Jack Draper is looking to have a good, solid year on tour but the British No 1 has revealed he is taking “a lot” of painkillers to deal with hip tendinitis which has hampered his chances against Carlos Alcaraz at the Australian Open.
Draper’s physical problems returned as well held to just two sets of his fourth-round clash with four-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz.
Draper entered the tournament with little preparation after a hip injury he suffered in preparation, which he admitted he still had to work through.
He then put his body through three five-set matches, spending more than 12 and a half hours on court, and it proved too much.
“I basically had tendinitis in my hip, which I had to get an MRI to look at,” Draper said during his press conference. “I had a history of problems in that area and it hasn’t gone away. I’m still dealing with it.
“Obviously in preparation (it moved) on my back and I couldn’t walk and it was very difficult. I came here and I’ve been able to do it. I’m incredibly surprised how much I’ve been able to play and put my body, more than I’ve ever done before, I think it’s just one of those things, just massive overload.
“That area of ​​my body, if I don’t do it right and make the right decisions, I don’t want to miss three or four months because of it.”
Draper was due to spend a week training with Alcaraz in Spain in December but was forced to cancel due to the injury with the 23-year-old admitting the issue is a “ticking time bomb” which he is managing with painkillers.
“I’ll have to clear up the tendonitis,” he admitted. “There’s obviously going through rehab or maybe there’s an injection you can do in that area to help it. I chose to do the rehab. But obviously it hasn’t cleared up too much. Maybe I’ll see what I can do with it. It’s not at all long term issue, I just have to be reasonable, because there is no escaping it.
“I came here and played some ridiculous tennis and I’ve collapsed. The key to staying injury free and being consistent is to have that consistency in your body time where you are injury free, time to train, time to get your body right.
“If you’re dealing with injuries and playing through pain and taking painkillers, then it’s not ideal.
I’m just going to manage it as best I can and hopefully have a run where I’m taking care where I’m not playing with the pain and I’m going to be OK and I’m not on painkillers.”
Asked how many painkillers he was taking, Draper replied: “All the time. A lot. Yeah, a lot.”
I know with injuries, especially in the past, I just want to make the right decisions because I don’t want months out. I want to be able to hopefully play and be consistent, be consistent in my body and everything again.
Draper “proud” of his efforts
Draper was not helped by the schedule as he was forced to play through the heat on the hottest day of the tournament.
He was under pressure from the start and soon looked a bit uncomfortable, but Alcaraz was shaky in the opening set and the Spaniard just put it in front.
By the end of the second, though, Draper could barely get off a shot and Alcaraz was waiting for the handshake.
“All things considered, I’m incredibly proud of my efforts,” said Draper, who reached the US Open semifinals in September.
“My tennis was pretty average. All week, it was very poor, actually, but it was my competitiveness, my fight and my desire to win that got me to the last 16 of a Grand Slam, which is something I’m very proud”.
“It’s really disappointing and I never like to quit. I’m someone who likes to give everything for everything, but I know with injuries, especially in the past, I just want to make the right decisions because ‘I don’t want months out. I hope to be able to play and be consistent, be consistent in my body and everything.”
Henman: One step too far for Draper
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Both Tim Henman and Laura Robson named Draper as the most improved player of the 2024 ATP season
Tim Henman talks about Eurosport on Draper’s retirement:
“It was nothing to do with motivation. He fought so hard with three five-sets,” said the former British No.1.
“I don’t think it would have made a difference if Jack had won the first set. I just don’t think he had enough energy in the tank to go toe-to-toe with Alcaraz.
“With the equation that he had a hip problem in the offseason, it looked like he was struggling with that area and maybe the top of his hamstring.
“I think to an extent, Draper’s hands were tied. He went out there and tried, but unfortunately it was a step too far.”
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