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“[It’s] been a long time since I’ve been able to compete. I’ve stayed in a good place, although it’s been tricky [with] a lot of dark moments and a lot of tough times, but that’s the sport I signed up for,” Draper told the LTA website.<\/p>\n
“I’m happy to be back playing again. I miss the buzz of competing. I’ve missed the thrill of playing in front of people, against great players, and that winning feeling you can’t replicate in training.<\/p>\n
“It’s going to feel great to get back out there again.”<\/p>\n
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Draper, who has dropped down to number 13 in the rankings, hopes last year’s positive start can serve as motivation as he attempts to return to the top.<\/p>\n
“Last year started off amazingly well. The second half was extremely challenging,” Draper said.<\/p>\n
“I took a lot of belief and confidence from the first half of the year and what I achieved. I kept in mind that I want to be competing right at the top of the game.<\/p>\n
“It’s going to be a bit of a challenge and a journey to get back to where I was because I’ve been out for such a long time but at the same time, I’m constantly getting better and improving, and I hope I get to show that sooner rather than later.”<\/p>\n
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‘We’re ready to fight for every point’<\/p>\n
Ten-time Davis Cup champions Great Britain have only lifted the trophy once since the 1930s – an Andy Murray-led triumph in 2015 – and fell to Japan at the first hurdle last year.<\/p>\n
Great Britain beat Poland 3-1 in September to retain their place in the top tier.<\/p>\n
They head to Oslo, where their first-round qualifier will be held from on February 6 and February 7, as the favourites to advance. The squad features two singles players ranked inside the top 30 in Draper and Cameron Norrie, British number three Jacob Fearnley, and a Grand Slam-winning doubles pairing in Lloyd Glasspool and Julian Cash.<\/p>\n
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Hosts Norway are yet to confirm the availability of world number 12 Casper Ruud after he became a father last week.<\/p>\n
Draper says Great Britain have to be prepared to “fight for every point” against an “amazing” Norway team.<\/p>\n
“They’ve got a young player in [Nicolai Budkov] Kjaer, who was number one in the world juniors and playing great tennis on the tour. He’ll be tough to beat \u2013 a young guy who’s got a lot to prove,” Draper said.<\/p>\n
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“We all know Casper Ruud has been a top-10 banker player for a long time.<\/p>\n
“It’s going to be a great challenge for us all but I think we’re ready to embrace it and fight for every point.”<\/p>\n
The winner of this tie will face either Australia or Ecuador in a second round qualifier for a spot at November’s Davis Cup Finals in Italy.<\/p>\n
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