'I almost thought about stopping' - Surrey’s Jack Draper overcomes adversity to claim biggest title of his career so far and move up to seventh in ATP rankings
Surrey's Jack Draper said his ‘sacrifices’ have paid off after claiming his biggest career title so far.
Draper, 23 – from Sutton – secured a dominant 6-2 6-2 victory over Denmark's Holger Rune in the Indian Wells final on Sunday (March 16).
It capped off an incredible run to the final in California – which saw him beat four-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz and US Open finalist Taylor Fritz. He also saw off the prodigious Brazilian talent Joao Fonseca before beating America’s Jenson Brooksby and Ben Shelton.
In winning his first Masters 1000 title, Draper is now the seventh best player in the world – according to the live ATP rankings.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “Yeah, it sounds incredible. I wasn't expecting that at the start of the week. I know I've been playing well and putting in some good work. “I had a bit of a rocky start to the year with an injury and stuff, so to be in this position right now, honestly, is beyond words.
“There was maybe going to be a few nerves, and so it was important for me to come out playing the way I wanted to, to play with lots of energy and also know that Holger would be feeling that as well. So proud of the way I dealt with the moment today.”
Draper said he learned from past mistakes when he lost matches ‘because I've gone passive and I haven't taken it to the opponent’.
He added: “So to play in the way I did today from the first ball, to look for my forehand, to serve well, it's a really good moment and definitely a coming of age for me in my game.
“I remember a couple of years ago, I went through a lot of injuries and I was looking at going back to the challenges and I wasn't ready to be a tennis player, to be a top player and to put everything on the line. I almost thought about stopping for a while. I wasn't quite into it.
"It took a lot for me to grow up and think to myself that I could really be a top player. It's one thing saying it, but it's another thing to try and do it and believe it and all the work you have to put in. Just a lot of adversity, a lot of sacrifices. I'm trying to take it all in at the moment.”
Draper’s Indian Wells victory is his second tour title. The 6ft 4in left-hander’s maiden trophy came at an ATP 250 grass-court event in Stuttgart last year – before he reached the semi-final of the US Open.
The British number one said he is not someone who sets goals for himself,
"i obviously want to be a top player, I want to keep on improving, but I just work hard and see what comes,” he explained.
"I said this the other day. My dream, honestly, is just doing what I'm doing, to play on the big stages, to compete against the best players in the world, to have the opportunities that I'm doing. Winning these big tournaments is just an added bonus.”