and a break advantage but became visibly angry after missing an opportunity to secure another break point for a 4-1 lead in the second set, repeatedly striking his racket against the clay court.
Draper, who sealed his spot in the next round with a 6-4, 6-3 win to face Frenchman Corentin Moutet, reflected on the encounter. He described it as a tough match against a relatively unknown opponent who had built momentum with several wins at the tournament.
He added that he approached the match as just another opportunity to perform. However, he confessed to feeling somewhat low on energy and that his footwork wasn`t as sharp as he desired, emphasizing his effort to fight and find a way to win.
Draper acknowledged that his frustration became somewhat excessive towards the end but highlighted that he persisted and ultimately prevailed.
Despite securing the win, Draper converted only three out of thirteen break point opportunities against Kopriva, which extended the match duration to one hour and 41 minutes.
“I`m human. We don`t always wake up out of bed feeling great. I`m the same,” Draper commented on managing emotions during competition.
He explained that some days he feels angry, yet still has to play, lose points, and navigate the inherent emotional ups and downs of tennis.
Draper noted that playing a high volume of matches recently is helping him adapt. With his rising ranking, he is now competing consistently week after week.
He concluded that this adjustment, both mentally and physically, is taking time, and while he aims to keep progressing, maintaining perfection is challenging.
