{"id":89318,"date":"2025-05-10T05:53:10","date_gmt":"2025-05-10T05:53:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/89318\/"},"modified":"2025-05-10T05:53:10","modified_gmt":"2025-05-10T05:53:10","slug":"jack-draper-gives-his-honest-opinion-on-the-rome-crowd-after-beating-an-italian-player","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/89318\/","title":{"rendered":"Jack Draper gives his honest opinion on the Rome crowd after beating an Italian player"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Jack Draper was looking to carry his clay court form through to the Italian Open.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The British number one has improved significantly in 2025, breaking into the ATP<\/a> top five for the first time.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s had particular success at the Masters 1000 level, winning his first title in March, when Draper beat Holger Rune<\/a> in the Indian Wells final.<\/p>\n

Rediscovering that form in Spain, Draper narrowly came up short against Casper Ruud<\/a> in the final of the Madrid Open, 5-7, 6-3, 4-6.<\/p>\n

\"PhotoPhoto by Clive Brunskill\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Bouncing back from a tough three-set defeat, the 23-year-old was clinical in his opening match at the Italian Open<\/a>, taking down home favorite Luciano Darderi, 6-1, 6-4.<\/p>\n

Speaking after the match, Draper<\/a> gave his verdict on the crowd at Grand Stand Arena.<\/p>\n

Jack Draper says he has experienced crowds \u2018ten times crazier\u2019 than those at the Italian Open <\/p>\n

After beating Darderi, 6-1, 6-4 in the second round of the Italian Open, Draper shared his thoughts on the atmosphere in Rome.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s what I play for,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"PhotoPhoto by MARCO BERTORELLO\/AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n

\u201cPlaying in front of lots of people, whether they are with me or against me.<\/p>\n

\u201cI experienced it in Australia this year playing against [Thanasi] Kokkinakis<\/a> and [Aleksandar] Vukic, that was ten times crazier than this.<\/p>\n

\u201cMore than anything, it was just mentally tough after the last couple of weeks coming out here again and having to face all of that and staying cool.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am proud of myself. I did a good job.\u201d<\/p>\n

Draper beat Kokkinakis<\/a> in front of a partisan Australian Open crowd in Melbourne earlier this year.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Having been booed during the match, Draper came through to win a five-set thriller and said how \u2018happy\u2019 he was with the crowd during his on-court interview.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is what I have played for since I was a young guy,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou guys are obviously all with Thanasi, but I had a little fun back. It was so good to be out here, really happy with the amount of support we get every year at these big tournaments. It\u2019s unbelievable.\u201d<\/p>\n

His win over Darderi in Rome was a lot more straightforward, although Draper has admitted his level dipped after winning the first set.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think my concentration slipped a little bit. I started getting a little bit flat,\u201d said Draper.<\/p>\n

\u201cI started really well, I was coming forward well, then in the second set, a couple of missed returns, a couple of balls here and there which were a bit sloppy, and then it was a dog fight.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe crowd started getting up with him, and it became a bit tight in the end there, but I think I did a good job of staying calm and being able to come through.\u201d<\/p>\n

Having booked his place in the third round, Draper is determined not to let his energy levels dip again.<\/p>\n

\"PhotoPhoto by MARCO BERTORELLO\/AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n

\u201cI think in the first set I was moving up the court and being the aggressive one, and then in the second set I found my energy dipped a bit and he was finding my backhand a bit more,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen it was harder for me to be on the front foot and look for the forehand, and the conditions got a bit cooler. I did well in the end. Getting that extra ball and making him play.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have just got to keep my energy up.\u201d<\/p>\n

The world number five will return to the court to take on Czech star Vit Kopriva on Sunday, May 11.<\/p>\n

Who is Jack Draper\u2019s third round opponent, Vit Kopriva?<\/p>\n

Next up for Draper is a tough test against 27-year-old Kopriva, who has already won four matches this week in Rome.<\/p>\n