Jack Draper has revolutionized British tennis in recent weeks. Since his start on the professional circuit in 2018, the Sutton tennis player has reached his moment of maturation, after becoming champion in Stuttgart last Sunday. They are first ATP title in his first final on grass, honoring the great legacy of his country on this surface. A feat that catapulted him to 31st place in the world, thus surpassing his compatriot Cameron Norrie becoming the new British number one.
After achieving his first crown, Draper showed his joy for his great achievement, knowing that he passed his compatriot Cameron Norrie in the classification after moving up nine places in the ranking. “Being British number one or not, nothing changes. I continue with my goal of being one of the best players in the world. And I’m ready for what’s coming to me. Like I said, it’s a real honor to be in that position and I hope to be number one for many more years,” confessed the tennis player in Stuttgart.
The British, Alcaraz’s next rival this Thursday, June 20, it will be a higher level test for the Murcian at Queen’s. Draper not only with a winning momentum, but also a left-handed tennis player in front of his audience, two double-edged swords that can put the world number two in trouble. “I think a left-handed player here is going to be difficult. He is playing very well and is coming off of winning a title, so I know he can play very well on grass. His game adapts very well and he has a great serve. He also moves very well, it’s going to be a great challenge,” Alcaraz acknowledged this Wednesday.
He is playing very well and has just won a title, so I know he can play very well on grass.
Alcaraz’s preparation: Cameron Norrie, another left-hander
Faced with his new challenge before Draper, Carlos Alcaraz trained with fellow British left-hander Norrie this Wednesday. A contact test for Thursday before what will be his first duel against a left-handed player on grass. On the rest of the surfaces, Alcaraz has played 32 matches on the ATP circuit against left-handed players and has won 25 of them and lost only seven. the last against Thiago Monteiro in Rio de Janeiro, in a match that barely lasted two games because the Spaniard fell and damaged his ankle.
The Murcian’s last two defeats against lefties were against Norrie himself, in Rio 2023 and in Cincinnati 2022. Draper, however, has the measure taken and him won in their two previous matches, in Basel 2022, coming back from a set down, and in Indian Wells 2023, when the British retired injured.
Murray, one of his mentors
To his 22 years, Draper becomes youngest British number one since Andy Murraywhich managed to rise to the top of the national ranking for the first time in 2006, at only 19 years old. The Scot, 18 years later, has shared training, confrontations and, on occasions, has been a mentor to the young Draper.
Both They have shared the bench in the Davis Cup and they will soon defend their country in the Olympic Games, after the confirmation of the two-time Olympic gold of his attendance in Paris. “Andy has always been amazing to me, he was always there to give me advice, was always there watching my work from the sidelines. “He knows that I’ve been doing a good job over the years, so he’s always been very positive with me,” says Draper for the British media iNews.
The Scot, aware of his career, points out to the English media his confidence in the projection of Draperwhat adds six consecutive victories on the grass>, invincible this season. “I think Jack has bigger goals to aim for than being British number one. In my opinion, he can reach the top of the game, the top of the world ranking.l”, declared the three-time Grand Slam winner.
