Jack Draper knows exactly what he wants at home when he’s not chasing grand slams

As Jack Draper prepares for his first-round match at the French Open, the British number one and world number five reflects on the importance of mental recharge amid an intense season. Draper, seeded fifth in Paris, is determined to build on a breakout year that has seen him rise rapidly through the men’s game and develop a stronger clay-court game.Speaking to BBC Sport, Draper revealed how small breaks at home help him maintain balance during a demanding schedule:“If I go home and have a complete day off, I’ll be normal and do things like go to my local cafe, a greasy spoon in Putney,” he said.“It’s not an athlete’s breakfast, it’s the normal stuff – beans, sausages, hash browns, all of that tackle. I’ll maybe go into London, be with friends and be around my family who I never see. Tennis, especially if you’re doing well in these tournaments, is very full on.”Draper’s recent form has been impressive. He last played in the Rome Masters quarter-finals, where he lost 0-2 to reigning French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz after a hard-fought match. Draper acknowledged his level was “in and out” during that encounter after an intense May featuring deep runs in major clay tournaments.The 23-year-old’s breakout 2025 season also includes a semi-final appearance at the US Open last September and his biggest career title at Indian Wells in March, which helped him crack the world top 10.Reflecting on his performances, Draper admitted the challenge of maintaining peak form consistently:“I’m at the stage where I’m trying to adapt to being 'on' all the time – which is what I want to do. But it doesn’t come easy. You need to learn to deal with that and be the best you can. I’ve always been someone who’s quite wired – [I’m] someone who wants to achieve things all the time. I want to keep on moving forwards. I have to be progressing, otherwise I’m struggling.”At Roland Garros, Draper will open against 68th-ranked Mattia Bellucci, a left-handed Italian he first encountered as a junior in under-12 tournaments. Draper acknowledged the tough competition ahead:“I never really look through the draw. I look at my first-round opponent and I’m aware that all these guys deserve to be here. It’s a difficult sport and there are a lot of people who are hungry to beat me now. But I feel really confident I am able to go deeper in these tournaments and that’s the next step for me – to have consistently good runs at Grand Slams.”Having practiced recently with Alcaraz on Court Philippe Chatrier, Draper’s improved clay-court game is evident, marking a significant progression from previous years when clay was seen as a weaker surface for him.With a grueling calendar leaving few breaks, Draper values the chance to mentally reset and recharge during moments like his recent London trip, an essential balance for enduring the relentless demands of elite tennis.Jack Draper will play the next match on May 27, 2025, 9:00:00 AM UTC against Mattia Bellucci in Roland Garros.