Jack Draper heads to Wimbledon riding crest of a wave
The 22-year-old even beat defending SW19 champion Carlos Alcaraz on his way to the quarter-finals at Queen’s Club.
Jack Draper heads to Wimbledon as British number one, seeded for the first time, and riding the crest of a wave after winning his maiden ATP title.
The 22-year-old even beat defending SW19 champion Carlos Alcaraz on his way to the quarter-finals at Queen’s Club.
His seven-match winning streak – which encompassed that title success in Stuttgart – was eventually ended by American world number 13 Tommy Paul.
But that takes nothing away from how Draper, who admitted to being “all over the place” after his first-round exit at the French Open last month, has swiftly rebuilt his game and his confidence.
Suddenly the son of former LTA chief Roger Draper looks ready to take over from Andy Murray as the jewel in the nation’s tennis crown.
“You know you’re in a great place and you’re one of the best players in the world when you’re able to do that, because every day we’re facing amazing tennis players who can beat you.
“So if you’re not quite on your game you lose the match because the other guy plays well and he beats you.
“That’s kind of the next stage for me now. I want to try and go deep in tournaments and back it up every week. These are just things I have to probably get used to at the highest level and learn.
“I’m still young. I’m trying to piece a lot of things together. Obviously that was my first title – I’ve done it at challenger level and futures, but it’s very different on the main tour. I just need probably a bit more time.”
Draper is the one bright spot in an otherwise gloomy outlook among the top British men.
The participation of Murray, in what would be his final Championships, is in doubt after the two-time winner’s injury at Queen’s, a tournament which also accounted for Dan Evans due to a slip on the court.
Among the wild cards picking up a first-round pay day of £60,000, the usual suspects include Liam Broady, Arthur Fery, Paul Jubb and Jan Choinski.
They are joined by last year’s junior champion Henry Searle, of whom big things are expected in the future.
Then there is Billy Harris, the 29-year-old journeyman from Nottingham who until recently travelled to tournaments, and slept, in a converted transit van.
Prior to Queen’s, Harris’ total career prize money was £230,000, but his surprise run to the quarter-finals coupled with his Wimbledon wild card earned him £112,000 in three days.
