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At the Challenger event in Bergamo last October, Draper had just crept back inside the world’s top 100 – an important marker on the professional tours and the gateway for direct entry into the Grand Slam events.
He was lamenting the “brutal” nature of a sport where he had started living up to his potential only to suffer another setback with a shoulder injury.
“I was 40 in the world, I got injured and my ranking completely dropped. I was back playing Challengers and I felt angry,” said Draper.
“But I knew if I could get my body and my mind in a good place, my tennis is good enough to compete with the best players in the world.”
This year, he has demonstrated that by:
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winning a first ATP Tour title – a 250 event in Stuttgart
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reaching a maiden Grand Slam semi-final, in the US Open
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cracking the top 20 of the ATP world rankings
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becoming only the fourth British man since 2009 to win an ATP 500 title
“It’s been a long year with lots of ups and downs,” said Draper.
“But winning my first title, then the US Open, have been huge in really believing that I belong.
“It’s been a snowball effect since then.”