Jack Draper has admitted it is “weird” to see Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic knocked out in the first week of the US Open. But the British No.1 claimed the shock defeats showed how many “dangerous” players there are in the men’s game.
Wimbledon champion Alcaraz was blown away in three sets by world No.74 Botic van de Zandschlup in the second round.
And in the same Arthur Ashe Stadium the following night, Olympic champion Djokovic crashed out to world No.28 Alex Popyrin.
Draper beat Dutchman Van de Zandschulp to reach the fourth round – and now has a great chance to reach his first Grand Slam semi-final in a wide-open section of the draw without the Spanish superstar Alcaraz.
And asked about the early eliminations of Alcaraz and Djokovic, the No.25 seed Draper: “It is obviously weird but I think both of them obviously played the Olympic final. I think that’s taken a lot out of them.
“It’s taken a lot out of everyone, but they obviously made the finals, and it was emotional for both of them. Obviously Novak, that was probably his biggest goal, and to come through that is obviously emotionally challenging to sort of have a rest and then come here.
“Same with Carlos as well. He’s achieved so much this year, winning the French and Wimbledon. I’m not surprised that they’re probably feeling really tired and emotionally a bit drained.
“But I watched both the matches, and I thought Botic played an incredibly high level of tennis against Alcaraz.
“Even Popyrin last night, he won Montreal. I watched the opening two sets before I went to bed. I didn’t honestly feel like Djokovic was playing incredibly badly. Maybe his serve was a bit below par, but I felt like Popyrin played an incredible match as well.
“There’s a lot of players on the tour at the moment who are really dangerous and on their day can play an amazing match against the best players in the world.”
The Serbian superstar admitted he was “out of gas” after he lost to Popyrin to remain level with Margaret Court on 24 Grand Slam singles titles.
“I have played some of the worst tennis I have ever played,” he said. For the first time since 2002, none of Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal have won a Grand Slam title this season.
The 2021 winner Daniil Medvedev was the only former winner left in the men’s event on Saturday before the Russian’s third round clash with Italian No.31 seed Flavio Cobolli.
And Draper, who has yet to drop a set on his return to the last 16 here, claimed the best is still to come in his game. “I have played really solid but I still feel I have a level to go up,” he said.
“I feel like I can play better. I feel positive. I feel happy. Hopefully I can keep going.”
He will next face world No.39 Tomas Machac who has won all three of their meetings, their last on clay in Geneva in May. “He’s a really, really good player,” Draper added. “On his day when he is playing amazingly well, he can beat pretty much anyone.
“We’ve played a few times now. The last couple of times he’s beaten me, but I felt like in those matches I’ve had lots of opportunities and just hasn’t quite gone my way in the moment.
Also, I feel like I’m in a really good place at the moment, and I’m also playing some good tennis. I know that match will be tough, but I fully believe that if I can just get out there and play some tennis that I know I’m able to, then there’s no reason why I can’t come through that one.”
Draper also revealed he has changed his pre-match coffee order under instructions from his coach James Trotmann. “My coach doesn’t want me taking too much caffeine,” he revealed. “It sends me too far over. For now, it is de-caf cappuccino.”
