Jack Draper

Press Conference

J. DRAPER/N. Djokovic

4-6, 6-4, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Jack, congrats on the hard-fought win. Can you just sum up the match, please.

JACK DRAPER: Yeah, it was a crazy match. I think both of us gave it our all. I think from my side, started off, like, a bit passive, and then as the match went on, I definitely was able to be more aggressive, you know, take control of the points on my terms.

Just overwhelmed to obviously beat Novak, someone I have watched and admired and idolized since I was a kid. Just very grateful to be in this situation and go again tomorrow.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. What were you thinking and how were you able to reset after not serving it out?

JACK DRAPER: Yeah, that game went very quickly, obviously. Not ideal, by any means. I think I will blame a little bit there the time I've had out of the game on that one.

It's one thing obviously serving out a match against a top player, but when it's Novak, it's even more difficult, like I said in the first question, someone I have been watching since I was a kid.

When you're kind of serving out matches, especially at this level, you kind of have something to go by by your last matches or last tournaments, so I haven't really had that.

More than anything, I'm proud of the way I was able to regroup. I played a good game at 6-5 on my serve and played a good tiebreak, as well. So that's something I can be proud of, and I'll obviously take the experience of what happened at 5-4 and use that for what's to come.

Q. What are your thoughts about that point at 30-All in the first game of the third set? It was pretty electrifying. And after that, did you get a sense that maybe your window to take over the set was right at that moment?

JACK DRAPER: Yeah, I think it was a really important point, because I felt like it's not easy to do four big sprints in a point. You know, I think the dropshots I hit were decent. So dropshot-lob, it was like a conditioning session in that point, and it was already a physical match at that point.

I felt the repercussions of that point, and I knew the next point again I had to be really, really solid to back it up. I felt like that set the tone for the set for me, for sure, even though I lost the point.

Saying that, you never know. Novak, he's going to come and, you know, he's always going to be at you. It was a lot of fun, a lot of good points in there. Yeah, full respect for him, yeah.

Q. Just considering all the variables coming into this tournament, how surprised are you just in terms of fitness and match readiness and that you're where you are?

JACK DRAPER: Yeah, I'm really proud of the way where I'm at with my game. I was saying to my coach I still think my level could be a lot better, to be honest. Not so much with the tennis but more my mentality on the court.

For instance, last year I played in a lot of matches, and, you know, you just get confident in knowing what to do in the big moments and knowing how to commit to the tennis you want to play.

It's tough when you haven't been on the match court for a while, especially against top, top players in the world again. They make you feel uncomfortable. I'm still learning about my game, identity on the match court again.

So I think these matches are incredibly important to come through, though, because they're the sort of matches you look back on and you think, oh, I came through that one, I was able to give myself another opportunity to play another match against another top player the next day.

And all these are really, even though today is a big win, it's also a small win in my recovery and coming back to playing and being the type of player I want to become.

Q. What was the mindset going into the tiebreaker? And on the match, the 6-5 point when you leaned on the towel box, were you going to get sick, were you dizzy, what were you feeling?

JACK DRAPER: Yeah, I mean, I think the mindset going into the tiebreak was that I needed to be brave. I needed to keep good speed on my ball.

I think the point of 6-5, yeah, I mean, it was already a physical match. Also very emotionally draining.

When you're playing a tight match like that, there is a lot of variables going on, and I think I physically handled it really, really well. And also just, yeah, like I said, just mentally being in these positions again, it's even more tiring when you haven't done it for a while, and you're getting used to all these feelings again.

Yeah, I was proud of the tiebreak I played and the way I was able to, you know, stick in there. I think I hit a really good backhand line at 4-All, maybe. So, yeah, I think a lot to learn and grow from that performance.

Q. I would love to know what you thought of Novak's level, given where he's at in his career, age of 38. And how was it to face what he was throwing at you tonight?

JACK DRAPER: Yeah, I mean, look, I know that he's maybe struggled a little bit in Indian Wells, you know, in the last few years. Maybe he's not quite playing his best level, but he's still an incredible competitor and someone who gives his absolutely all every single match.

I didn't watch a lot of tennis when I'm away from the game, but whenever he's playing, I'm always watching, always admiring. He's always got something in the locker when he comes out with it.

I think it was, like, a tough match and to be playing the way he is at -- 39, is it -- 38 and to have all the tennis he's had behind him.

And I think we're all very grateful that he's still out here on the tour and still giving it his absolute all. It's nice for us young guys to still have someone who is a great to really look up to.

Yeah, I don't know, I just have so much respect for Novak. To come through today, it's something I can't describe.