British tennis star Jack Draper says he feels more equipped to handle the intense heat of Melbourne as he prepares for the 2025 Australian Open. The 23-year-old, seeded 15th at the Grand Slam, has made significant adjustments to his training and mindset after struggling with the heat in previous years.
Jack Draper, who was struck by illness after his first-round win at last year’s Australian Open, attributed the episode to “psychological stress” following his debut performance in Melbourne. He experienced similar issues during his first major semi-final at the US Open, where he vomited on court before falling to eventual champion Jannik Sinner.
Reflecting on the challenges he faced in past tournaments, Draper told the PA news agency,
“This year I’ve really tried to do different things. I’m from a country where we’re inside a lot and it’s cold. Coming into a tournament like this where it is really hot, we don’t get a lot of that exposure. I’ve got a lot of heat training in and I feel good. I’ve been working hard on different techniques with my breathing.”
In addition to refining his physical approach, Draper has focused on mental preparation to better handle the mental and physical stress of playing in extreme conditions.
“It’s not just the tennis, it’s a big mental game as well and it’s how we recover after points and deal with stress in general, whether that be the tennis or the conditions,” he added. “I think my prep for the heat this year has been a lot better than previous years.”
Despite a disrupted build-up to the Australian Open, including a hip injury that led him to miss the United Cup and cancel a training camp with four-time major champion Carlos Alcaraz, Draper has been proactive in adjusting to the conditions in Melbourne. He has incorporated heat training into his regimen, using saunas and cycling in “hot bubbles,” and arrived in Australia two-and-a-half weeks ahead of the tournament to ensure optimal preparation.
Draper has also benefited from valuable practice sessions alongside top-ranked players, including world number one Jannik Sinner and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic.
“They just bring such a high quality to the practice court. It’s really great to be able to spar with that kind of level of intensity and work ethic,” Draper said.
Draper will open his Australian Open campaign with a first-round match against Argentina’s Mariano Navone on Monday, with hopes of continuing his promising career in Melbourne’s scorching conditions.
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