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Why ‘angry’ Jack Draper destroyed his racket in dramatic Italian Open meltdown
'When I get out of bed I feel so angry some days.'
British tennis star Jack Draper has named two reasons why he destroyed his racket in a ‘meltdown’ during his Italian Open victory over Vit Kopriva.
Draper secured his spot in the last 16 on Sunday with a 6-4 6-4 win over Kopriva but the British No.1 was handed a code violation for his outburst.
The 23-year-old appeared to become frustrated when he failed to convert break points and was jeered by spectators when he first threw the racket.
Sky Sports commentator Annabel Croft said Draper was having ‘a bit of a meltdown’ as the world No.5 missed four break point opportunities while leading 3-1 in the second set before smashing up his racket on the court.
Following the match, Draper put the incident down to his rapid rise and exhaustion, suggesting his surge up the rankings has taken a mental toll.
‘When I get out of bed I feel so angry some days,’ Draper told Sky Sports. ‘And, you know, I’ve got to play a tennis match and I’ve got to lose points, so I’ve got to go through those emotional ups and downs.
‘I’m in a new position now. My ranking’s obviously going up, and I’m getting to compete week in, week out, and play lots of matches.
