Jack Draper opens up on taking a break from tennis and having 'the best night of my life'

Jack Draper is ready to get closer to his first Grand Slam title Little by Little after warming-up for the US Open by watching Oasis. The British No.1 became a Rock 'n' Roll Star when he reached the semi-finals in New York last year.

Draper, 23, has not got beyond the fourth round in the first three Majors of this season - and he revealed in his pre-tournament press conference that he was playing through the pain barrier of left arm injury when he lost at Wimbledon.

But the world No.5 did not Look Back in Anger - and instead took time out to enjoy his favourite band on the comeback trail at Wembley.

"It was an amazing experience," beamed Draper. "Probably the best night of my life in all honesty. One of my childhood bands that I listen to the most. I absolutely love both of them, and I love the whole band in general. Yeah, it was incredible. It was Wembley. In the middle thing. It was a great view of everything going on. I don't think many bands can do that.

"Those sorts of things I don't often get to do a lot in life in general. Just take myself away from things, go to gigs and just feel like I'm not in the bubble of tennis. Obviously, it was tough missing out on the tournaments, but at the same time having a bit of time to reflect on things and be able to enjoy just normal things was a big thing for me.

"What is my favourite song? I love Little by Little. Or one with Liam, probably Cigarettes and Alcohol. That's good."

Draper said the nagging arm injury which affected him all summer is better after rest - he went a month without hitting a serve - and insisted: "I don't feel like I'll be holding back at all" in New York.

The Indian Wells champion played superbly to reach the last four here last year without dropping a set before repeatedly throwing up in the heat and humidity during his semi-final defeat to eventual winner Jannik Sinner.

He returned to the Arthur Ashe Arena last week to reach the semi-finals of the new US Open mixed doubles event playing with Jessica Pegula. "It was kind of perfect for me, because I hadn't had any competition," he said.

And he opens his singles campaign against Argentine qualifier Federico Agustin Gomez on Monday in the second match on the Louis Armstrong Stadium day session.

"I feel good," Draper reported. "I love being here in New York. In these tournaments I'm never thinking at the start of the week what I'm going to be doing at the end of the tournament. I'm just focusing match by match. Obviously I play on Monday, haven't played for a while, so I'm looking forward to just ultimately getting out there for my first round, competing hard and then go from there."

One big change for Draper in New York is his lucrative new kit deal with US brand Vuori.

And the new status is shown with his massive image dominating the shop window of the Southern California-based brand's flagship store on Fifth Avenue.

"It's really cool," he said. "It's an amazing feeling. To be honest, everyone at Vuori, all the people are amazing. "Obviously I have been with Nike for many years. My contract was running out this summer. Vuori came in with an opportunity I couldn't turn down. I'm very blown away and grateful for the fact that they want me as a kind of like the face of the brand at the moment."