Titled switcharily, "Draper's Five-Set Challenge: Transforming Matches Against Alcaraz into Five-Star Moments"
With 15 sets under his belt at the Australian Open, Jack Draper is now up against Carlos Alcaraz. The Brit clinched his spot in the last 16 by edging out home player Aleksandar Vukic in a gripping five-set match, 6-4 2-6 5-7 7-6 (5) 7-6 (8).
Last year, in the U.S. Open semifinals, Draper showed remarkable resilience, storming past opponents without dropping a set - until he met Jannik Sinner. The British No. 1's endurance is renowned, having played six grueling three-set matches at the four majors within the past year.
Draper's momentum was high after reaching the U.S. Open semifinals. He spoke confidently about no longer being rattled by the prospect of five-set matches, having faced fewer injuries and less anxiety on the court. However, exhaustion and nerves appeared to take their toll against Sinner.
Draper's ability to claw back from substantial deficits is impressive. He defeated World No. 206 Elias Ymer at Wimbledon after falling behind 2-0 in sets and lost to Jesper de Jong after four hours at the French Open following a 1-2 set deficit.
These crushing marathons are learning experiences for Draper. The London-born talent showed signs of mental fragility during these epic battles, displaying uncharacteristic rage and smashing his racket. As the potential heir to Andy Murray's legacy, Draper will need to curb his impulses and learn from these experiences.
Draper's performance at the Australian Open is a testament to his improved fitness and stamina. He credits his return to former physical trainer Steven Kotze for this notable improvement. Kotze has worked with Murray and other British players, and Draper is reaping the benefits of his rigorous training regimen.
However, Draper faces a true test in Alcaraz. Defeating the four-time Grand Slam champion over best-of-three sets won't suffice. Alcaraz's 2025 record consists of three clean wins, including 3-0 on hard courts. He has also led the head-to-head between the two with a 2-1 record, with their last encounter ending in Alcaraz's favor.
With Alcaraz in top form and boasting a composed 3-0 win-loss record in 2025, Draper is in for an intense battle. The match promises to be a thrilling encounter, and Draper will need to pull out all the stops to even stand a chance.
Andy Murray, the retired British tennis legend, has been instrumental in Draper's growth, as his former physical trainer, Steven Kotze, has also worked with Draper. Draper's performance against Carlos Alcaraz in the Australian Open will be a significant test, considering Alcaraz has a 2-1 head-to-head record against Draper and has been in exceptional form with a 3-0 win-loss record in 2025. Despite Draper's impressive five-set victory over Aleksandar Vukic in the Australian Open, the challenge against Alcaraz will be a five-set marathon as well, akin to their past encounter that Alcaraz won.
