Jack Draper declares he DOES want to play in Davis Cup this week despite gruelling US Open heartbreak which saw him vomit in semi-final defeat
The hamster wheel of tennis never stops turning, and the next decision for Jack Draper after his US Open heroics is whether to represent his country in the Davis Cup this week.
It would be something of a homecoming, a chance for British fans in Manchester to fete him for his run to the semi finals, but there is uncertainty over whether Draper will compete at the AO Arena.
The 22-year-old flew back to the UK on Saturday and will make a decision in the next day or two. He told us after his defeat by Jannik Sinner that he was ‘banged up’ but hoped to play.
‘Davis Cup is a huge deal to me. I never really understood it until I played it for the first time,’ he said. ‘When we were going to Colombia (last February), it was a bit like, “Should I go, should I not?” But I went and saw how important it is to everyone, how important it is to be there representing your country. So even though the tennis schedule is full and is relentless, I’ve barely had a day off since the start of the year, I want to be there, I want to be competing for my country.
‘I’ll speak to my team but I want to be there on Wednesday.’
Jack Draper is debating whether he will be able to play for GB in the Davis Cup this week
He enjoyed a run to the semi finals at the US Open but could not get past Jannik Sinner
Draper represented Team GB at the Olympics and is hoping to be fully fit for the Davis Cup
The format is a group stage of four nations, of which the top two will qualify for the finals in Malaga in November.
A possible halfway house solution could be for Draper to rest up and miss Wednesday’s match against Finland, the weakest of the three opponents, before playing in the pivotal matches against Argentina and Canada on the Friday and Sunday.
With Draper, Great Britain should have a good chance of qualifying. Without him it would be difficult.
‘We will just have to see how he recovers and how he feels,’ said Davis Cup captain Leon Smith. ‘Obviously we would be absolutely delighted if he is here and ready to go.
‘He is the strongest singles player on the team. A top-20 player in great form. We would love to have him here but at the same time, you have to respect what has just happened.
‘He comes in here high on confidence but he is going to be feeling the effects of a tough summer as well. Level-wise, he can go out and compete against anyone in world tennis now.’
