British No. 1 Jack Draper faces emotional fallout after Italian Open exit, as pundits urge self-compassion.
British No. 1 Jack Draper faced a brutal reality check in Rome – but not just from Carlos Alcaraz. After a straight-sets defeat in the Italian Open quarter-finals, Draper’s raw, self-critical post-match interview sparked concern from two prominent voices in British tennis: Tim Henman and Laura Robson.
Draper, 23, was visibly deflated following his loss to the world No 3, who saved six of eight break points en route to the semi-finals. But it was Draper’s emotional response after the match, rather than his on-court performance, that caught the attention of Sky Sports Tennis pundits
He pinpointed technical flaws – his return depth, backhand vulnerability, and general clay-court strategy – but above all, he appeared weighed down by internal pressure.
“A lot of that is how much tennis I’ve played,” he added, “but top players bring that out of you… I don’t think I did a great job.”
Henman, a four-time Wimbledon semi-finalist, offered a quick and compassionate rebuke on Sky Sports: “Jack’s had a brilliant few weeks – he’s beaten top players and he’s learning on the job. He’s right that clay can be like chess, but that doesn’t mean he should beat himself up when he’s still figuring it out.”
Robson echoed the sentiment, describing Draper’s post-match comments as “tough to listen to.” “You almost feel like he’s too harsh,” she said. “He’s had an amazing run and he’s already thinking about every point he should have changed. That’s the sign of a player who wants to be great – but he also needs to give himself credit.”
Draper’s recent form has seen a sharp upswing. He reached the quarter-finals in Rome with notable wins and has continued to climb the ATP rankings. His athleticism and aggressive left-handed game have drawn comparisons with top-tenners, but as Wednesday’s match showed, the mental burden of elite tennis remains a steep learning curve.
Alcaraz, meanwhile, showed the poise of a Grand Slam champion, weathering Draper’s best shots and dictating play with maturity beyond his years. “It’s always tough playing Jack,” he said post-match. “He’s improving fast and he’s going to be a big problem on any surface.”
But for now, Draper must contend with a bigger opponent than any seeded player – his own expectations.
“He has that inner fire,” said Henman. “But the journey to the top isn’t just about being hard on yourself – it’s about knowing when to step back and appreciate how far you’ve come.”
Robson added: “Sometimes the best growth comes after losses like this.”
As Draper looks ahead to Roland Garros and the grass-court swing, the hope is that his biggest asset – an insatiable hunger to improve – doesn’t become his heaviest burden.
