Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Jack Draper

Press Conference

J. DRAPER/T. Fritz

7-5, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Well done, Jack. What do you think was the key to today's win against Taylor?

JACK DRAPER: Yeah, I think I played a really high-level match. I think I struggled here in the past with my serve, but I thought that I served great today, and I think that put a lot of pressure on him.

Returned well, as well. I think everything was sort of clicking today and really, really happy with my performance.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Well done. You were toe to toe for the first ten games, but then you lifted it a gear, it seems. What difference did you make to your game at that point?

JACK DRAPER: Yeah, I mean, I thought that Taylor is someone who, when he's sort of serving and going through his games really fast, it's tough. Makes it feel like, you know, puts a lot of pressure on your own service games. But I felt like I was going through mine pretty fast, as well.

There were a few 30-Alls on his serve. I felt like I was getting close. Yeah, obviously the game at 5-All, really happy with the way I was aggressive in the key moments. When I had chances on his serve, I was able to, you know, put the pressure on him and not feel like -- you know, in the past maybe when I played someone like him, you know, I have gone quite passive, you know, in the moments I have needed to show myself and be aggressive.

Really happy with the way I, you know, kept on the front foot in the moments where, you know, maybe I could have taken my foot off the gas.

Yeah, I think everything, like I said, was coming together.

Q. Tomorrow you get kind of a little bit of a mirror image of yourself, another lefty who can kick the hell out of his serves like you were doing today. What is that like for you to go up against someone who brings to the table a lot of the things that you like to bring to the table?

JACK DRAPER: Yeah, Ben is obviously a very high-energy player. I haven't competed against him, but I know he competes great. Obviously serves, you know, I think I saw him play last night and it was like 150 miles an hour. I don't think I can do that (smiling).

But obviously a lefty like myself, coming up, you know, wants to sort of get inside of that top 10. I think he's really impressive. Really, really nice guy. I think he has been more and more consistent and winning against top players this week, as well.

Yeah, I think I'm looking forward to that matchup. We haven't played each other, so it will be a lot of fun. It will be a tough match.

Q. The fact that you beat Taylor the last time, did that have any bearing going into today's match? What level of concern was that when the second set got so tight?

JACK DRAPER: I mean, yeah, obviously played him in Paris. I think, you know, the courts there was like playing on ice. There was no rallies. It was very different to what I was expecting today. I didn't really think about that matchup.

I know Taylor likes playing here in the desert. It's high bouncing. Tough to get a read on his serve. He plays very aggressive tennis. I knew it would be very difficult.

Yeah, I thought that he played great -- sorry, what was the question? I forgot the question. I'm talking shyte.

Q. What level of concern was that when he started to make a play in the second set?

JACK DRAPER: Yeah, I mean, obviously I went 5-1 up very fast, it seemed. Then I came through a tough game, 4-1 on my serve, and I know against these top players, things can change very quickly, the momentum. He competes really well every time I played him.

He played a really, really good game at 5-2 and then held easy. 5-4 game, I knew that I had to try and get the first point. Did that, and I just felt like, you know, I was still really confident I was able to close out the match even if the momentum had swung, because I felt good on my serve all match.

So it was tough and I knew Taylor would come back strong and try and compete well.

Q. Just getting back to the serve thing, Ben was talking before about on these courts, can really get the kick. Is that something that's in your head and that you're focused on and been trying to exploit?

JACK DRAPER: In my own game?

Q. Your serve, yeah.

JACK DRAPER: I mean, yeah, I don't often go to the kick serve as much as Ben does and Alcaraz does it a lot here. It's definitely a play that works really well because the ball bounces so high.

Yeah, I think Ben has obviously got one of the best kicks in the game, so I will be ready for it tomorrow. I'm aware he will use it, especially attack against me. I'm a lefty, and he'll go after my backhand.

Q. Obviously you come from Britain, one of the great tennis countries, cultures in the world. What are the two or three best things coming out of that culture playing as a Brit, and a couple of things that are not so good?

JACK DRAPER: Yeah, I mean, I think England, we obviously have Wimbledon. That's, you know, one of the biggest sporting events in the world.

I'd say for three weeks of the year we are massively into tennis. I think we have been extremely fortunate obviously to have Andy Murray and other players who have really, you know, shown me the way and inspired me to be a top player in myself.

I'd say our actual culture for tennis isn't huge in the UK. Obviously other tennis nations, you know, I think have it better with Italy and Spain and France. They love tennis a lot more than we do as a nation, but I think, you know, hopefully with what's to come with the grass and hopefully players like myself and Emma and other top players coming through that we can really put on a good show and inspire a lot of people to play.