Draper smashes racket but advances to last 16 in Rome

Jack Draper admitted his frustration had boiled over after he smashed a racket en route to beating Czech qualifier Vit Kopriva in straight sets at the Italian Open yesterday.

- FLO CLIFFORD JAMIE BRAIDWOOD

The British No 1 was a set and a break up but had passed up the chance to break Kopriva again to make it 4-2 when he angrily struck his racket a number of times on the clay court.

Draper, whose 6-4 6-3 victory saw him advance to the last 16 in Rome, told Sky Sports: “It was a tough match, definitely, against a guy who is a bit unknown, but he’s won a lot of matches here. He’s feeling good.

“I knew coming in it’s another match, another chance to try and put my game out on the court. I felt a little bit low in energy. My feet weren’t working as well as I wanted them to. But I tried to fight hard and find a way. Obviously, the frustration boiled out a little bit too much in the end, but I stayed at it and came through.”

Draper was not troubled on serve and broke three times to advance in straight sets, but his opponent – ranked 92nd in the world – defended doggedly to keep himself in the fight.

Draper added: “I’m human. We don’t always wake up out of bed feeling great. I’m the same. I get out of bed and I feel so angry some days, and I’ve got to play a tennis match and I’ve got to lose points and I’ve got to go through those emotional ups and downs, even with that going on.