I’M NO LONGER JACK OF CLUBS
WITH his big smile and boyband looks, Jack Draper has quickly become a massive fan favourite at the US Open.
But the dashing young Englishman in New York has not been not enjoying a rock-and-roll lifestyle on his way back to the fourth round of the US Open.
Instead, Draper is straight back to his Manhattan hotel every night to drink tea and watch TV. He is not exactly Keith Richards.
But there is method in his lack of madness as the 22-yearold’s young career has been dogged by fitness issues.
And with a great chance to reach his first Grand Slam quarter-final against world No.39 Tomas Machac today, the British No.1 is happy to make sacrifices at night so he is ready for the day job.
“I always was someone who liked to enjoy myself and maybe didn’t have a working mindset,” he said.
“Since last year, I’ve definitely put my head down a lot more and just focused on becoming a top player. Now it’s more important for me to go back and watch movies. I can make a cup of tea in the room and then watch a series or something. I watched Gangs of London recently. Just anything to conserve mental and physical energy.
“It’s sometimes a bit of a lonely existence being a top tennis player. You have just got to make many sacrifices.”
This Grand Slam is a chance for all the hard work to pay off with
Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic already out.
If he beats Machac, he would face the winner of the Aussie derby between Alex de Minaur – who knocked out Dan Evans – and Jordan Thompson in the last eight.
Evans claimed his week at the US Open proved he’s “still pretty good at tennis.”
The British No.5 arrived in New York on a run of 10 consecutive Tour-level singles defeats stretching back to March. But the Brummie (above) took world No.10 Alex de Minaur to five sets despite a hip injury. “I’m still pretty good, and that’s a nice feeling walking off,” Evans said.