Jack Draper was brought back to reality as he returned to Davis Cup action with a straight-sets loss in Great Britain’s second group-stage match.
Not so long ago, the 22-year-old was contesting his maiden grand slam semi-final against world number one Jannik Sinner at the US Open but, with his country calling, Draper has had minimal time to reflect on this achievement.
Draper was ruled out of Wednesday’s opener against Finland, with Dan Evans and Billy Harris delivering the goods to get GB on the board.
However, Friday’s tie with Argentina followed a rather different pattern. Evans’ loss in the opening rubber meant that Draper had to beat Francisco Cerundolo to force a decisive doubles, but it proved too much for the young Brit, who fell to a 7-6(4), 7-5 defeat.
Dan Evans and Jack Draper were not ‘good enough’
It was always going to be a test for Jack Draper to reproduce the impeccable level he displayed at the US Open upon his return to action in Manchester, but it wasn’t all doom and gloom for the Brits.
Following the two singles losses, Evans partnered with Neal Skupski to clinch victory in a tight doubles contest that could prove pivotal in their quest to progress from the group.
“We needed to take a few more chances on return and we did that,” Evans said in his on-court interview. “We played great. It was a great rubber and, as Neal said, we need every rubber from now on to get through.
“It wasn’t good enough in the singles, but we came out in the doubles. Well done to Argentina, but we are still alive.
“We need them [the crowd] all to turn up. We’re sorry about today, but please come on Sunday.”
GB face crucial test against Canada on Sunday
The crowd is exactly what Team GB will need on Sunday when they face in-form Canada with their 2024 Davis Cup campaign on the line.
A 3-0 triumph would send the Brits through to the final eight in Malaga for the second successive year, but the Canadians pose a lethal threat.
READ MORE: Jack Draper says what is ‘mental’ on the ATP Tour after suffering Davis Cup loss to Argentina
They are a team led by two former world number 10s Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime and notably surged to their first Davis Cup title in 2022.
Canada have dropped just one rubber from six heading into Sunday’s clash while GB are 3-3.
Draper and co face a daunting task, but they are no strangers to producing nail-biting wins when required.
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