US OPEN

August 23, 2025

Jack Draper

Press Conference

An interview with:

JACK DRAPER

THE MODERATOR: Jack, welcome back. How are you feeling physically and mentally ahead of this year's US Open?

JACK DRAPER: Yeah, I feel good. You know, physically obviously had a bit of time off with an injury in my arm. I have been training a lot the last month or so, physically really pushed myself hard, and that makes me feel mentally really good about myself.

I'm just really excited to be back here at the US Open and back competing, doing what I like doing best.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Can you just tell us a bit about the injury in the arm? I think I read that it was something maybe you had been carrying for a while. When did it first surface? What exactly was the issue?

JACK DRAPER: Yeah, I mean, it was something I was playing through for a while. You know, first started feeling it probably towards the, well, middle of the clay season. I felt like my arm was shutting down a little bit when I was hitting forehands and on the serve, as well. It kind of got progressively a bit worse. Then on the grass it got quite painful. So didn't know what I was kind of dealing with.

After the grass, you know, got it checked out. I had some bone stress, bone bruising, in my humerus on my left side. It is one of those where, yeah, if you keep playing with it, it could become very, very serious. So I had to take some time out.

Saying that, it was not so bad, because I could obviously do a lot of other things as well physically. It wasn't like I had to stop completely.

Yeah, tough injury to have, but definitely one where I had to look after it.

Q. Would you say you're having to play through it still? I know you haven't played singles matches, but do you feel like you're having to make any allowances for it in the way you're hitting the ball now?

JACK DRAPER: You know, it's an injury which takes time to heal. You know, a bone can heal, but it might be giving me some discomfort, that's for sure.

It's not something which I'm going to go out on Monday and feel like it's holding me back at all. But at the same time, you know, like, I have been looking after this for the last month or so, so I'm looking forward to just getting back competing. I think that will take my mind off a lot of things, as well.

No, I don't feel like I'll be holding back at all.

Q. How long did you actually go without hitting a ball? After that, when you went out at Wimbledon, you didn't mention this, didn't blame it. Looking back on it, was it a big reason behind the way you played there?

JACK DRAPER: What was the first thing again?

Q. How long you didn't hit.

JACK DRAPER: I didn't hit any serves for about a month. Then groundies, I was able to hit after maybe two-and-a-half weeks. It was decent from that point on. Obviously had to build my load up. I couldn't do a lot straightaway.

In terms of the grass, no, it didn't affect, you know, the way I was, way I performed. Put it that way. It was painful at times, but it wasn't something I was thinking, Oh, this is really holding me back. I didn't know what I was dealing with at the time.

I think the grass was mainly due to the fact that I just didn't adapt well enough to the grass. Yeah, I got beaten by a better player on the day at Wimbledon.

Q. You have recently changed your clothing sponsor. Could you talk about how that happened and why you made the switch?

JACK DRAPER: Yeah, I mean, obviously I have been with Nike for many years. My contract was running out this summer. Yeah, I think, you know, Vuori came in with an opportunity I couldn't turn down.

I think I have always been someone who has wanted to sort of do a bit of something different anyway. So working with a brand like Vuori, you know, their creative mindset, their values as a company, that really aligns with what I wanted to do. I think the kits as well and everything that we're going to create together I think is going to be really cool.

So, yeah, obviously, you know, very, very grateful for Nike for everything they have done over the years, but at the same time I'm looking forward to the journey with Vuori.

Q. On that, being with Nike you were one of kind of many top players, Alcaraz, Sinner. What's it like being 'the guy' in your brand now?

JACK DRAPER: Yeah, it's really cool. I mean, obviously, you know, very, very privileged to be wearing the clothes. Obviously got Giron and a couple of other players.

But to feel I'm not playing someone with the same kit is a bit of a different feeling sometimes. You know, I'm still a bit blown away with the fact that they want me as kind of the face of their... I'm not someone who is always like I belong in that position. I'm very sort of blown away and grateful for the fact that they want me as a kind of like the face of the brand at the moment.

It's an amazing feeling. To be honest, everyone at Vuori, all the people are amazing. Looking forward to that.

Q. There has been a lot of talk about your improved physical stature over the last year. Wonder how much emphasis you put in your gym work. At what point did you feel like you needed Matt and Shane to get involved on a full-time basis?

JACK DRAPER: Yeah, I mean, I have worked incredibly hard the last few years on my physicality on the court. I think part of it is kind of, you know, my genetics and sort of growing into, like, kind of a bit more of a man's body. I think that took me a long time.

And also playing more and more this last little period has been amazing. I have had another block again to get some work in me because in tennis you just never really get that time to step off the rabbit wheel and get some work and get improved in your body again. I didn't do a preseason at the end of last year. So it feels really good.

So I have started to really enjoy improving in that aspect, as well. Before I was kind of like I didn't really want to push myself. I didn't really want to feel strong almost.

But I feel great in myself now and I understand the benefits it has on the match court and on these big stages, as well.

Q. What are your observations of what Carlos and Jannik have done the last two years in terms of their rivalry, what they have done to improve and the obstacle they pose for everybody else?

JACK DRAPER: Yeah, I think those guys are the most consistent, the most, you know, their level is definitely above the rest of us right now.

But I feel like, you know, there is a lot of players who want to keep on improving, want to keep on developing to get to where they're at.

I think no one likes to see players just being very dominant. I think what they have both done, what they have brought to the sport, the matches they have played, like we have seen at the French Open, Wimbledon, you know, as a player, that's very motivating to see.

But I think also as a fan base, I think we're seeing the sport changing all the time. We're seeing the level of tennis keep on getting higher.

I'm obviously very happy for them because they're both amazing guys. I know them well. But at the same time, you know, I don't want to feel like we're just letting them do it. I want to keep on going after them, keep on improving, and yeah, hopefully soon we'll be competing with them.

Q. I guess we first saw you in your competitive hit-out after injury in the mixed doubles. I wonder because that was a new thing before tournament and not typically what you do before a major, is that potentially better preparation for your singles doing that and having an official event to hit out in? I'm not sure what you would normally do if the mixed wasn't there.

JACK DRAPER: It was kind of perfect for me, because I hadn't had any competition, I hadn't felt that feeling of sort of playing in front of people and that sort of stuff for a little while. In tennis, having a month and a half out is quite a long time.

I think for me it was almost, you know, really positive compared to some of the other players, too. I kind of liked it, how it sort of got you sharp, got you playing points with ball boys and line judges and the crowd.

I think it was a really positive experience for myself, and I definitely feel a lot sharper having, you know, played that as opposed to maybe having a training week.