1 00:00:14,280 --> 00:00:17,320 Caitlin Thompson: Rennae, Greetings from New York, where I just returned from 2 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:18,360 Caitlin Thompson: a brief trip to London. 3 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:21,560 Rennae Stubbs: Oh, I know, we'll welcome everybody the Rennae Stubbs Podcast. 4 00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:25,320 Rennae Stubbs: We are separate again. I am on my way to Wimbledon. 5 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:28,720 Rennae Stubbs: I'm literally about to enter the airport and you were 6 00:00:28,720 --> 00:00:32,279 Rennae Stubbs: in New York City. Wimbledon is around the corner. Can 7 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:35,159 Rennae Stubbs: we talk about Alcaraz also just you know, winning the 8 00:00:35,159 --> 00:00:37,479 Rennae Stubbs: French Open and popping over to the Old Queens and 9 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:39,320 Rennae Stubbs: be like, you know what I can plan grass to 10 00:00:39,440 --> 00:00:42,120 Rennae Stubbs: remember I've wanted a couple of times and a couple 11 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:45,400 Rennae Stubbs: of Wimbledon's. Remember that, guys, I mean, this guy's unreal 12 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:48,640 Rennae Stubbs: goes and wins Queens. 13 00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:50,600 Caitlin Thompson: My favorite part of the interview where he was like, 14 00:00:50,640 --> 00:00:52,320 Caitlin Thompson: you know, I didn't really show up with any expectations, 15 00:00:52,320 --> 00:00:54,200 Caitlin Thompson: Like I had just had like one or two practices 16 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:56,520 Caitlin Thompson: on grass, and so my goal here is to just 17 00:00:56,560 --> 00:00:59,080 Caitlin Thompson: like get some matches under my belt. And you know, 18 00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:02,760 Caitlin Thompson: sometimes especially with more media trained athletes, which I actually 19 00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:05,720 Caitlin Thompson: do not think Carlos Alcaraz is, you know, they kind 20 00:01:05,760 --> 00:01:09,160 Caitlin Thompson: of like retreat to platitudes, to lower expectations so that 21 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:12,679 Caitlin Thompson: they don't create headlines, which in today's tennis media climate 22 00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:15,400 Caitlin Thompson: is more nutso than ever, with people taking things out 23 00:01:15,440 --> 00:01:18,559 Caitlin Thompson: of context and creating like dishy, gossip y media headlines. 24 00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:20,960 Caitlin Thompson: I mean, honestly, it's like it's overdue, like we haven't 25 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:22,800 Caitlin Thompson: had this for a long time, and that we finally 26 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:25,680 Caitlin Thompson: do where people are basically treating you know, tennis like 27 00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:29,559 Caitlin Thompson: the gossip machine as well as the legitimate news source 28 00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:33,280 Caitlin Thompson: that it is. But I believe him when he said, yeah, 29 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:35,280 Caitlin Thompson: I wasn't expecting anything. I just turned up and maybe 30 00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:36,920 Caitlin Thompson: wanted some matches and then like ended up winning the 31 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:37,280 Caitlin Thompson: whole thing. 32 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:42,240 Rennae Stubbs: I mean, listen, when you when you're as talented and 33 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:46,720 Rennae Stubbs: as and just as malleable on all these surfaces. It's 34 00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:48,520 Rennae Stubbs: why we talk about him being so good on the 35 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:51,720 Rennae Stubbs: natural surfaces because also playing on grass, it's not only 36 00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:54,360 Rennae Stubbs: about changing the white that you play. And you you know, 37 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:56,880 Rennae Stubbs: on clay, you've got to be strategic. You've got to 38 00:01:56,880 --> 00:01:59,040 Rennae Stubbs: be patient, you've got to wait for the right shot. 39 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:01,520 Rennae Stubbs: You can't hit a certain to be out of position 40 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:03,760 Rennae Stubbs: because the movement's a little bit more difficult on clay. 41 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:06,320 Rennae Stubbs: On grass, you've got to be explosive. You've also got 42 00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:08,760 Rennae Stubbs: to be very agile with your footwork. You've got to 43 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:12,000 Rennae Stubbs: be able to adjust the feel underneath your shoe to 44 00:02:12,040 --> 00:02:14,880 Rennae Stubbs: the grass and to a slippery surface, and the ball 45 00:02:14,919 --> 00:02:17,640 Rennae Stubbs: bounces lower, and you know you've got to serve you 46 00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:19,240 Rennae Stubbs: the ball more wide. You've got to get you mean, 47 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:21,760 Rennae Stubbs: there's so many different things about playing on grass compared 48 00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:26,080 Rennae Stubbs: to playing on clay, but yet he adjusts so easily 49 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:29,800 Rennae Stubbs: because he is so creative. He is such an incredible athlete, 50 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:32,800 Rennae Stubbs: and of course the footwork aspect of playing on clay 51 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:35,320 Rennae Stubbs: and playing on grass is so different, but he is 52 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:39,120 Rennae Stubbs: so good at adapting on those surfaces, and he showed it. 53 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:41,200 Rennae Stubbs: You know, we've clearly had enough tennis winning the French 54 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:44,000 Rennae Stubbs: Open and took a few days off, as I said, 55 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:46,359 Rennae Stubbs: went to Ibiza, had some fun and then you know, 56 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:48,840 Rennae Stubbs: I think his joy for playing tennis is also what 57 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:51,639 Rennae Stubbs: gets him through the early matches, because he's not like, oh, man, 58 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:54,520 Rennae Stubbs: I can't believe I'm playing another tournament so quickly after 59 00:02:54,560 --> 00:02:56,880 Rennae Stubbs: the French and you know, you do have those moments 60 00:02:56,880 --> 00:02:59,040 Rennae Stubbs: where you're like, oh, I've got to lay them back 61 00:02:59,120 --> 00:03:01,840 Rennae Stubbs: up again and like get serious and like have stress 62 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:05,240 Rennae Stubbs: and pressure again. Okay, he goes into it going okay, 63 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:09,120 Rennae Stubbs: I'm playing again, it's kind of like Pete Davidson. Okay, okay, 64 00:03:09,160 --> 00:03:10,799 Rennae Stubbs: you know in SNL, like okay, I'm here. 65 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:13,280 Caitlin Thompson: Oh it is totally Chad. 66 00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:14,520 Rennae Stubbs: Yeah it's Chad. 67 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:15,680 Caitlin Thompson: It's Chad. 68 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:17,760 Rennae Stubbs: I think he's Chad. 69 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:23,040 Caitlin Thompson: I love that we had the women also playing. We 70 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:27,360 Caitlin Thompson: had some results out of Eastbourne, you know. And for 71 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:32,040 Caitlin Thompson: me just like this excitement of just the short grass 72 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:34,400 Caitlin Thompson: season where everyone's like you're either in it or you're not. 73 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:36,440 Caitlin Thompson: Like there's some players who are just like, f this, 74 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:37,960 Caitlin Thompson: I hate this surface. 75 00:03:38,040 --> 00:03:39,040 Rennae Stubbs: I'm not going to do anything. 76 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:41,800 Caitlin Thompson: And then you have players like Sasha Bublik who shows 77 00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:43,520 Caitlin Thompson: up and he's like, guess what you think I'm chaotic 78 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:45,880 Caitlin Thompson: on other surfaces, get ready for grass, the most chaotic 79 00:03:45,880 --> 00:03:48,880 Caitlin Thompson: of services. Here I go. Takes down pretty much everybody, 80 00:03:48,880 --> 00:03:51,480 Caitlin Thompson: including Meddy in the final in Zverev, in the semi 81 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:54,920 Caitlin Thompson: in the second German tournament in a row on grass. 82 00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:57,080 Caitlin Thompson: I love to see it. Bublik is so fun. I 83 00:03:57,160 --> 00:03:59,720 Caitlin Thompson: just I absolutely love his tennis. I hate his facial hair. 84 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:05,440 Caitlin Thompson: Words to the sailing team, just please please just the 85 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:08,040 Caitlin Thompson: underbeard only is just such a tough look. I hate 86 00:04:08,040 --> 00:04:11,920 Caitlin Thompson: to critique his appearance because otherwise he's totally enjoyable underlay fault. 87 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:14,080 Caitlin Thompson: But what did you make of the public run is 88 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:16,440 Caitlin Thompson: this's just like the chaotic thing that sometimes happens on 89 00:04:16,560 --> 00:04:18,840 Caitlin Thompson: the surface, that is, you know, the most random. 90 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:22,440 Rennae Stubbs: Nowadays it is the most random. But it also really 91 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:25,240 Rennae Stubbs: lends itself. Particularly grass, it's not at Wimbledon it still 92 00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:27,839 Rennae Stubbs: plays a little bit like old school grass. It's quick, low, 93 00:04:27,880 --> 00:04:30,840 Rennae Stubbs: balancing all the things, and you have to be incredibly 94 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:33,479 Rennae Stubbs: aggressive on grass. You have to, you know, if you 95 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:35,640 Rennae Stubbs: see an opportunity to go for a winner, you do it. 96 00:04:35,720 --> 00:04:38,360 Rennae Stubbs: Like on clay you might see an opening for a winner, 97 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:40,560 Rennae Stubbs: but if you don't hit it well, then again, as 98 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:43,880 Rennae Stubbs: I was talking about, your footing is different, how you 99 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:46,039 Rennae Stubbs: you know, how you have to defend the court is different, 100 00:04:46,040 --> 00:04:49,760 Rennae Stubbs: whereas on grass it's really you're not doing. Defense is 101 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:53,760 Rennae Stubbs: not part of your thought process. It's more about seaball 102 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:58,720 Rennae Stubbs: c space, hit ball, hit space, go be aggressive. So 103 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:02,320 Rennae Stubbs: Bublic is the type of play that always takes risk. 104 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:05,599 Rennae Stubbs: That's how he plays. So for him, playing on grass 105 00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:09,520 Rennae Stubbs: is ideal because it's like, oh risk, great, go for it. 106 00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:12,279 Rennae Stubbs: And then obviously if you're playing well enough, you start 107 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:14,800 Rennae Stubbs: getting into it and you start feeling good. About it. 108 00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:18,000 Rennae Stubbs: You start serving big and flat. He serves so flat, 109 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:20,120 Rennae Stubbs: and he hits it all so flat. They're playing on 110 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:23,760 Rennae Stubbs: grass lands itself beautifully to his game. So look, he's 111 00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:25,680 Rennae Stubbs: not going to be anyone that someone wants to play 112 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:27,320 Rennae Stubbs: at Wimblein. I can tell you that right now. The 113 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:30,760 Rennae Stubbs: unpredictability that the under armed serving, like everything about him 114 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:34,600 Rennae Stubbs: was just I mean, I remember coaching against him and 115 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:38,560 Rennae Stubbs: mixed doubles once he played with Elena Rybakina against Sam 116 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:42,000 Rennae Stubbs: Stosur and her partner at the Strain and Open, and 117 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:44,080 Rennae Stubbs: I remember seeing him really kind of for the first 118 00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:45,840 Rennae Stubbs: ish time i'd sort of seen him in the pre film. 119 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:49,320 Rennae Stubbs: I'm like, this guy is nuts. He would go for 120 00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:52,080 Rennae Stubbs: one hundred and forty mile an hour second serves and 121 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:54,280 Rennae Stubbs: I was like, I don't know what's going on here. 122 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:57,839 Rennae Stubbs: This guy is absolutely bonkers. But having said that, he's 123 00:05:57,839 --> 00:06:02,880 Rennae Stubbs: that unpredictable character that on gross it's actually really beneficial 124 00:06:02,920 --> 00:06:04,680 Rennae Stubbs: to be that way as long as you can keep you, 125 00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:05,440 Rennae Stubbs: you know what together. 126 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:07,760 Caitlin Thompson: I mean, you just described why I love playing on 127 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:09,600 Caitlin Thompson: grass so much, because my risk tolerance is high and 128 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:13,600 Caitlin Thompson: my rally tolerance is so low. Like you and I are 129 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:16,120 Caitlin Thompson: both very similar people who were like eh, let's see 130 00:06:16,120 --> 00:06:18,279 Caitlin Thompson: what happens, you know, yeah, which I absolutely love and 131 00:06:18,320 --> 00:06:20,279 Caitlin Thompson: I love this bout black. All right, now, I just 132 00:06:20,320 --> 00:06:25,800 Caitlin Thompson: have to briefly introduce what we're about to hear, because 133 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:28,240 Caitlin Thompson: we have a fantastic takeaway from our sit down with 134 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:30,960 Caitlin Thompson: Jack Draper in London. We were lucky enough to get 135 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:32,360 Caitlin Thompson: him on the pod. I was trying to get you, 136 00:06:32,400 --> 00:06:34,200 Caitlin Thompson: but you weren't there yet, and so I went over 137 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:37,039 Caitlin Thompson: to London to do it myself, you know, portraying the 138 00:06:37,080 --> 00:06:39,719 Caitlin Thompson: role of Renice Stubs in this interview as me Kaitlyn Thompson. 139 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:42,000 Caitlin Thompson: But I have to say Jack Draper what a gentleman. 140 00:06:42,040 --> 00:06:44,120 Caitlin Thompson: First of all, he made the Semis of Queens, probably 141 00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:46,599 Caitlin Thompson: should have won that match against Jiri Lehechka and made the final, 142 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:51,159 Caitlin Thompson: but kind of fiery in his you know, fiery in 143 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:52,839 Caitlin Thompson: his loss, which actually I kind of thought was good. 144 00:06:52,839 --> 00:06:55,000 Caitlin Thompson: Like he's a chill customer, he's positive, he's nice, he 145 00:06:55,040 --> 00:06:56,760 Caitlin Thompson: was a lovely guy to chat too. But I kind 146 00:06:56,760 --> 00:06:58,160 Caitlin Thompson: of like to see some of that emotion. It makes 147 00:06:58,160 --> 00:06:59,960 Caitlin Thompson: me feel like he's probably pretty fired up for Wimbledon, 148 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:03,520 Caitlin Thompson: and he should be. He semi'd in Madrid, he got 149 00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:06,720 Caitlin Thompson: you know, his first Master's one thousand win earlier this 150 00:07:06,920 --> 00:07:09,840 Caitlin Thompson: year in Indian wells like I'm a Jack Draper believer. 151 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:14,240 Caitlin Thompson: Actually the lefty, big serving, big vibe guy is you know, 152 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:16,240 Caitlin Thompson: he's swaggy and he's got he's got some fire in 153 00:07:16,280 --> 00:07:19,160 Caitlin Thompson: his belly, which I love to see from a Brit candidly. 154 00:07:19,440 --> 00:07:22,200 Rennae Stubbs: Or remember what I said, he's gonna win Wimbledon. I 155 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:25,600 Rennae Stubbs: mean you did say it, you said. I love when 156 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:26,960 Rennae Stubbs: I say that because I get all the people out 157 00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:28,640 Rennae Stubbs: there going, oh, what are you talking about? He's not 158 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:32,440 Rennae Stubbs: gonna win guys. I'm also at jokster. I say things 159 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:36,080 Rennae Stubbs: sometimes to be a little bit you know, provocative, but 160 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:38,240 Rennae Stubbs: I do believe that he's going to do well because 161 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:41,760 Rennae Stubbs: you know, a Brit playing at London, you know at 162 00:07:41,760 --> 00:07:45,080 Rennae Stubbs: Wimbledon you have to you're two of you're off two 163 00:07:45,120 --> 00:07:47,960 Rennae Stubbs: things right. In Australia, for example, Pat Rafter really struggled 164 00:07:47,960 --> 00:07:50,760 Rennae Stubbs: playing in Australia, but yeah he won two US Opens. 165 00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:52,760 Rennae Stubbs: You know Sam Stosur is a struggle a little bit 166 00:07:52,760 --> 00:07:55,400 Rennae Stubbs: in Australia. She's okay, but through the years she struggled. 167 00:07:55,880 --> 00:07:58,559 Rennae Stubbs: There's certain players that can play at home and play 168 00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:01,040 Rennae Stubbs: really well. Andy Murray is a big example. Look at 169 00:08:01,040 --> 00:08:03,440 Rennae Stubbs: the pressure that he had on his shoulders and was 170 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:06,120 Rennae Stubbs: able to you know, win Wimbledon, win a gold medal 171 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:09,280 Rennae Stubbs: in London, like incredible how well he played at Wimbledon 172 00:08:09,320 --> 00:08:11,840 Rennae Stubbs: through the years, and I think Jack Draper is the 173 00:08:11,880 --> 00:08:16,720 Rennae Stubbs: personality that can actually embrace it and do well too 174 00:08:17,080 --> 00:08:18,600 Rennae Stubbs: at Wonderland. So I think the crowd's going to be 175 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:21,800 Rennae Stubbs: incredibly behind him. He'll play on you know, center court, 176 00:08:21,880 --> 00:08:24,360 Rennae Stubbs: Court one. Maybe I doubt he's going to be on 177 00:08:24,440 --> 00:08:27,200 Rennae Stubbs: anything other than those courts, and frankly he shouldn't be. 178 00:08:28,400 --> 00:08:30,160 Rennae Stubbs: If he goes on court too, it'll be packed. But 179 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:33,000 Rennae Stubbs: so I think this is a real opportunity again for 180 00:08:33,040 --> 00:08:36,840 Rennae Stubbs: a new face in British tennis to take the mantle 181 00:08:36,840 --> 00:08:38,880 Rennae Stubbs: from Andy now that he's gone, And I think Jack 182 00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:40,920 Rennae Stubbs: Draper is a real chance to win a Grand Slam 183 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:41,600 Rennae Stubbs: in his career. 184 00:08:42,080 --> 00:08:44,640 Caitlin Thompson: I totally agree with you. I also like he was smart, 185 00:08:44,760 --> 00:08:47,840 Caitlin Thompson: he was funny, he was engaged as you're here, and 186 00:08:47,840 --> 00:08:52,760 Caitlin Thompson: also he took the tube. He wasn't in tow with 187 00:08:52,920 --> 00:08:55,360 Caitlin Thompson: a like an entourage of eight or nine people, which 188 00:08:55,400 --> 00:08:56,760 Caitlin Thompson: I think for a lot of people on the pro tour, 189 00:08:56,840 --> 00:08:58,400 Caitlin Thompson: men or women that would have been the case, like, 190 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:01,640 Caitlin Thompson: you know, a young talent in his hometown showing up, 191 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:04,160 Caitlin Thompson: you know, sort of refreshingly willing to engage with people 192 00:09:04,280 --> 00:09:06,439 Caitlin Thompson: was really cool. He didn't show up with a posse 193 00:09:06,440 --> 00:09:06,800 Caitlin Thompson: you know. 194 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:09,200 Rennae Stubbs: Yeah, well, I like the guy that takes it tube. 195 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:12,360 Rennae Stubbs: It's like us New Yorkers are taking the subway. We 196 00:09:12,520 --> 00:09:14,520 Rennae Stubbs: know it's the best way to get around, and we 197 00:09:14,559 --> 00:09:19,240 Rennae Stubbs: all know London traffic is not fun. So I think 198 00:09:19,240 --> 00:09:20,880 Rennae Stubbs: that was probably the wisest thing for him to do. 199 00:09:20,920 --> 00:09:24,760 Rennae Stubbs: And we as you will point out, Caitlin intelligent, funny 200 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:28,160 Rennae Stubbs: guy and has a lot of pressure on his shoulders 201 00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:29,600 Rennae Stubbs: going into these two weeks. But I think he's going 202 00:09:29,640 --> 00:09:31,600 Rennae Stubbs: to embrace it. I think he's going to do really well. 203 00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:32,160 Rennae Stubbs: You too. 204 00:09:32,200 --> 00:09:34,320 Caitlin Thompson: All right, without further ado, here's our chat with Jack 205 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:37,120 Caitlin Thompson: Draper. Rennae, safe travels. We'll see you on the grass. 206 00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:39,160 Rennae Stubbs: See you're on the grass kids. 207 00:09:39,160 --> 00:10:10,600 Caitlin Thompson: Hello everybody. What is going on? Hi—I'm Caitlin Thompson. I'm the 208 00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:13,720 Caitlin Thompson: founder of Racquet and I'm super super thrilled to be 209 00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:17,000 Caitlin Thompson: here with an edition of what we call live & 210 00:10:17,080 --> 00:10:20,719 Caitlin Thompson: Direct tonight. I am incredibly excited and privileged to meet 211 00:10:20,720 --> 00:10:23,800 Caitlin Thompson: somebody I have not met before. Who is your World 212 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:28,600 Caitlin Thompson: number four, your British number one and a tall drink 213 00:10:28,600 --> 00:10:31,680 Caitlin Thompson: of water, Jack Draper, please join me in welcoming Jack Draper, 214 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:35,520 Caitlin Thompson: thank you so much for being here Jack, thank you for 215 00:10:35,520 --> 00:10:38,360 Caitlin Thompson: for coming as well. I appreciate it. You're a local, you 216 00:10:38,400 --> 00:10:39,000 Caitlin Thompson: took the tube. 217 00:10:39,559 --> 00:10:42,480 Jack Draper: I did. Yeah, I live in Putney, so it's easy, 218 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:44,040 Jack Draper: too easy to get here to the tune. 219 00:10:44,480 --> 00:10:46,760 Caitlin Thompson: I love it in London. I was asking Jack as 220 00:10:46,760 --> 00:10:49,760 Caitlin Thompson: we were getting ready if he can walk down the 221 00:10:49,760 --> 00:10:51,199 Caitlin Thompson: street without getting recognized. 222 00:10:52,160 --> 00:10:53,800 Jack Draper: So far you can, Yeah, I don't. 223 00:10:53,840 --> 00:10:57,439 Caitlin Thompson: I don't get reckon that that's going on too long, do you think. That's gonna last much longer? 224 00:10:57,559 --> 00:10:59,280 Jack Draper: I don't know. I don't know. We'll find out. I'm 225 00:10:59,320 --> 00:10:59,960 Jack Draper: pretty nookis. 226 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:04,560 Caitlin Thompson: You actually are extremely low key. But I do have 227 00:11:04,600 --> 00:11:08,160 Caitlin Thompson: to say you have had certainly the best season of 228 00:11:08,160 --> 00:11:10,319 Caitlin Thompson: your career, and I think if we were going to 229 00:11:10,400 --> 00:11:11,920 Caitlin Thompson: talk about this at the end of last year, I 230 00:11:11,920 --> 00:11:14,640 Caitlin Thompson: would have also said, you've had the best season of 231 00:11:14,679 --> 00:11:17,120 Caitlin Thompson: your career last year. So it just kind of keeps 232 00:11:17,160 --> 00:11:19,400 Caitlin Thompson: getting better. Talk to us a little bit about the 233 00:11:19,480 --> 00:11:20,120 Caitlin Thompson: year so far. 234 00:11:20,880 --> 00:11:23,280 Jack Draper: I've got a lot of confidence early on in my career, 235 00:11:23,320 --> 00:11:26,960 Jack Draper: had a lot of injuries, a lot of setbacks. Yeah, 236 00:11:26,960 --> 00:11:28,880 Jack Draper: a lot of adversity I had to sort of get through, 237 00:11:29,760 --> 00:11:32,079 Jack Draper: and then kind of as the last couple of years 238 00:11:32,120 --> 00:11:34,079 Jack Draper: gone by, I've I've still been the same. I've kept 239 00:11:34,080 --> 00:11:36,440 Jack Draper: the same work ethic. I've got really good people around me, 240 00:11:36,920 --> 00:11:38,959 Jack Draper: and I think I've always had the tennis, but it's 241 00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:41,959 Jack Draper: just been getting the mentality and the physicality right to 242 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:43,560 Jack Draper: perform at the highest level. 243 00:11:43,640 --> 00:11:46,360 Caitlin Thompson: One of those people, as I understand it, is your brother. 244 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:49,040 Caitlin Thompson: Having a brother on tour must be nice. 245 00:11:50,280 --> 00:11:50,440 Jack Draper: I can. 246 00:11:50,480 --> 00:11:52,480 Caitlin Thompson: Also, I have siblings, so I know that probably goes 247 00:11:52,520 --> 00:11:53,880 Caitlin Thompson: either way, right, Yeah. 248 00:11:53,679 --> 00:11:56,000 Jack Draper: It's nice to me and my brother have unbelievable relationship 249 00:11:56,080 --> 00:12:00,840 Jack Draper: somewhere and yeah, we understand be like no one else, 250 00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:03,840 Jack Draper: and we live together and we don't argue too much. 251 00:12:03,880 --> 00:12:06,040 Jack Draper: So it's nice to have blood around you. In the 252 00:12:06,040 --> 00:12:06,560 Jack Draper: whole time. 253 00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:11,559 Caitlin Thompson: Let's talk a little bit about Indian Wells. Our team 254 00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:14,520 Caitlin Thompson: at Racquet has been watching you play for a couple 255 00:12:14,520 --> 00:12:17,600 Caitlin Thompson: of years. Obviously, you did really well in our neck 256 00:12:17,640 --> 00:12:20,440 Caitlin Thompson: of the woods in New York last year. We took 257 00:12:20,559 --> 00:12:23,839 Caitlin Thompson: some incredible photographs, if I must say so myself, of 258 00:12:24,040 --> 00:12:27,000 Caitlin Thompson: you at Indian Wells and then you just kept winning 259 00:12:27,040 --> 00:12:30,120 Caitlin Thompson: and you kept winning and you kept winning. For those 260 00:12:30,160 --> 00:12:33,400 Caitlin Thompson: of you who don't know about Indian Wells in Palm Springs, California, 261 00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:35,520 Caitlin Thompson: it's the Fifth Slam, as they call it. 262 00:12:35,520 --> 00:12:36,640 Jack Draper: It's a huge tournament. 263 00:12:37,080 --> 00:12:41,120 Caitlin Thompson: I would argue—don't tell Rennae this—that it's more important than the Australian Open 264 00:12:41,720 --> 00:12:45,560 Caitlin Thompson: Open for debate, she doesn't like when I Australia. But 265 00:12:45,600 --> 00:12:48,720 Caitlin Thompson: it was a massive, massive tournament to win, and you 266 00:12:48,960 --> 00:12:52,440 Caitlin Thompson: just looked like you felt so comfortable along those desert hard, 267 00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:55,000 Caitlin Thompson: slow court to talk to us about that tournament because 268 00:12:55,040 --> 00:12:57,520 Caitlin Thompson: it was so far the biggest one that you've won. 269 00:12:57,600 --> 00:12:59,120 Caitlin Thompson: And it was really cool to watch up close. 270 00:12:59,520 --> 00:13:02,560 Jack Draper: Yes, I mean, I don't know if anyone has seen 271 00:13:02,600 --> 00:13:07,240 Jack Draper: Indian Wells, but the scenery layers just unbelievable to play, 272 00:13:07,280 --> 00:13:10,080 Jack Draper: the crowds always amazing, and it is like the Fifth 273 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:14,320 Jack Draper: Grand Slam tournament which everyone wants to win. And yeah, I 274 00:13:14,320 --> 00:13:16,400 Jack Draper: was fortunate enough to play some really good tennis this year, 275 00:13:16,480 --> 00:13:18,560 Jack Draper: be some really good players along the way, and it 276 00:13:18,640 --> 00:13:21,640 Jack Draper: definitely gave me a lot of confidence and just belief 277 00:13:21,679 --> 00:13:23,280 Jack Draper: that I belong right the top highest level. 278 00:13:23,320 --> 00:13:26,160 Caitlin Thompson: I suppose did you feel like a special feeling at 279 00:13:26,160 --> 00:13:28,840 Caitlin Thompson: the moment where you like, I only played in college, 280 00:13:28,880 --> 00:13:30,640 Caitlin Thompson: but even when I was a little kid, I was like, 281 00:13:30,679 --> 00:13:33,560 Caitlin Thompson: I might win this thing. Actually, guess, hold on your hats. 282 00:13:33,559 --> 00:13:35,480 Caitlin Thompson: Did you have any kind of premonition like that, like 283 00:13:35,520 --> 00:13:38,200 Caitlin Thompson: maybe this was going to be yours to seize? 284 00:13:38,440 --> 00:13:41,079 Jack Draper: No, not really. In tennis, I respect everyone who plays, 285 00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:45,840 Jack Draper: and they're unbelievable players. So to win it is, you know, 286 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:48,360 Jack Draper: in tennis, it's a losing sport. Really, you know, every 287 00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:51,400 Jack Draper: week you're playing. Every week, you're trying your best to win. 288 00:13:51,520 --> 00:13:53,160 Jack Draper: But there's so many, like I said, good players that 289 00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:55,800 Jack Draper: can beat you. So I guess to win the title, 290 00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:58,880 Jack Draper: that's something that doesn't happen too often. Obviously, you want 291 00:13:58,920 --> 00:14:01,959 Jack Draper: it to happen all the time. You see with Federer 292 00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:05,040 Jack Draper: and Rafa and no fact, they're just machines. They've done 293 00:14:05,080 --> 00:14:06,520 Jack Draper: it year of the year of the year. But I 294 00:14:06,559 --> 00:14:10,160 Jack Draper: wouldn't say that's the norm for even good players. So 295 00:14:11,400 --> 00:14:14,480 Jack Draper: to come through on one of the biggest tournaments in 296 00:14:14,520 --> 00:14:18,640 Jack Draper: the world something I'm still processing because in tennis you 297 00:14:18,640 --> 00:14:19,360 Jack Draper: have to just keep going. 298 00:14:19,440 --> 00:14:22,360 Caitlin Thompson: Yeah, you got to keep going. I have two kind 299 00:14:22,360 --> 00:14:25,360 Caitlin Thompson: of follow up questions to that number one, Let's let's 300 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:29,640 Caitlin Thompson: go with the Big three because you mentioned Rafa Roger Novak. 301 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:32,800 Caitlin Thompson: Novak's going to be playing this Wimbledon, but he's kind 302 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:35,360 Caitlin Thompson: of made some noise that he's, you know, probably certainly 303 00:14:35,360 --> 00:14:36,920 Caitlin Thompson: at the tail end of his career, if not the 304 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:40,560 Caitlin Thompson: last year. You know, you're part of this generation that 305 00:14:40,720 --> 00:14:45,520 Caitlin Thompson: is so exciting, so new, and really the post Big 306 00:14:45,600 --> 00:14:48,200 Caitlin Thompson: Three generation of young tennis players. What's that feel like? 307 00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:50,160 Caitlin Thompson: Are you guys all kind of pushing each other? It 308 00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:52,120 Caitlin Thompson: certainly looks that way from the outside. 309 00:14:52,240 --> 00:14:55,080 Jack Draper: Yeah, definitely. I think tennis is in a really exciting place. 310 00:14:55,800 --> 00:14:57,760 Jack Draper: You've obviously got our presence in it. Who are kind 311 00:14:57,800 --> 00:15:00,280 Jack Draper: of leading away a little bit with stuff. I would 312 00:15:00,280 --> 00:15:03,160 Jack Draper: say they've they've really set the half of the next 313 00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:06,720 Jack Draper: group of players who are kind of following in their footsteps. 314 00:15:06,760 --> 00:15:11,040 Jack Draper: Tennis has become like a really aggressive power sport, and 315 00:15:11,080 --> 00:15:14,400 Jack Draper: so the margins are getting smaller and smaller. Yeah, but 316 00:15:14,480 --> 00:15:19,840 Jack Draper: those guys have definitely stepped up after Rapper Roger Novak, 317 00:15:20,360 --> 00:15:23,360 Jack Draper: and yeah, it's nice to be chasing them now like 318 00:15:23,600 --> 00:15:25,160 Jack Draper: others have chased those other top boys. 319 00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:27,000 Caitlin Thompson: Yeah, it feels like you guys are in a cohort 320 00:15:27,160 --> 00:15:30,280 Caitlin Thompson: like you're kind of in a little bit of a pack. 321 00:15:30,480 --> 00:15:31,440 Caitlin Thompson: I don't know if it feels like that. 322 00:15:31,480 --> 00:15:33,800 Jack Draper: I don't know. There's a pack of really really good 323 00:15:33,880 --> 00:15:36,840 Jack Draper: young players who are coming up who, yeah, don't want 324 00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:39,240 Jack Draper: them to dominate like the ones before did. 325 00:15:39,400 --> 00:15:42,440 Caitlin Thompson: Right, everybody's hungry, you know, exactly, nobody's taken their crap! 326 00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:46,000 Caitlin Thompson: So we talked a little bit about Indian wells. It's 327 00:15:46,080 --> 00:15:49,280 Caitlin Thompson: on hard courts. You made a stellar run in Madrid 328 00:15:49,360 --> 00:15:52,840 Caitlin Thompson: this year on clay. And you just came off of 329 00:15:53,080 --> 00:15:56,520 Caitlin Thompson: an excellent run of Queens on grass. Yeah, I mean 330 00:15:56,560 --> 00:15:58,400 Caitlin Thompson: you're a local. Is this your like home? I mean, 331 00:15:58,440 --> 00:15:59,560 Caitlin Thompson: it's gotta be your home turf. 332 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:03,320 Jack Draper: Yeah, it is home turf, it's always a bit different. 333 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:05,520 Jack Draper: Obviously coming home I'm not used to I'm used to 334 00:16:05,560 --> 00:16:08,080 Jack Draper: being in the hotels and being out of my comfort zone, 335 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:11,000 Jack Draper: whereas I'm staying at home here obviously got crowd support 336 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:13,440 Jack Draper: behind me. Whereas when I go away, I mean I 337 00:16:13,480 --> 00:16:15,080 Jack Draper: remember being in Australia at the start of the year 338 00:16:15,120 --> 00:16:17,360 Jack Draper: and playing against Australians. I'm just getting like abuse for 339 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:20,680 Jack Draper: like four hours against other players, and that's the most 340 00:16:20,760 --> 00:16:23,000 Jack Draper: mostly where I go. So to have the home support 341 00:16:23,040 --> 00:16:26,040 Jack Draper: means that means a lot. Yeah, it's nice to be home, 342 00:16:26,120 --> 00:16:26,760 Jack Draper: that's for sure. 343 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:30,960 Caitlin Thompson: And ahead of next week Wimbedon starts a week from today. 344 00:16:31,360 --> 00:16:33,680 Caitlin Thompson: You know, it's a faster surface. You've got to get low. 345 00:16:33,760 --> 00:16:35,320 Caitlin Thompson: You got to take everything up the rise. How are 346 00:16:35,320 --> 00:16:36,720 Caitlin Thompson: you what are you tweaking? What are you working on 347 00:16:36,840 --> 00:16:37,160 Caitlin Thompson: right now? 348 00:16:37,280 --> 00:16:41,880 Jack Draper: Is that what you do? Yeah, Like it's a different surface. You have to 349 00:16:41,880 --> 00:16:44,840 Jack Draper: get used to it. Very different transition from playing on 350 00:16:44,840 --> 00:16:48,600 Jack Draper: the hard courts. And yeah, I think people think, oh, 351 00:16:48,760 --> 00:16:51,480 Jack Draper: just because you're from England, like you must love the grass. 352 00:16:51,480 --> 00:16:54,120 Jack Draper: It's like we never play on grass. So it's still 353 00:16:54,480 --> 00:16:58,320 Jack Draper: a transition and adjustment. And yeah, getting used to that. 354 00:16:58,360 --> 00:17:01,000 Jack Draper: And last week was good to get some and hopefully 355 00:17:01,400 --> 00:17:04,080 Jack Draper: come when when and that can be playing some better standards. 356 00:17:04,320 --> 00:17:05,520 Caitlin Thompson: I mean they look pretty good to me. 357 00:17:06,119 --> 00:17:08,360 Jack Draper: Thank you high high standards. 358 00:17:08,359 --> 00:17:10,560 Caitlin Thompson: That's right. We don't know each other, but my standards 359 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:12,960 Caitlin Thompson: are extremely high. All right, here we are, last couple 360 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:14,320 Caitlin Thompson: of questions and then I'm going to let you get 361 00:17:14,440 --> 00:17:18,520 Caitlin Thompson: to signing some collectibles doing a great This is not 362 00:17:18,640 --> 00:17:22,640 Caitlin Thompson: your first time in the collectible space. You did this 363 00:17:22,880 --> 00:17:25,119 Caitlin Thompson: in uh, you know, obviously we should say thank you 364 00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:28,920 Caitlin Thompson: to fanatics. Collectibles for having us tonight, we are going 365 00:17:28,920 --> 00:17:32,040 Caitlin Thompson: to take you back and sign some stuff. What is 366 00:17:32,080 --> 00:17:36,159 Caitlin Thompson: your what's your impression of the merch space, especially as 367 00:17:36,200 --> 00:17:38,560 Caitlin Thompson: people are starting to get you know, connected outs between 368 00:17:38,560 --> 00:17:40,919 Caitlin Thompson: collectibles and a sport like tennis, which kind of haven't 369 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:42,720 Caitlin Thompson: been talking to each other so much in the last 370 00:17:42,720 --> 00:17:43,359 Caitlin Thompson: couple of years. 371 00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:45,440 Jack Draper: Honestly, I don't know those about it, but I think 372 00:17:45,440 --> 00:17:48,200 Jack Draper: it's a really cool concept, you know. I think having 373 00:17:48,280 --> 00:17:51,600 Jack Draper: something that you can keep, like I know that memorabilia 374 00:17:51,640 --> 00:17:55,280 Jack Draper: for me has always been something that I've always held 375 00:17:55,320 --> 00:17:57,400 Jack Draper: on to. You know, even if it's like an accreditation 376 00:17:57,480 --> 00:17:59,720 Jack Draper: from a tournament, you know that that means a lot 377 00:17:59,760 --> 00:18:02,119 Jack Draper: to me. So to have your favorite athletes, or to 378 00:18:02,160 --> 00:18:04,440 Jack Draper: have people that you're inspired by and to have their 379 00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:07,560 Jack Draper: signature or to have something, you know, I think that 380 00:18:07,560 --> 00:18:08,760 Jack Draper: that can be really inspiring. 381 00:18:09,240 --> 00:18:11,720 Caitlin Thompson: When we were talking about I was talking with the 382 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:14,840 Caitlin Thompson: Fanatics team earlier. They have some really special, rare stuff 383 00:18:14,840 --> 00:18:16,159 Caitlin Thompson: for you to sign that I don't know if you 384 00:18:16,280 --> 00:18:19,960 Caitlin Thompson: it might be a surprise to you who gets who's 385 00:18:20,119 --> 00:18:22,439 Caitlin Thompson: getting gifted if you get to walk out of here 386 00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:25,720 Caitlin Thompson: with something really special, because it's like mom, Grandma, I 387 00:18:25,760 --> 00:18:27,220 Caitlin Thompson: was saying, it would be my kid. 388 00:18:27,220 --> 00:18:32,879 Jack Draper: Like something that I've done? Maybe my brother would like something. Joking, 389 00:18:33,600 --> 00:18:34,760 Jack Draper: he definitely wouldn't want anything. 390 00:18:34,920 --> 00:18:35,679 Caitlin Thompson: He has to live with you. 391 00:18:35,760 --> 00:18:41,480 Jack Draper: So my god son. He's a little kid and he 392 00:18:41,560 --> 00:18:44,399 Jack Draper: loves you. All that kind of start supporting him. 393 00:18:44,600 --> 00:18:47,600 Caitlin Thompson: Amazing. All right, we'll let you go. Good luck next week. 394 00:18:47,680 --> 00:18:48,400 Caitlin Thompson: Thank you so much. 395 00:18:48,440 --> 00:18:49,760 Jack Draper: Thanks for being here. 396 00:18:50,040 --> 00:18:57,879 Caitlin Thompson: Please give it up for your British No. 1—let's go do some breaks. 397 00:18:57,880 --> 00:19:17,920 Caitlin Thompson: Thank you so much. Everybody.