Jack Draper certainly didn’t have the return to tennis he would have hoped for following his fantastic US Open run.
Draper has been unable to fully reflect on his stunning US Open journey, having reached the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows.
And that may have played a part in his poor Davis Cup Finals group stages appearance, with Draper losing both of his matches.
The Briton lost out to Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo in his nation’s second of three matches, having been left out of the opener against Finland.
US Open semi-finalist Draper then lost to Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime, with Great Britain failing to make the Davis Cup Final 8.
Leon Smith makes Jack Draper prediction after Davis Cup exit
Head of British men’s tennis and Davis Cup captain Leon Smith is, however, confident of the player’s ability to lead his nation in future tournaments.
“I think he will handle it well,” said Smith, as quoted by BBC Sport. “We can’t shy away from it – he will be a focal point. But that is why it is important to have other players up to shoulder some of that.”
Jack Draper will be Great Britain’s star for years to come
Much of the Great Britain Davis Cup responsibility is certain to fall on Draper’s shoulders given the current situation.
Andy Murray retired from tennis earlier this summer, while Dan Evans is pondering his future after the latest group stage event in Manchester.
Smith clearly has high hopes for Draper, a player he handed his Davis Cup debut to last year, where the Briton superbly defeated Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis.
It wasn’t meant to be this time around, but the British number one can be forgiven after his exploits in New York earlier this month.
Auger-Aliassime says he and Draper were tired during their Davis Cup meeting, which the former won 7-6(10-8) 7-5.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
