Andy Roddick has revealed Jack Draper ‘couldn’t have been nicer’ towards him after recently blasting the tennis star prior to the start of the US Open.
The 22-year-old will face off against Alex de Minaur in the last eight of the competition today as he looks to win the first Grand Slam of his career.
Before the tournament started, however, Draper was the subject of controversy.
The tennis star hit a volley into the ground on his match point against Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime in the Cincinnati Masters tournament last month, with Draper then given the win.
Jack Draper recently met Andy Roddick after being criticised by the tennis legend before the US Open
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His opponent was furious, while Roddick said the Briton knew he’s made an error but didn’t own up.
Yet Roddick has revealed he’s got no issue with Draper and that the US Open star ‘couldn’t have been nicer’ when their paths recently crossed.
“It was a huge story, but I’m not mad at anyone,” the former world No 1 said on his podcast.
“I’m mad at the rule. The lack of common sense from the rules committee.
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“Guess who I walked into in the locker room this morning… Jack Draper. After I had said he had buried a shank right into the ground all week.
“And he couldn’t have been nicer. I thought he was definitely not a listener (to Roddick’s podcast)!
“He didn’t cheat. That was not his call to make. That’s not his job, he has enough to do.
“I genuinely like Jack Draper. I am a fan of his game. He can do a lot to bother a lot of people with that big leftie serve.”
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Roddick is also backing Draper to stun De Minaur later today.
The Briton has lost all three of his previous meetings with the Australian, including one at the Mexican Open back in March.
Yet Roddick feels Draper has enough in his locker to reign supreme and make the next round of the competition.
“I’m going to go with Draper,” he said.
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Jack Draper ‘couldn’t have been nicer’ towards Andy Roddick when they met at the US Open
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“It takes a massive serve to affect Demon (De Minaur). He doesn’t miss a lot of returns. He is very, very fast, but I like Draper here.
“Jack Draper’s backhand was very average and that’s coming from someone whose backhand was less than average.
“He also used to make weird errors, but he has looked rock solid. The return of serve is there.
“I walked past him in the locker room and he is a big dude. That’s a big mammal.
Jack Draper is just three victories away from US Open glory
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“A lot of progress in is game no matter how it goes from here.”
Draper is aiming to become the third Briton to win the US Open this century.
Andy Murray lifted the trophy in 2012, with Emma Raducanu securing glory three years ago.
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