Jannik Sinner admits friendship with 'good friend' Jack Draper is going to be a 'little bit different' in future with duo on course for French Open clash
It is a sign of Jack Draper 's increased standing in the locker room that world No1 Jannik Sinner admits their friendship may soon have to change.
The pair have been firm pals for several years but you can only be so close to a man with whom you are competing for Grand Slam titles. Sinner clearly sees that time approaching, describing Draper as the most consistent player in the world.
'I'm good friends with him,' said Sinner after annihilating Jiri Lehecka 6-0, 6-1, 6-2. I'm very happy to have him as a friend, but now he's there (in the world's top 5), things are a little bit different.
'Of course, we are very good friends off the court, but we practice a little bit less together because we know we can face each other in the later stages of tournaments - hopefully, because I always love to play against him.'
Sinner beat an unwell Draper in straight sets in the semi-finals of last year's US Open. That was their first Grand Slam meeting and their second could come as soon as this Wednesday in the French Open quarter-finals, if both men win their fourth-round matches on Monday.
'We all saw the potential he had,' added 23-year-old Sinner of his contemporary. 'He was very unfortunate because he was injured, he went through very difficult moments, he has changed a little bit his team and now he's in a very consistent level.
Jannik Sinner dispatched Jiri Lehecka 6-0, 6-1, 6-2 to reach the fourth round at Roland Garros
'He's a huge competitor and I'm very happy for him. I'm the first person who is happy for him. He's going to make an incredible career.
'This year he is maybe the most consistent player we have on tour. He won big titles, he went far in every tournament. In every tournament, in every situation, he knows how to play, he knows how to handle it.'
Sinner was breathtaking on Court Suzanne Lenglen, reducing a very fine player in Lehecka to rubble. He remains the favourite to emerge from a loaded top half of the draw which, as well as Draper, features Alexander Zverev, who beat Flavio Cobolli 6-2, 7-6, 6-1.
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