Draper ‘better prepared’ for Melbourne heat

Australian Open 2025

Dates: 12-26 January Venue: Melbourne Park

At this year’s Australian Open, British No. 1 Jack Draper claims he is better prepared for the heat in Melbourne.

Draper blamed the “psychological stress” of the situation for his first-round victory last year at Melbourne Park.

In his first major semi-final of the US Open, he also experienced vomiting three times on the court before being defeated by Jannik Sinner, the eventual champion.

“This year I’ve really tried to do different things”, Draper told the PA news agency.

“I’m from a country where we’re inside a lot and it’s cold. We don’t get much of that exposure when we enter a tournament like this, which is very hot.

I’ve been doing some heat training and feeling good. I’ve been practicing various breathing techniques a lot.

The 23-year-old has been having a troubled build-up to the Australian Open due to a hip problem that has prevented him from training with Carlos Alcaraz, who is also a four-time major champion. He will miss the United Cup and has had to miss a training session.

Draper described his efforts to “bikes in hot bubbles” and saunas as “adaptations” to the heat as well as his two and a-half weeks of arrival in Australia before the Grand Slam tournament even started.

“It’s not just the tennis, it’s a big mental game as well and it’s how we recover after points and deal with stress in general, whether that be the tennis or the conditions”, Draper said.

“I believe this year’s heat preparation was much better than last year’s.”

Before his first-round encounter with Argentina’s Mariano Navone on Monday, Draper, who is seeded 15th in Melbourne Park, has been practicing alongside world number one Sinner and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic.