In the heart of Rome’s Foro Italico, British tennis sensation Jack Draper delivered a performance that was as emotionally charged as it was triumphant during his third-round match at the 2025 Italian Open on May 11. The world No. 5 battled past Czech qualifier Vit Kopriva in a 6-4, 6-3 straight-sets victory to reach the last 16, but it was his mid-match racquet-smashing outburst that stole headlines. After failing to convert four break points in the second set, Draper’s frustration boiled over, leaving three divots in the clay and his Dunlop racquet in tatters. Reflecting on the incident, the 23-year-old offered a candid admission: “It’s sometimes difficult to always be perfect.” This moment of raw humanity underscored the pressures of his rapid rise, even as he continues to cement his status as one of tennis’s brightest stars.
Draper, who entered Rome fresh off a Madrid Open final appearance, faced a gritty challenge from Kopriva, ranked No. 92. The first set was a tight affair, with Draper holding serve and clinching it in 41 minutes after saving a break point. The second set, however, tested his resolve. Leading 3-1, he squandered a chance to extend his advantage when a drop shot went awry, prompting him to strike the clay four times before slamming his racquet by his chair. The umpire issued a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct, and the crowd buzzed with reactions, some fans on social media calling the act “entitled,” while others empathized with the mental toll of back-to-back Masters 1000 events. “I’m human,” Draper told reporters post-match. “We don’t always wake up out of bed feeling great. I get out of bed and I feel so angry some days, and I’ve got to play a tennis match.”
This wasn’t Draper’s first racquet-smashing incident. Earlier in 2025, he destroyed a racquet during a five-set Australian Open win over Aleksandar Vukic, drawing boos from the Melbourne crowd. Similar outbursts occurred at the 2024 Paris Masters and Davis Cup, highlighting a recurring struggle with emotional fatigue. “I felt a little bit low in energy. My feet weren’t working as well as I wanted them to,” he explained after the Rome match, attributing his frustration to the grueling schedule. His 2025 season has been a breakthrough, with a Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells—where he defeated Carlos Alcaraz—and a US Open semifinal run, propelling him to a career-high No. 5 ranking. Yet, the physical and mental demands of competing week in, week out have taken their toll. “I’ve played a lot of tennis, a lot of matches, and I’m getting used to that,” he said, noting the challenge of adapting to his elevated status.
Draper’s victory set up a fourth-round clash with France’s Corentin Moutet, who stunned No. 9 seed Holger Rune in a nearly four-hour marathon. The Brit’s resilience shone through as he regained composure to close out Kopriva, a testament to his mental fortitude. “I tried to fight hard and find a way,” he said, emphasizing his determination to push through low-energy moments. His clay-court campaign has been impressive, with a 2024 Vienna title and a 2024 Stuttgart win complementing his Indian Wells triumph. As he eyes a prospective top-four seeding at the French Open, Draper’s ability to channel his emotions will be crucial.
The incident sparked debate among fans, with some criticizing the outburst as excessive, while others saw it as a relatable response to the sport’s relentless pressure. “The frustration boiled out a little bit too much in the end, but I stayed at it and came through,” Draper reflected, owning the moment while highlighting his growth. Co
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