Jack Draper comes clean on Italian Open outburst with 'waking up angry' admission | Tennis | Sport


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Jack Draper got candid after destroying his racket in a moment of frustration at the Italian Open. The world No. 5 already had a healthy lead over his opponent, qualifier Vit Kopriva, when he blew more break points and hurled his racket to the ground multiple times, receiving a code violation.

After sealing a 6-4 6-3 victory - his 100th tour-level win - Draper claimed his temper “boiled out a little too much”. But he explained that he couldn’t be perfect all the time, and made an honest admission about “waking up angry” and still having to play a match.

Draper recently finished runner-up in Madrid and he’s carried his form straight into Rome, where he’s through to the round of 16 without dropping a set.

The fifth seed was dominant against Czech world No. 92 Kopriva, racing into a 6-4 3-1 lead, so it came as a surprise when he suddenly lashed out and smashed his racket when he failed to seal a double-break.

Draper regrouped, coming from 0-40 down in his next service game and breaking Kopriva one more time to advance to the fourth round. Afterwards, he was honest about his frustrations.

“I felt a little bit low on energy, my feet weren’t working as well as I wanted them to but I tried to fight on, find a way,” he told Sky Sports.

“Obviously the frustration boiled out a little too much in the end but I stayed at it and came through.”

The 23-year-old has played a lot of tennis over the last three weeks after reaching the Madrid Open final. And he said there were days he had to battle his emotions on the court.

Draper continued: “On certain days, I’m human, we don't always wake up out of bed feeling great.

“I’m the same, I get out of bed and I feel so angry some days and I’ve got to play a tennis match and I’ve got to lose points, I’ve got to go through the emotional ups and downs, even with that going on.

“I think I’ve played, a lot of tennis a lot of matches. I’m getting used to that now. I’m in a new position now, my ranking is obviously going up and I’m getting to compete week in, week out and play lots of matches.

“It’s taking some getting used to for me from a mental and physical side. I want to keep going but it’s sometimes difficult to always be perfect.”

Although Draper said he “doesn’t condone” his behaviour, he was proud to regroup and come through the match unscathed. The Brit will now face Corentin Moutet, the controversial Frenchman who often causes a stir on court.

The world No. 83 beat ninth seed Holger Rune in a marathon match that lasted almost four hours. While it will be Draper’s first meeting with Moutet, he knows his next opponent well.

“I know him actually from a very long time ago, under-14s I kind of looked up to him when I was younger,” he said.

“Yeah I think he’s always been quite flairy from what I’ve seen and heard! I think he brings a lot to tennis, to be honest. I think every time I watch him, it’s an interesting match. Obviously he’s done very well to come through that one against Holger so I look forward to that one.”



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Posted: 2025-05-11 17:29:54

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