MUTUA MADRID OPEN

May 2, 2025

Jack Draper

Press Conference

J. DRAPER/L. MUSETTI

6-3, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: We'll go right into questions.

Q. You said a few times this week that, you talked about being stronger physically, curious what has that process been like getting stronger, and what are those days like in the gym, and do you see, I guessing you've gone to some difficult places to be ready for moments like this.

JACK DRAPER: Yeah, I think playing more at this level helps massively. I think a real turning point for me was Australia at the start of the year. I got injured, and I wasn't really ready to go there and play, but to come through three five-set matches that gave me massive physical and mental belief that I could really push myself to places I've never been before.

Then, yeah, I kind of went from thinking that I was weak and, like I wasn't going to be able to carry on, to then feeling, Wow, I'm actually pretty strong. So I went back, and whenever I do gym stuff now I really, whether it's on the VersaClimber or bike or running I really try and push myself, because I know that I'm going to have moments like today where the match gets really physical, and if I've done all that work and I know I've done it, then I feel like I'm well prepared and I can push myself to a place I need to go.

Q. Lorenzo said he was also very impressed by your defense. I wanted to ask you if you consider as a chance maybe now that you stayed small for a while as a kid, without massive weapon, and maybe today you have two tennis identities living together.

JACK DRAPER: Yeah, for sure. When I was younger, I was always just scraping around the court, didn't have any big weapons because I was so small. I was always playing guys who were older because I was winning a lot of matches, so I would always play up.

Then sort of as I've grown up it was a tough thing for me. Like I got to I think 50 in the world by sort of counter punching and being defensive.

Then I was in a bit of a crisis last year thinking like where's my game going to go, what do I need to change. Then I did certain things and I tried to maybe go the opposite end of the spectrum and, you know, try and hit every ball as hard as I can, and return up the court and do all these things, but it didn't really work, that experiment.

What was important was that I learn how to, yeah, be defensive and do all those things, but also attack when I need to attack, so I think I've got the balance a lot better now.

Like I said yesterday, building that blueprint around, I'm a big guy, but I'm not just a guy who hits big serves and can hit a big winner, I can do everything on the court, and that's I think what all the top players are able to do.

Q. You're thinking really clearly, or it seems like you're thinking really clearly, and towards the end of the second set, serve and volley, you wrestle control of the baseline again. Just curious like how much has that changed in terms of the way you're problem solving on court, and just how clearly you're thinking on the court now compared to in the past?

JACK DRAPER: Yeah, that's something me and Trots my coach have spoke about a lot, you know, being present on the court. Sometimes it's hard when there's a crowd and when there's a big match and you're playing against a guy who is playing high level to keep doing the same things and keep letting him play well.

I think towards the end of the second set I definitely felt like it was a big push for him to, he started to play well, he hit a lot of winners and stuff. Like you said, I wrestled control pretty well through good serve and volleys. I think I started serving really well and just learn what makes him uncomfortable in that moment, and not letting him dictate me.

So I think, yeah, that's something I was really happy with today. I think I probably solved really well, like you said.

Q. We heard you talk post match about having your mom here this week. How tough is it to have these breakthroughs throughout the year where your family is maybe not here, and then to have nights like tonight where it's so special?

JACK DRAPER: Yeah, it's good. Obviously I'm away from family a lot. I get to see my brother because he works within the tennis industry. But, yeah, my mom is usually back home with the dog, happy doing that.

The last few times she's come to watch me play, I think French Open first round I had a shocker, and then Monte-Carlo this year, you know, was really poor in my second round. Seems like every match she's come to I've been terrible. So I was thinking when she said she was going to come yesterday I was like, Ooh, I'm not sure if you should come.

But no, she ended up coming, and glad she did, because tonight was a really good performance, and maybe her luck's changed when she comes to watch me play, so we'll see.

Q. I saw on Tennis Channel you said that one of your superstitions is cold showers. Can you explain like how that started and, yeah, why you put yourself through that?

JACK DRAPER: I don't know. Like you see all that stuff on Instagram around cold showers, and do this, do that. I'm thinking all these benefits to it, so something I started doing awhile back. Just, I don't know, trying to look after myself the best I can.

I think there's some scientific benefits. I think like it helps with the anxiety or something, you know, if you learn to do it, I don't know. Maybe you should try it. (Laughing).

Yeah, I wouldn't attribute my sort of, you know, improvements down to cold showers though, to be honest.