Davis Cup dilemma: Jack Draper’s availability in question for Great Britain

Leon Smith, Captain of Great Britain’s Davis Cup team, is set to assess Jack Draper’s fitness before making a decision about his participation. Draper, currently ranked No. 20 in the world, had an impressive run at the US Open, reaching the semifinals and winning 15 consecutive sets before being defeated by Jannik Sinner, the eventual champion.

During his semifinal match against Jannik Sinner, Jack Draper displayed considerable resilience in the first two sets. However, in the third set, he began to show visible physical distress, vomiting multiple times on the court while struggling to continue. Sinner eventually secured the victory with a score of 7-5, 7-6(3), 6-2.

Great Britain is placed in Group D for the Davis Cup, alongside Argentina, Canada, and Finland. Currently, the British singles lineup includes Jack Draper and Billy Harris, though Captain Leon Smith has not yet confirmed Draper’s participation in the opening match against Finland. Smith noted, “Until we get on the court and start doing some stuff, it’s quite hard to tell how (he) feels.”

Captain Leon Smith stated, “It’s just a question of figuring out where he is at with his energy, how much tennis he can play over the course of the week. But, if he’s good to go, he’s good to go. If he’s not, I’ve got every faith in those sitting beside me now.”

Jack Draper’s role as team leader could be a significant boost for Great Britain, especially since they have no other players in the top 100. With Cameron Norrie absent and Andy Murray recently retired, the team faces a more challenging position than in previous years. However, Draper’s potential to lead the team is promising. Captain Leon Smith expressed enthusiasm about Draper, stating, “We are absolutely thrilled that he’s coming. You can tell straight away that he gets Davis Cup. He plays with passion, pride, fight, and you mix that with the fact he’s a top-20player with unbelievable quality, he’s going to be a very important member of the team not just this week but for many, many, many years to come.”

Captain Leon Smith highlighted Draper’s commitment, saying, “You can tell straight away that he gets Davis Cup. He plays with passion, pride, and fight, and you mix that with the fact he’s a top-20 player with unbelievable quality. He’s going to be a very important member of the team not just this week but for many, many, many years to come.”