Juan Martin del Potro, a former Grand Slam winner, believes Jack Draper has the potential to rival top players like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, but notes that Draper's success hinges on his ability to stay injury-free and build confidence in his physical endurance. Del Potro, who himself struggled with injuries throughout his career, including wrist and knee problems that eventually led to his retirement in 2022, understands the importance of consistency, fitness, and mental toughness in achieving success at the highest level. Draper, who has been out of action for nearly six months due to a bone stress injury in his left arm, recently made a promising return to competition, defeating Novak Djokovic en route to the quarterfinals in his Indian Wells title defense, before suffering a setback with a knee injury that forced him to withdraw from the Mutua Madrid Open. According to Del Potro, Draper's left-handedness gives him an edge, but he must learn to manage his body and overcome the anxiety issues and injuries that have plagued him, including hip, knee, and arm problems.
Del Potro, speaking as part of his role with the Roland-Garros Junior Series Brazil tournament, reflected on his own experiences with injuries, stating that they were the most challenging aspect of his career, but emphasized the importance of having a strong support team, including a physical trainer, physio, and mental coach, to help navigate these challenges. With the Madrid Open approaching, Draper will be looking to regain his form and make a deep run in the tournament, where he reached the final last year, and British No 1 Cam Norrie has also shown promising results, including a quarterfinal appearance in Indian Wells and a third-round finish at the Australian Open. The Madrid Open, which will feature a clay court installed at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium from April 23-30, will provide a crucial test for Draper and other top players as they prepare for the French Open.