It all ended in a pool of vomit for Jack Draper last night as a physically and mentally exhausted Great Britan number one departed the US Open at the semi-final stage to Jannik Sinner.
Draper had reached this stage for the first time in his career at a Grand Slam. In the quarter-final, he had thrashed Alex de Minaur but the world number one just blew the 22-year-old away.
The Surrey-born star will take a lot from this tournament. His 7-5, 7-6, 6-2 defeat came on the back of Draper battling with heat exhaustion and dehydration, with the star vomiting twice on the court.
Draper will take a lot from his run to the last four of the US Open. He will now already have one eye on the Australian Open in four months and he will hope to conquer at a Grand Slam one day.
- READ MORE: What Jack Draper said in 2022
Boris Becker shares what Jack Draper needs to improve on
The German performer is one of the best players to ever swing in anger at a tennis ball. He won nine Grand Slam titles – including one US Open title in 1989.
He knows what he takes to win three of the four Grand Slam crowns, with the French Open the only one of the four majors that eluded Becker during a colourful career.
Becker also won the Tour Finals on three occasions and won a Wimbledon crown in 1985 when he was just 17-years-old.
After last night’s defeat for Draper, Becker took to X to share one thing that the Great Britain star must improve on in order to kick on in the future.
He said: “Let me applaud Jack for a moment! Sky is the limit…definitely top 10 in the future and love his style! Is he an aggressive serve-volley or baseliner? Jack is gotta get in better shape!?! Always respect the effort but reach for the stars!!! It’s worth it.”
Draper will go again and Becker is being slightly harsh
Okay, Becker is well-placed to make comments about players on tour. After all, he was winning Grand Slam titles as a teenager and he does know what it takes.
It’s probably a little bit harsh to say that he needs to get fitter. Draper has burst onto the tour this year and worked incredibly hard to take his game to the next level.
He overcame Carlos Alcaraz at Queen’s and is trying to find his way in the professional game now that he’s established himself as the Great Britain number one.
Every player peaks at a different time. It would have been nice for Draper to go on and win the crown this time at Flushing Meadows but ultimately he’s done himself proud.
The more time he spends on the tour, the fitter he will likely become and hopefully, Draper can take a lot of heart from this fortnight and prove his point in future Grand Slam tournaments.
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