Jack Draper slams ATP’s ‘mentally and physically’ challenging schedule as he warns ‘loss of longevity’ for players his age
British World No.1 ack Draper slams ATP schedule, revealing it is mentally and physically challenging to players.
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Jack Draper at 2024 US Open (Image via US Open)
Jack Draper has revealed that the ATP’s schedule is mentally and physically challenging and players have little or no time to rest. The British World No. 1 reached his maiden Grand Slam semifinals at the US Open but looked fatigued and ill during his loss to eventual champion Jannik Sinner.
Draper has played more matches this season than any other in his career. He had suffered several injuries in recent years, but this year, he has somehow found a way to be fit regularly for the Tour. However, the ATP calendar begins with the hard court in January, followed by a switch to the European clay court.
This year, players had to switch from grass to clay again because of the Paris Olympics in August and return to the North American hard courts. From September, there will be a switch to the indoor hard courts. With several switches of courts and little or no time to get used to the surfaces, players are beginning to suffer fatigue as the season progresses.
WTA star Iga Swiatek recently complained about the schedule issue and went further to withdraw from the Korea Open. Jack Draper admitted that the complications with the hectic ATP schedule are mentally and physically challenging to players.
It's a mental calendar. It's my opinion that it's going to be very hard for players of my age to achieve longevity anymore. I look at the sort of schedule, and I know players have done it for years, but the way the ATP have changed to two weeks with the Masters and these types of things, it's giving us no time anymore. There's literally no break. It's really mentally and physically challenging.Jack Draper said via BBC
Draper reached his first final at the Adelaide Open in January but had to wait until June to win his first title at the Stuttgart Open, beating Matteo Berrettini in three sets.
Jack Draper and Team Great Britain succumb to a disappointing Davis Cup loss against Argentina
Jack Draper failed to lead Team Great Britain to victory in their second Davis Cup Group match against Argentina. The World No. 20, fresh from his US Open exploits, fell a loss to Francisco Cerundolo in 6-7(4), 5-6 in Manchester.
Team GB had lost their opening match, as Dan Evans fell to a disappointing 2-6, 5-7 loss against Tomas Martin Etcheverry. Draper’s loss in the second match sealed the fate of the British team, as Argentina went 2-0 up.
In the third match, Evan and Neal Skupski teamed up to earn a consolidatory win for Great Britain, beating Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni in the doubles.
A win over Argentina would have earned Great Britain a place in the Final Eight of the Davis Cup in Malaga, Spain. They will now have to fight to secure a spot in the knockout by beating Canada on Sunday (September 15).
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Victor Okechukwu
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