Jack Draper shared a heartwarming tribute to his mum, Nicky, after she flew to Madrid to watch him face Lorenzo Musetti in the semis. The British No. 1 continued his statement run in the Spanish capital, winning 6-4 7-6(4) to reach the championship match.
Draper is now into his second Masters 1000 final in less than two months and has not dropped a set throughout the tournament. The fifth seed’s mum cheered him on from his box and, after the match, Draper lit up when asked about her support, admitting he had a “shocker” last time she watched him play.
The 23-year-old survived a tough test on Friday evening, raising his level in the second set tiebreak to maintain his perfect, unbeaten record against Musetti. Draper is now 4-0 against the Italian, and he is one win away from being crowned the Madrid Open champion.
There was also a noticeable special guest in Draper’s box for the match. Alongside his coach, James Trotman, and physio Shane Annun was his mum, Nicky.
Draper’s mum missed his triumph in Indian Wells earlier this year, but she made sure she was present when the world No. 6 pulled off another big win to give himself the chance at lifting another big title, and Draper was delighted to see her.
“[It’s] amazing, amazing,” the Brit said. Draper was also glad that she finally got to watch a good match, after suffering a crushing three-set defeat the last time she was in his corner.
“The last few matches she’s come to watch me play, I mean the last one was in Monte-Carlo and I had a shocker! I think I haven’t won a match in front of her for a while.
“So to play in front of her on this stage, she’s made so many sacrifices and been such an amazing support and mum to me over the years. For her to be here, it’s very special for me.”
Draper was also motivated by the rest of his team during Friday night’s contest. In the difficult moments, he looked to Trotman to keep his head up.
“I think I was just trying to stay present. I had chances, he had one little chance, and I think the key was trying,” he explained.
“I was looking at my coach because sometimes in these big moments, I was going a little bit passive and at this level against that kind of calibre of opponent, he’s not going to let you off the hook.”
And, although he wasn’t in the box, Draper’s strength and conditioning coach has also had an effect on the 23-year-old.
He continued: “In these moments now, I’m just thinking about all the pain I go through on a daily basis on the versa-climber, on the practice court. What Matt Little, my S&C is putting me through.
“All the sacrifices and in these moments I try and remember why I do it and why I try and go through that. It’s little points like those where I have to push myself that extra bit more to go for it and to try and be the braver person in these situations.”
Content Source: www.express.co.uk