What Draper must do to bridge Sinner & Alcaraz gap

When Jack Draper talked about missing an opportunity after his French Open defeat, he was not just referring to missing out on a quarter-final spot.

Britain's world number five was also frustrated at not setting up a chance to test himself against the man he wants to catch - world number one Jannik Sinner.

Draper's fourth-round loss to 62nd-ranked Alexander Bublik meant he missed out on a chance to try and avenge his US Open semi-final defeat by Italy's Sinner.

It also offered a sharp reminder of how the 23-year-old Englishman still has to bridge the gap to Sinner and world number two Carlos Alcaraz at the Grand Slams.

"Draper is on the cusp - he has to keep doing what he's doing," British former world number four Greg Rusedski told BBC Sport.

"Jack has not had a full year where he has been healthy until now.

"Sinner and Alcaraz have been consistently healthy and consistently rising."

Over the past year, Draper has made monumental progress to become one of the most feared players on the ATP Tour.

His Grand Slam breakthrough came at the US Open and was backed up by runs to the last 16 of the Australian Open and now in Paris.

But Sinner, 23, and Alcaraz, 22, have a stranglehold on the majors, having won the past five Grand Slams between them.

The British number one conceded it was "really difficult" not to get the opportunity to assess his level over five sets against his good friend Sinner in Paris.

Draper has much less Grand Slam experience than the leading stars, while also having only 168 Tour-level matches under his belt compared to Sinner's 356 and Alcaraz's 300.

"I'm a long way behind those boys. I still have lots to learn," Draper said.

"They're probably a year or two years ahead of me and have obviously achieved a lot more.

"If you look at how many ATP matches they've played, they've played double the amount I have.

"I do have a lot to do to catch up with them."

Draper was ranked 39th in the world at last year's French Open and went out in the first round to Dutch qualifier and world number 176 Jesper de Jong.

His rise has been underpinned by winning Indian Wells - one of the biggest tournaments outside of the majors - and reaching the Madrid final, both ATP events played over three sets.

Better fitness has seen him climb the world rankings, and he could move to fourth after the French Open.

He has already leapfrogged American Taylor Fritz in the live rankings, although Roland Garros quarter-finalists Novak Djokovic, Lorenzo Musetti and Tommy Paul can still overhaul him.

"My level is getting better all the time, but it's not just the tennis. It's the consistency of what they're doing," Draper said of Sinner and Alcaraz.

"Even though I've been more consistent, it's doing it when it matters, and these are the tournaments that matters.

"I think I'm working hard, I'm doing the right things, and we'll see."

Draper now turns his attentions to the grass-court season which, of course, culminates at Wimbledon.

He has the game to thrive on the grass - particularly with his potent first serve - but has yet to go beyond the second round in three appearances.

"The shorter, sharper points will suit him and the leftie serve - which has so much variety - helps him achieve that," said former British women's number one Annabel Croft.

"It swings out wide on the ad side, he can swing it into the body, the kick away from a right-hander is a nightmare - he's got every kind of serve you can imagine.

"That's a huge advantage on a grass court."

Draper's high seeding will also help his chances of a deep run.

The left-handed Englishman warmed up for Wimbledon last year by winning his first ATP title on the Stuttgart grass.

Draper does not intend to defend his title in Germany next week, instead planning to take a week off the match court and focus on practise, before playing at Queen's Club.

"I'll be happy to get on a faster surface and one I'm much more comfortable moving on," said Draper.

"I look forward to being back home and on the grass, for sure."

It is the second time Draper arrives at Wimbledon as the British number one, but he will face even more scrutiny this time around.

Draper, who faced testing atmospheres against home favourites at the Australian Open and French Open this year, believes he will thrive with the crowd support behind him.

"Dealing with expectation when you're playing well is quite easy because you use the crowd to fuel you," Rusedski said.

"It's when you're not playing well, that's what becomes difficult with pressure.

"You end up trying too hard and that never works work out well. You have to organically allow it to happen if you're putting in the work, and Jack is doing that."

Draper has struggled with anxiety in the biggest moments of his career and vomited on court during his New York semi-final against Sinner.

He sought advice from a breathing coach and now believes the sickness was not down to stress.

"I found out it was to do with the fact that I was taking lots of painkillers for an injury that I had. That wasn't the anxiety," he added.

"It's weird - when I'm on the tennis court, it's probably the place I'm least anxious."