Jack Draper adds new string to his bow as he rebuilds his game | Tumaini Carayol

"On two pivotal points in his Indian Wells fourth-round match against Novak Djokovic, at 4-4 in the tie-break and then on match point at 6-6, Draper forced himself inside the baseline and unleashed two backhands, those shots driving him to victory. It would have been understandable for Draper to have played passive tennis in those decisive moments."

"Natural gut strings are made from cow intestines and for a large part of the 20th century they were the only viable string option for elite players. However, the modernisation of professional tennis has been driven by the introduction of poly strings. While natural gut strings are much softer and more elastic, allowing players more power and feel, the firmer poly strings have helped modern players to consistently hit with greater spin and control."

"Draper returns to the circuit using natural gut strings in a hybrid string setup. Until this year, the 24-year-old had spent his career playing with synthetic polyester strings in his mains and crosses, respectively the vertical and horizontal strings within his racket's string bed, but Draper and his team decided that it was appropriate for him to switch to natural gut in his mains."

Jack Draper achieved a significant victory over Novak Djokovic at Indian Wells in his fourth-round match, playing with aggressive intent on crucial points despite being only two tournaments into his return from a seven-month injury layoff caused by a bone bruise to his left arm. To accommodate his recovery and protect against future arm injuries, Draper switched from traditional polyester strings to natural gut strings in his racket's mains, using a hybrid setup. Natural gut strings, made from cow intestines, offer greater softness and elasticity compared to modern poly strings, providing more power and feel but less spin and control. While this string change contradicts Draper's playing style as a tall player who generates significant power with a heavy forehand, the increased elasticity proves more arm-friendly, making it a necessary adjustment given his injury history.

Read at www.theguardian.com