Jack Draper ‘working hard’ to be fit for Davis Cup after US Open ordeal

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Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

Jack Draper is “working hard” to be fit for the Davis Cup as the British No 1 recovers from a niggle sustained at the US Open.

Draper reached the semi-finals of a grand slam for the first time in New York, but struggled with illness in his defeat to eventual champion Jannik Sinner.

The 22-year-old was named as part of Leon Smith’s Great Britain squad for Davis Cup ties against Finland, Argentina and Canada this week as he looks to lead his team into November’s finals.

“After a short turnaround following the US Open, Jack will be joining the team in Manchester on Tuesday ahead of the first match on Wednesday,” a spokesperson for Draper said.

“Jack and his team are working hard to get fit and Leon [Smith] will take all this into account when he makes his team selection.”

The British team will enjoy strong home suport in Manchester as they begin their Group D efforts against Finland on Wednesday, before taking on Argentina on Friday and Canada on Sunday. The top two nations progress to the Davis Cup finals in Malaga.

Henry Patten, who won the men’s doubles at Wimbledon with Finland’s Harri Heliovaara, has replaced Joe Salisbury in Smith’s squad with Billy Harris, Dan Evans and Neal Skupski also part of the quintet.

Draper’s run to the final four at Flushing Meadows was the best performance of his young career, though it ended in disappointment amid struggles with sickness on court against Sinner.

“I’m definitely someone who is quite an anxious human being,” Draper explained afterwards.

“I think when you add all that together, sometimes I do feel a bit of nausea on court, and I do feel a little bit sick when it gets tough.

“I didn’t have any problems before the match, but it obviously just built up. Jannik plays at such a high level all the time. I had chances here and there and I didn’t take them.

“I obviously wasn’t feeling my best and struggled at certain periods of the match, but Jannik beat me fair and square.”