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Draper must learn to play with a target on his back as SW19 looms
The Guardian
|June 04, 2025
Alexander Bublik reacted to the most significant victory of his career by collapsing onto the Parisian soil with his arms aloft, his face transmitting joy and disbelief.
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Although his jubilation was an apt reaction after reaching his first grand slam quarter-final, it also said much about his defeated opponent.
Jack Draper's rise over the past 12 months has been one of the most significant developments on the ATP Tour. As he has established himself as one of the best in the world and earned respect within the locker room, the target on his back has grown accordingly.
Now ranked No. 5, Draper is one of the elite opponents against whom others measure themselves. When they face him, they will try to swing freely and use the occasion to take their games to levels they normally cannot sustain. As was the case with Bublik on Monday, this will sometimes work.
This story is from the June 04, 2025 edition of The Guardian.
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