Jack Draper wants to have a good, consistent year on the tour but the British No 1 has revealed he is taking “a lot” of painkillers to deal with tendinitis in hip which hampered his chances against Carlos Alcaraz at the Australian Open.
Draper’s physical issues returned and he lasted only two sets of his fourth-round clash with four-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz.
Draper came into the tournament with little preparation after a hip injury suffered in pre-season, which he admitted he was still having to manage.
He then put his body through three five-set matches, spending more than 12 and a half hours on court, and it proved too much.
“Essentially I had tendinitis in my hip, which I had to get MRI to look at,” said Draper during his press conference. “I have had a history of problems in that area and it hasn’t gone away. I’m still dealing with that.
“Obviously in pre-season it [moved] into my back and I couldn’t walk and it was really difficult. I have come here and I have been managing that. I have been unbelievably surprised with how much I have been able to play and put my body through, more than I have ever done before. I think it’s just one of those things, just massive overload.
“This area of my body, if I don’t get that right and I don’t make good decisions, I don’t want to miss three or four months because of that.”
Draper had been due to spend a training week with Alcaraz in Spain in December, but was forced to cancel because of the injury with the 23-year-old admitting the issue is a “ticking time bomb” which he is managing by taking painkillers.
“I’m going to have to clear up the tendinitis,” he admitted. “There’s obviously by doing rehab or maybe there’s an injection you can have into that area to help it. I opted to do the rehab. But obviously it hasn’t cleared too much. Maybe I’ll see what I can do with that. It’s not a long-term thing at all. I just need to be sensible, because there is no escape from it.
“I have come here and played a ridiculous amount of tennis and I have broken down. The key to stay injury-free and being consistent is having that consistency in your body time where you’re injury-free, time to train, time to get your body right.
“If you’re dealing with injuries and playing through pain and taking painkillers, then it’s not ideal.
‘l’ll just manage it the best I can, and hopefully get on a run where I look after where I’m not playing with pain and be all right, and not take painkillers.”
Asked how many painkillers he was taking, Draper replied: “All the time. A lot. Yeah, a lot.”
I’m aware with injuries, especially in the past, I just want to make right decisions because I don’t want months out. I want to be able to hopefully be able to play and get consistent, get consistent in my body and everything again.
Draper ‘proud’ of his efforts
Draper was not helped by the scheduling as he was forced to play in the full heat on the warmest day of the tournament.
He was under pressure from the start and was soon looking somewhat uncomfortable, but Alcaraz was erratic in the opening set and the Spaniard only just edged it.
By the end of the second, though, Draper was barely able to chase shots and Alcaraz was waiting for the handshake.
“Considering everything, I’m incredibly proud of my efforts,” said Draper, who reached the US Open semi-finals in September.
“My tennis has been pretty bang-average. The whole week, it’s been really poor, actually, but it’s been my competitiveness, my fight, and my desire to win that’s got me into the last 16 of a Grand Slam, which is something I’m very proud of.”
“It’s really disappointing, and I never like to pull out. I’m someone who likes to give my all for everything, but I’m aware with injuries, especially in the past, I just want to make right decisions because I don’t want months out. I want to be able to hopefully be able to play and get consistent, get consistent in my body and everything again.”
Henman: A step too far for Draper
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Both Tim Henman and Laura Robson selected Draper as their most improved player of the 2024 ATP season
Tim Henman speaking on Eurosport about Draper’s retirement:
“It was nothing about motivation. He fought so hard with three five-setters,” said the former British No 1.
“I don’t think it would have made a difference if Jack won the first set. I just don’t think he had enough energy in the tank to go toe to toe with Alcaraz.
“Throw into the equation that he had a hip issue in the off-season, it looked like he was struggling with that area and perhaps the top of his hamstring.
“I think to a certain extent, Draper’s hands were tied. He went out there and gave it a try but it was just a step too far unfortunately. “
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