Britain’s rising tennis star, Jack Draper, recently revealed that he defied his team’s advice to participate in the Davis Cup. The 22-year-old, already recognized as one of the most talented young players in men’s singles tennis, is a left-hander, which gives him an additional edge on the court.
Draper represented Great Britain in the Davis Cup tie against Argentina. Unfortunately, his participation didn’t bring the desired outcome, as Great Britain lost 2-1. Draper himself faced a tough match against Francisco Cerundolo, losing in straight sets with a score of 7-6, 7-5. After the match, Draper admitted that he played despite the wishes of his team, stating that representing his country was more important to him. Currently ranked 20th in the world, he emphasized the significance of playing for Great Britain at the highest level.
“My team wants what’s best for me, both physically and mentally,” Draper explained. “They’re the closest people to me and want me to stay healthy, especially given my history. But I know the pride of playing for my country, the excitement of being part of the team, and the incredible feeling of walking out in front of a home crowd. As British number one, I felt it was the right decision to be here and support the team.”
Draper entered the Davis Cup shortly after an impressive performance at the US Open. His journey at the prestigious tournament ended in the semifinals, where he was defeated by Italy’s world number one, Jannik Sinner, in straight sets: 7-5, 7-6, 6-2.