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11 hours ago
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Jack Draper against Sebastian Baez during their first round match at the Wimbledon. (AP)
Last week at the All England Club, during his practice on No 1 Court, Jack Draper, Britain’s No.1 hope at Wimbledon, was seen working with a lady. He would be sat, eyes closed, head down and she would stand behind him, pressing his chest slowly with both her hands. Turns out she is is Ann Coxhead, Draper’s breathing coach.
Draper used to have issues with sinuses till last year, and has since working with her shifted from breathing through his mouth to his nose, and increasing his oxygen intake as a result.
“I started working with a lady called Ann Coxhead, who has a long career in breathing, expertise in different sports, different projects she’s done,” Draper told reporters. “She said she thought she could help me on the court. “The work I’ve done with her has been invaluable. It’s been a real asset to my tennis. I think I’m still a work in progress with it, but definitely my physicality and my general wellbeing on the court has improved. I look forward to continuing the work with her. It’s definitely been a massive positive to my tennis.
“It is a bit like having a physio or a strength and conditioning coach. It was important for me in tennis where there’s such small margins, such small percentages.”
Draper has had anxiety issues in the past and the breathing routines help calm him down.
Last year when he was playing Jannik Sinner at US Open semifinal, he had felt so anxious that he felt like vomiting, he had said.
“I think obviously it’s a big occasion for me. I definitely felt, even though I generally feel pretty relaxed and stuff, I definitely felt more excited today, a few more nerves around. I’m definitely someone who is, I think, quite an anxious human being. I think when you add all that together sometimes I do feel a bit nausea on court, and I do feel a little bit sick when it gets tough. Yeah, I didn’t have any problems before the match, but it obviously just built up,” Draper had then said. He had vomited three times during the game, but refused to retire though he lost 7-5 7-6 6–3.
English (US) ·