| Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Dates: 28 August-10 September |
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Britain’s Jack Draper believes he can “go all the way in which on this sport” after his encouraging US Open run got here to an finish within the final 16.
Draper’s bid for a maiden Grand Slam quarter-final led to a 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-4 loss to eighth seed Andrey Rublev.
The 21-year-old pushed Russia’s Rublev exhausting in a bodily encounter in a damp New York, however light on the finish.
“It isn’t my tennis holding me again, it is my physicality and staying on court docket constantly,” he mentioned.
“As soon as I try this I believe I’ll show to myself that I can be the most effective gamers on this planet.”
Draper, who was a doubt for the ultimate main of the 12 months with a shoulder downside, was the final Briton remaining within the singles.
Reaching the final 16 was Draper’s greatest efficiency at a Grand Slam in his fledging profession and offers optimism going into subsequent season.
“My tennis is true there. I’ve barely performed within the final couple of months and I’ve come right here, made the fourth spherical and pushed a top-10 participant,” he mentioned.
“If I simply can get issues proper, nonetheless be with the ability to compete and practice, I believe I can go all the way in which on this sport.”
Draper’s rating plummeted after lacking nearly three months of the season – together with Wimbledon – with a tear in his left shoulder.
However the left-hander, who reached a career-high of 38 firstly of the 12 months, will return to the cusp of the world’s high 100.
Encouragement for Draper as studying curve continues
As soon as the ache of a Grand Slam exit settles, Draper will mirror on per week which showcased the large expertise he possesses.
Counting a giant serve and hefty forehand as his largest weapons, the left-hander’s potential has by no means been unsure.
Holding match has been his largest downside, arriving on the US Open with what he described as a “70-30 probability” of enjoying after one other shoulder damage.
The damage, sustained on the Winston-Salem Open final month, was separate to the one which had stored him out for the earlier three months.
However he confirmed resilience in New York to return by way of his first three matches and he battled exhausting in testing circumstances in opposition to the seemingly-tireless Rublev below the roof on Louis Armstrong Stadium.
“I gave all of it mentally however I used to be fairly drained truthfully,” he mentioned.
“You might be enjoying in opposition to a man who is hard to get the ball previous. It’s bodily fairly gruelling.”
Having solely performed two matches on the ATP Tour since tearing a shoulder muscle on the French Open in Could, it was maybe unsurprising he light bodily after falling two-sets-to-one down.
Draper’s second serve got here below growing strain and his service velocity dropped as he was damaged within the fifth recreation of the fourth set.
The outcome seemed near a formality at that time however the British quantity 4 continued to combat as exhausting as his physique would enable him.
His weariness confirmed in a double fault which introduced up a match level, although Rublev was unable to take the chance, lacking one other return on a second as Draper managed to carry.
That requested the query of Rublev to serve out and, after letting a 3rd match level slip when he watched a return clip the road, took his fourth with a cross-court forehand winner.
The large roar Rublev set free when he lastly clinched victory indicated the stress he had been put below by the Briton.
“From the primary level I used to be feeling the ball rather well and I assumed Jack was enjoying nicely,” mentioned Rublev, who has reached his fourth US Open quarter-final.
“However I used to be capable of break him and I stored pondering that even when I used to be shedding I might make the match bodily as a result of Jack is getting back from damage.
“You could possibly see within the fourth set he was drained and never capable of play the identical approach.
“I used to be ready so as to add further velocity and end the match.”
Rublev, 25, goes on to face both compatriot Daniil Medvedev, who’s seeded third, or Australian thirteenth seed Alex de Minaur.