“Maybe he’s too nice”: Draper tries to pinpoint Sinner’s only weakness

Heading into the US Open semi-finals, Jack Draper was 1-0 lifetime against Jannik Sinner — with a 7-6 (6), 7-6 (2) victory on the grass courts of Queen’s Club in 2021.

But that match was played long before Sinner became the Sinner he is today. As if Draper did now already know how good Sinner has become (after all, the Italian is No 1 in the world), the Brit found out the hard way on Friday afternoon. A red-hot Draper threw everything he had at Sinner, but the top seed had all the answers in his 7-5, 7-6 (3), 6-2 win.

he’s barely got any weaknesses…. Mentally, physically, emotionally, everything’s constantly improving, and he’s rock solid in all areas. He’s tough to beat.

Jack Draper

“The reason why he’s No. 1 in the world and barely losing matches is because he’s so consistent,” the world No 25 praised. “His intensity, his ball speed, he’s barely got any weaknesses, and he’s just able to be there point by point and raise his level when he needs to. Mentally, physically, emotionally, everything’s constantly improving, and he’s rock solid in all areas. He’s tough to beat.”

Draper was asked following the weaknesses comment to try to identify one. “What’s one weakness? He doesn’t have many, mate. One…don’t know. Maybe he’s too nice.”

“No, that’s not true,” Sinner joked during his own press conference when told about what Draper said.

SINNER EAGER TO KEEP IMPROVING

Joking aside, the reigning Australian Open champion was — unlike his opponent — able to pinpoint some of his own weaknesses.

“For sure [going to] the net,” Sinner admitted. “Sometimes I miss some volleys. Shot selection sometimes is still…I feel like I can make it a little bit better. There are also some small things, the small details what makes a big difference in high level. For sure, me and my team know what we have to improve. Like, today maybe I should have gone maybe a little bit more on the net sometimes.

“But, yeah, it takes time, it takes…it’s not like magic, no? You have to go through certain moments. I lost matches [even when I was] doing the right things and then you have to keep working on that, and then sometimes I won matches even doing the wrong things. So you always have to talk with your team and trying to find the right balance.

“So, yeah, I’m quite sure that I still can improve.”

Sinner still improving? That’s a scary idea for the rest of the tour.

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