Jack Draper: Brit wants consistent year but reveals ongoing hip problem after Australian Open exit to Carlos Alcaraz | Tennis News happymamay

Jack Draper wants to have a good, consistent year on tour, but the British number one has revealed he is taking “a lot” of painkillers to deal with the tendinitis in the hip that has hampered his chances against Carlos Alcaraz at the Australian Open.

Draper’s physical problems returned and he… He lasted just two sets of his fourth-round encounter with four-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz.

Draper entered the tournament with little preparation after suffering a groin injury in pre-season, which he admitted he still had to deal with.

Then he played three five-set matches, spending more than 12 and a half hours on court, which was too much.

“I basically had tendinitis in my hip, and I had to get an MRI to look at it,” Draper said during his press conference. “I had a history of problems in this area and it didn’t go away. I’m still dealing with that.”

“Obviously it’s pre-season [moved] In my back and I couldn’t walk and it was really hard. You came here and managed that. I was incredibly surprised at how much better I was able to play and put my body in a better position than I had done before. I think it’s just one of those things, just massive overload.

“This area of ​​my body, if I don’t do it right and I don’t make good decisions, I don’t want to miss three or four months because of it.”

I’m aware of the injuries, especially in the past, I just want to make the right decisions because I don’t want to be out for months. I want to be able to play and be consistent, be consistent with my body and everything again.

Draper expressed pride in his improved physical flexibility and must hope he doesn’t cause any further damage that could affect the rest of his season.

“Considering everything, I’m very proud of my efforts. My tennis performance was very average. All week, it was really bad, actually, but it was my competitiveness, my fight and my desire to win that made me improve. I had to get better,” said Draper, who reached the round before Final at the US Open last September: “Qualifying to the last 16 at a Grand Slam, which is something I’m very proud of.”

“It’s really disappointing, and I never like to quit. I’m someone who likes to do my best in everything, but I’m aware of the injuries, especially in the past. I just want to make the right decisions because I don’t do that.” “I don’t want to be out for months, I want to be able to play and be consistent with my body and everything again.”

Draper was due to spend a week training with Alcaraz in Spain in December, but was forced to cancel due to injury, and the 23-year-old admitted the problem is a “time bomb” which he is dealing with by taking painkillers.

“I’m going to have to get the tendonitis removed,” he admitted. “Obviously through rehab or maybe there’s an injection you can give in that area to help it. I chose to do rehab. But obviously it hasn’t gone away much. Maybe I’ll see what I can do with that. It’s not a long-term thing at all, I I just need to be sensible, because there is no escape from it.

“I came here and played a tremendous amount of tennis and fell apart. The key to staying injury-free and consistent is to have that consistency in your body time where you’re injury-free, training time, training time. Get your body right.”

“If you’re dealing with injuries and playing through pain and taking painkillers, it’s not ideal.

“I’ll manage it the best I can, and hopefully I can run where I take care where I’m not playing with the pain and be OK, and not take painkillers.”

When asked how many painkillers he was taking, Draper replied: “All the time. A lot. Yes, a lot.”

Hinman: A step too far for Draper

Tim Henman speaks Eurosport On Draper’s retirement:

“It wasn’t about motivation. He struggled hard with three strikes from five sets,” the former British No. 1 said.

“I don’t think it would have made a difference if Jack had won the first set. I don’t think he would have had enough energy to face Alcaraz.

“If we add to the equation that he had a groin issue in the offseason, it looked like he was struggling in that area and maybe the top of his hamstring.

“I think to some extent Draper’s hands were tied. He went out there and tried it, but it was just a step too far unfortunately.”

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