- Jack Draper reached the semi-finals of the US Open, but lost to Jannik Sinner
- The 22-year-old has barely had a break, but wants to play in the Davis Cup
- Great Britain take on Finland, Argentina and Canada this week
The hamster wheel of tennis never stops and the next decision Jack Draper has to make after his heroics at the US Open is whether to represent his country in this week’s Davis Cup.
It would be a homecoming of sorts, a chance for British fans in Manchester to honour him for his semi-final achievement, but it is still uncertain whether Draper will play at the AO Arena.
The 22-year-old flew back to the UK on Saturday and will make a decision in the next day or two. He told us after his defeat to Jannik Sinner that he was “battered” but hoped to play.
“Davis Cup is a huge deal for me. I never really understood it until I played it for the first time,” he said. “When we went to Colombia (last February), it was a bit like, ‘Should I go, shouldn’t I go?’ But I went and saw how important it is for everyone, how important it is to be there representing your country. So even though the tennis schedule is full and relentless, I’ve barely had a day off since the beginning of the year, I want to be there, I want to compete for my country.
“I’ll talk to my team, but I want to be there on Wednesday.”
Jack Draper doubts whether he can play for GB in Davis Cup this week
He enjoyed a run to the semi-finals at the US Open, but could not beat Jannik Sinner
Draper represented Team GB at the Olympics and hopes to be fully fit for the Davis Cup
The format is a group stage between four countries, with the top two qualifying for the final in Malaga in November.
A possible interim solution could be for Draper to rest and miss Wednesday’s match against Finland, the weakest of the three opponents, before playing crucial matches against Argentina and Canada on Friday and Sunday.
With Draper, Britain should have a good chance of qualifying. Without him, it would be difficult.
“We’ll just have to see how he recovers and how he feels,” Davis Cup captain Leon Smith said. “Of course we’d be absolutely thrilled if he’s here and ready to go.
“He’s the strongest singles player on the team. A top-20 player in top form. We’d love to have him here, but at the same time you have to respect what just happened.
“He comes in here full of confidence, but he’s also going to feel the effects of a tough summer. Level-wise, he can now play against anyone in world tennis.”