Draper Ready for Alcaraz Battle After Enduring Marathon Matchesk

Jack Draper has sent a warning shot to Carlos Alcaraz ahead of their Australian Open last-16 clash, saying the Spaniard will have a battle on his hands after Draper's impressive endurance in his first three matches.

Jack Draper, the 23-year-old British tennis player, has sent a warning shot to Carlos Alcaraz ahead of their Australian Open last-16 clash. Draper, seeded 15th, has demonstrated remarkable resilience and staying power in his first three Melbourne matches, coming from behind to win each of them in five sets.

Three matches, three five-set thrillers for Jack Draper 🥵🇬🇧#AO2025 pic.twitter.com/srmLZHF9mk

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 17, 2025

Draper's most recent victory, a grueling 3 hour and 58-minute match against Aleksandar Vukic, concluded early Saturday morning. This hard-fought win followed similarly tough encounters against Mariano Navone and Thanasi Kokkinakis, both of which Draper won in five sets. As he prepares to face four-time Grand Slam winner Alcaraz, Draper is ready to put up a fierce battle, indicating that the Spanish champion will have his work cut out for him.

Draper's done it again! 💪

Jack Draper conquers his third five-set thriller in a row to make the #AusOpen last 16 for the first time 👏 pic.twitter.com/Rr36s9TkxZ

— Eurosport (@eurosport) January 17, 2025

Despite struggling with a hip injury that forced him to withdraw from the United Cup, Jack Draper has shown incredible resilience in his first three Australian Open matches, spending nearly 13 hours on court. Draper's remarkable endurance has paid off, as he prepares to face Carlos Alcaraz in the last 16. Notably, Draper emerged victorious in their previous encounter on grass at the Queens Club in London last year, although Alcaraz won their two previous meetings.

Jack Draper is ready for his fourth-round clash with good friend Carlos Alcaraz at the Australian Open 💪🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/tDrvv7u3ON

— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) January 18, 2025

Looking ahead to the showdown with Alcaraz, Draper emphasized the importance of being aggressive and taking chances. “I need to be aggressive. I need to take my chances,” he said. “Against the top players you get less and less chances to win games and sets.” Draper also acknowledged that he needs to be brave in his approach, adding, “I need to be brave in the way I play.” However, he is aware that Alcaraz will be prepared for a tough battle, saying, “But I'm expecting him to come out and know that I've played three five-setters and know that he's got a battle on his hands, and he's going to have to play good.”

Draper's achievement of winning his first three rounds at the Australian Open in five sets is a testament to his hard work and endurance. He became only the seventh man in history to accomplish this feat. Draper humbly acknowledged that he is not typically accustomed to playing long matches, saying, “I'm done after two sets most of the time... I mean, that's just the way it is and that's something that I'm aware of and I needed to be better at that.” Despite this, Draper recognizes the significance of his accomplishment, stating, “I still have a long way to go, but this is a huge drive forward, the fact that mentally and physically, three five-set matches, it doesn't happen often... That's a testament to the work I've done and the place I'm in.”