Jack Draper gives latest fitness update as he reaches Vienna Open quarters after entering with illness

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Jack Draper battled both injury and illness to reach the Vienna Open quarter-finals.

The 22-year-old is having a career-best season and is now up to number 17 in the ATP live rankings, the highest position of his career so far.

To achieve this, he took Luciano Darderi, the final opponent of Dominic Thiem’s career, and claimed a 7-5, 6-1 victory.

The Brit last played at the Japan Open in October, but he is having a solid run in Vienna as he looks to finish his season on a positive note.

What did Jack Draper say about his fitness at the Vienna Open?

Jack Draper has had a packed 2024 season and Draper complained about getting little rest after competing in the Davis Cup group stages which commenced two days after the US Open.

Although it was an enforced rest, he suffered injury and illness after the Japan Open, but he is now back to full health. Draper was unsure how he would feel after returning to action, but he is happy with his performances in Vienna so far.

“I feel really good. I didn’t know what to expect coming back after being injured, and I was ill for a week as well,” Draper said during his on-court interview.

“So I was potentially going to be a bit rusty and my body wasn’t going to be feeling too good, but I felt like the last two matches I’ve been really strong.”

“My movement and my confidence in everything I’m doing elevated today, so I’m really really happy with that and hopefully I can continue moving forward this week.”

Who is Jack Draper’s next opponent?

Following Draper’s victory, he will play either Grigor Dimitrov or Shanghai Masters semi-finalist Tomas Machac.

The Bulgarian is in good form after reaching the Stockholm Open final on Sunday, but he will have to play to defeat Machac, who produced a blistering performance to beat Carlos Alcaraz in Shanghai.

Draper defeated Machac in their last meeting at the US Open on his way to the semi-finals in New York, but he has yet to play against Dimitrov.

“I struggled a little bit on my first round, I served pretty well, but off the ground, I could have been a lot better and then today I really found a level,” Draper said after his latest match.

“I thought that Darderi came out playing incredibly well, the first set. I had some chances and I had to stay calm.

“There were a couple of moments of frustration, but I think he really brought out the best of my tennis today and I’m really happy with the way my level was so consistent today.”