Draper learns lessons the hard way after Wimbledon exit

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6 hours ago

Britain's Jack Draper reacts during his second round match against Croatia's Marin Cilic, a four set defeat for the British number one and world number four (Reuters via Beat Media Group subscription)
By James Toney at Wimbledon
Jack Draper is meant to be the next big thing in British tennis, so surely a comeback in a five-set thriller was just a rite of passage.
However, it seems the world number four has plenty more to learn at Wimbledon, as he was outgunned by former finalist Marin Cilic, a man whose name should always be prefaced by 'big-serving'.
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Cilic fired down 16 aces and didn't ease up on his second serves either, Draper becoming the latest top seed to exit Wimbledon. He briefly threatened one of the classic teatime comebacks but went down 6-4, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4.
This might be Draper's home Slam, but his Wimbledon record stands out among the majors – just two wins here in three attempts – while he reached the US Open semi-finals last year and the last 16 in both Melbourne and Roland Garros.
But it wasn't the weight of expectation that cost him, just the bludgeoning play of Cilic, who on this sort of form can take the racquet out of your hand.
'I'm frustrated and upset, that's the toughest loss I've had, but Marin played an incredible match from start to finish. It just hurts,' said Draper.
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'I've actually been really disappointed with how I've been playing on grass. I don't see the holes in my game on hard courts or clay, but these last few weeks have highlighted some weaknesses.
'I'm very determined to make this a surface that is great for me, but the hole in my forehand showed up – I couldn't deal with his pace. My movement wasn't good enough either. The top guys are so secure in their games and that's where I need to be.
'Even though my last 12 months have been great, there are lots of things to improve. It's exciting and frustrating, because I thought I was ahead of where I was.
'It's not the pressure – I just didn't play well enough. I couldn't find the level I wanted. You can't forget he's a great player, he's won a Grand Slam.'
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Cilic is a Grand Slam champion and Olympic silver medallist, but this was only his second win over a top-five player in 20 matches. One day unstoppable, the next unpredictable, this was also his first appearance at the All England Club in four years, with injury after injury keeping him sidelined.
'My emotions are incredible – it's been a long journey and to come back from where I was three years ago, I can't even describe,' he said.
'To play at this level, in front of this crowd, against a player like Jack, is just incredible. I feel great and I hope I can continue to play well.'
Draper was one of four British men to exit on Thursday, leaving Cameron Norrie, Emma Raducanu and Sonay Kartal flying the flag for the home team.
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Dan Evans was ruthlessly swatted aside by Novak Djokovic, while Jack Pinnington Jones and Arthur Fery lost in straight sets to Italians Flavio Cobolli and Luciano Darderi.
Evans insists he is in no rush to call time on his career after a Wimbledon exit.
The British number five, currently ranked 154 in the world, will now reset his sights on qualifying for the US Open, where he has reached the third round for the past three years.
'I don't know what the future holds – we'll see what the year brings,' he said.
'I'll sit back and take stock, but I'll decide at the end of the year what I want to do. It's not getting easier waking up the morning after matches – it's just not as easy as it used to be.
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'I feel I've got a good shot when I play the tier below the very top guys. I still think I've got my tennis in me.'
'I always appreciate the chance to play on that very special court. I might never get another opportunity, but when you're 35 you have more perspective – you understand the occasion more.
'I wanted to win, I felt I could win, but Novak is such a hard task. I felt like I was always on the back foot – he's just so good. Every serve hit the spot he wanted, and his return game just puts you under so much pressure.'
Pinnington Jones will edge a little closer to the world's top 200 after his first Grand Slam win but insisted he had no complaints about a few days work that has doubled his career earnings.
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"To play my first Wimbledon main draw here, get a win as well, if you had told me at the start of the week that would have happened, I would have signed," he said.
"I'm very proud of myself in sort of how I've handled the whole experience. I think it's invaluable for me to play such a good player and just sort of see the clear things in my game that I need to work on if I want any chance of getting up in my ranking up and being able to come back here, not as a wild card and actually earn my place here."
For the latest action on the British summer grass court season, check out the LTA website.