Eastbourne: Jack Draper says battling injury is like ‘watching myself fall’

Draper had to fight his way back up the rankings, falling out of the top 100 during his layoff.

He is in the main draw for Wimbledon, which starts a week after Eastbourne on Monday, June 29, but expects to practice a lot of matches on the grass courts this week.

“I don’t know how these tournaments (Eastbourne and Wimbledon) will go in terms of my wins and losses,” Draper said.

“I want this time to be past me now, to sink into the tour and come back for a week or two.

“I think I’ve become the player I want to be on the court again, which is a really great thing after a year of struggling.”

Draper will be joined at Eastbourne by three-time Grand Slam champion and former world number one Andy Murray.

Murray has joined Draper for the grass-court season but told BBC Sport he hopes to work with him on a long-term basis.

Two-time Wimbledon winner Murray will be courtside to watch Draper play fifth seed Nakashima at Devonshire Park.

“Over the last year I’ve lost a lot of confidence in my body and having someone who believes in you is a big positive,” Draper added.

“Our relationship is very special, and it gives me a little more energy, especially in a moment where I’m coming back and I need to have that good energy around me.”