Jack Draper felt he was watching his own decline during a year-long injury nightmare as he bids to put his career back on track under the guidance of Andy Murray.
The former world number four has plummeted to 113 in the rankings after being plagued by chronic arm and knee issues, in addition to a shoulder problem.
Draper has enlisted three-time grand slam champion Murray as his coach for the grass-court season as he targets a sustained return to tour-level competition.
With Wimbledon set to start next week, he is due to play his first match in more than two months on Monday when he faces American world number 32 Brandon Nakashima in the first round at Eastbourne.
“Tennis is a tough sport because I was top 10 in the world, doing great things, and you’re losing your ranking every week,” the 2024 US Open semi-finalist said of his injury issues.
“It’s not like a football team where you can have a substitute come in and take your place. It’s like you’re watching your decline.
“It’s tough but I think I’ve learnt a massive amount about my body in the last year.
“I’ve had a lot of injuries but I’m not an injured athlete, I don’t believe I’m an injured athlete – I’m a strong athlete. I don’t picture my career being all injuries.”
Draper has played just 10 matches since last year’s Wimbledon.
open image in galleryBone bruising in his racket arm kept him out for around eight months and he managed only five events on his return earlier this year.
His last outing – against Tomas Etcheverry in Barcelona on April 13 – ended in a third-set retirement because of tendonitis in his knee.
Draper at one stage feared the arm issue may persist for the rest of his career but insists he is now in a “very good place”.
“I’m not coming back just to play here on the grass,” said the 24-year-old.
“I don’t know how these competitions (Eastbourne and Wimbledon) are going to go in terms of my wins and the losses, which is hard to say because obviously it’s two tournaments I want to do incredibly well at, but I want this period to be past me now of dipping in and out of the tour and coming back for one week or two weeks.
“I’m very much on a build again to get myself back to where I want to be. I’m in a really good place now with things and working through my bits.
open image in gallery“I feel like I’m able to be the player I want to be again on the court, which is a really great thing after a year of sort of struggle.”
Two-time Wimbledon winner Murray is set to be court-side to watch Draper take on fifth seed Nakashima at Devonshire Park.
Asked about working with the 39-year-old Scot, Draper said: “His tennis knowledge is incredible.
“I’ve lost a lot of confidence in my body over the last year that I’m rebuilding again, and having someone who believes in you as a person, as a player, who’s one of your biggest inspirations (is a big positive).
“Our relationship is very special, and so that gives me a bit more energy, especially in a moment where I’m coming back and I need to have that good energy around me.”