"I've never had a long-term injury before so I feel much better than I ever have in the last year.
I feel physically really good," said Draper.
He added that overcoming the mental fatigue associated with long recoveries was a significant milestone for his overall perspective.
"I was actually saying to the guys that I feel emotionally and mentally, for a long time, like I've been quite tired because of the process, but I'm starting to get my energy back," said Draper.
Despite the frustration of the layoff, Draper emphasized his pride in handling the mental challenges of his rehabilitation.
"To be honest, I feel really, really good, and I'm very proud of myself, the way I'm feeling.
So happy to be here," said Draper.
Injury Details and Adjustments
Addressing the technical specifics of the recurring ailment, the left-hander detailed how bone stress impacts his primary weapon on the court.
"The injury I had in my arm, it's a very complex injury," said Draper.
He elaborated on the mechanical strain that serving places on his arm during competitive matches.
"There's a lot of different things to think about with a bone stress, especially in a sport where I need to hit my serve at 130 miles an hour," said Draper.
Draper outlined how the discomfort disrupted both his performance and his enthusiasm for competing at the highest level of the sport.
"That's my weapon, I guess, my arm.
So when that's causing me a lot of discomfort, it's hard to do what you want to do and to enjoy it as well," said Draper.
