From hunky Jack Draper to Emma Raducanu – the who-to-watch guide for Brit Wimbledon hotshots hoping to win big at SW19

The Irish Sun

4 hours ago

TENNIS fans will hope Jack is nimble – and quick – as our latest Wimbledon hope takes to the court.
World No4
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Emma Raducanu hopes to go deep into the tournament after a recent return to form
Credit: Getty
On the ladies' side, former US Open champ
There are 23 Brits in the singles – 13 men and ten women – which is the most since 1984.
Mike Ridley serves up a selection of them before the action starts at SW19 on Monday.
Hannah Klugman, 16 - GB No17, world No577
STAR-in-the-making
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The youngest of four sisters, she excelled at all sports and only plumped for tennis after the Covid pandemic.
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Hannah Klugman was the first Briton to make the final in Paris since Michele Tyler in 1976
Credit: Alamy
At 14,
Earlier this month, that decision already looked to have been a good one as she became a junior Grand Slam runner-up at the French Open.
She was the first Briton to make the final in Paris since Michele Tyler in 1976 and experts are now marking her out for big things – and she already has experience of a grand stage.
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Sun tennis writer Rob Maul says: 'There are three British female teens in the draw [also Mika Stojsavljevic, 16, and Mimi Xu, 17]. She is already impressive, and she is part of the future for Wimbledon.'
British world No719 qualifies for Wimbledon but is BANNED from claiming £66,000 prize money
Katie Boulter, 28 - GB No2, world No41
LEICESTER CITY fan
On her day, statuesque Katie can upset the form book but experts reckon she is perhaps a little too inconsistent to be among the game's elite.
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Katie Boulter has never got as far as the second week of a grand slam tournament – despite being Britain's No2
Credit: News Group Newspaper Ltd
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Katie is engaged to Aussie world No11 Alex de Minaur after dating him for about three years
Credit: Instagram
She is engaged to Aussie world No11
The couple have date nights during tournaments, which they post about on social media.
Alex, 26, was born in Sydney then trained for years in Spain.
But while Alex was unsure whether to play for Spain or Australia at the Olympics, before choosing the former, Katie was famously pictured in 2018 cheering on
Katie, who has suffered many injuries over the years, including a stress fracture of the back, is very close to her grandparents who live in the East Midlands where she grew up.
She also appreciates going out with a man who understands the pressures of the game.
Emma Raducanu, 22 - GB No1, world No38
ONE of the most scrutinized female athletes in world sport and one of the most famous.
As
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Carlos Alcaraz has been romantically linked to Emma
Credit: PA
And amid
Will former US Open winner Emma rediscover that old magic, on the back of promising recent results?
Or will she be affected by news that the stalker who reduced her to tears in Dubai in February tried to get tickets for this year's Wimbledon, only to be red-flagged and denied.
She will be grateful organisers had beefed up security but all eyes will be on her game.
If she can overcome those worries and avoid injury, Emma could go a long way.
Whatever happens, there will be plenty of drama.
Jodie Burrage, 26 - GB No7, world No164
SHE missed Wimbledon last year through injury, so hopes her luck will change.
But judging by a bizarre event that happened at the pre-Wimbledon tournament in Eastbourne this week, she might wonder.
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Jodie Burrage missed Wimbledon last year through injury, so hopes her luck will change
Credit: Getty
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Jodie is dating Scots rugby international Ben White, who plays scrum half for French club Toulon
Credit: Instagram
BBC commentator
Krejcikova generously conceded the point but the Czech ace went on to win the match.
Surrey smasher Jodie is dating Scots rugby international
At last month's French Open, Jodie said uncertainty over whether Ben, 27, would be picked for the British Lions squad to tour Australia this summer was affecting her form on the court.
In the end, Ben was not selected – so expect to see him at Wimbledon cheering on Jodie.
Jack Draper, 23 - GB No1, world No4
ONE of the most eligible men in tennis, young free and single
Now at a career-high world No4, he is hotly tipped to win Wimbledon, if not this year then soon.
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Jack draper is a Burberry model with an equally fine-looking tennis game
Credit: Getty
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Jack with model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in an ad for Burberry swimwear
Credit: Burberry
He would be the first English champ since Fred Perry in 1936 – and looks the heir apparent to Scots sensation Sir Andy Murray, who twice claimed the spoils at SW19 before retiring.
After winning the
The
He set hearts fluttering when pictured recently jumping topless from a boat with model
But he has no love match at the moment and is just pals with Rosie, and her Hollywood star other half Jason Statham.
He says: 'I'm always on the road, always playing, always training. It's tough to sustain any relationship.'
Having banked nearly £6million in prize money, and plenty more from endorsements and modelling work, he is dream boyfriend material for whoever should get so lucky.
But for now, his No1 fan at Wimbledon will be mum Nicky, a former junior tennis starlet.
His dad Roger, meanwhile, is an ex-boss of the Lawn Tennis Association, the sport's UK governing body, so was tasked with finding the country's next Wimbledon champ.
Sun tennis correspondent Rob Maul says: 'Remarkably, he didn't have to look far!'
Henry Searle, 19 - GB No119, world No409
THE teen wildcard from Wolverhampton may have a lowly world ranking – but he already has some serious form on the lawns of Wimbledon.
It is only two years ago that 6ft 4in Henry became the first Brit to win the boys title, since football legend Stanley Matthews' son.
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Henry Searle may have a lowly world ranking – but he already has some serious form on the lawns of Wimbledon
Credit: Rex
Since
The left-hander is the son of cricketer Harvey Trump, an off-spin bowler who played for Somerset between 1988 and 1997, and his first wife Emma.
Henry has a huge following of fans and friends who join him at matches, wear identical T-shirts and making a lot of noise supporting his every shot.
Sun man courtside Rob Maul says: 'Henry is quite a shy lad who doesn't say a lot but he has what it takes to be a real star of the future.'
Jacob Fearnley, 23 - GB No2, world No51
HOTSHOT
He has had a meteoric rise to No51 in the world rankings, from a lowly 664 at the start of the year, and it seems the only way is up.
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Jacob Fearnley is drawing comparisons with a famous fellow Scot, two-time Wimbledon champ Sir Andy Murray
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Jacob with stunning US girlfriend, beach volleyball star Keagan Polk
Credit: keagan.polk / Instagram
The powerfully built big-hitter was born and brought up in Edinburgh where mum Sam, who worked for the NHS, taught him to play tennis from the age of three.
But Jacob looks like an American – wears his baseball cap backward and speaks with slight Texan drawl. That's because he came through the US college ranks rather than a tennis academy.
He spent five years at the Texas Christian University where fellow Brit
At the Australian Open earlier this year, she cheered him on to a win against Aussie bad boy
She was also in Jacob's box at Wimbledon last year when he took a set off the greatest player of all time, Serb superstar
But he has his work cut out in his first match at Wimbledon – up against much-hyped Brazilian teen
Dan Evans, 35 - GB No5, world No170
LIKE seven-time Wimbledon champ Novak Djokovic, who comes into this year's tournament aged 38 and world-ranked six, our
Aged 35, he may not have too many more SW19 appearances in him, so catch him now.
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Dan Evans comes into this year's tournament aged 38 and world-ranked six
Credit: Getty
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Dan will be cheered at Wimbledon by wife Aleah
Credit: Alamy
The former Brit No1 has slipped to world No170 from a high of 21 just two years ago and only got into this year's draw with a wildcard – but a recent run of form suggests a thrilling last hurrah could just be possible.
One of the most working-class players on the circuit, Brummie electrician's son Dan spent a year off the tour after testing positive for cocaine in 2017 but stormed back with a vengeance and is a reformed man.
He did Team GB proud last year at the Paris Olympics as he made the doubles quarter-finals with Sir Andy Murray – in the former world No1's emotional farewell to the game.
Dan is now is giving his all to his time left on court and delighting fans with his mischievous game of crafty spins.
Based in Dubai nowadays, he will be cheered at Wimbledon by wife Aleah as he starts against fellow Brit
Dan and Aleah plan to have kids once he hangs up his racquet – and he has banked more than £6million in prize money alone so will have plenty of cash for family holidays.
The single-handicap golfer will also have time for honing his swing, and following his beloved
OTHER HOME ACES TO SEE
FROM talented teens to a most unlikely 11th-hour men's qualifier, here are some other British players to watch . . .
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Welsh wildcard Mingge 'Mimi' Xu is only 17 and already British No10
Credit: Reuters
TIPPED for big things, Welsh wildcard Mingge 'Mimi' Xu is only 17 and already British No10.
Born to Chinese parents who met at Swansea University, she is world No318 and has a big ask in round one . . . against Emma Raducanu.
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Oliver Tarvet battled through qualifying this week into the main draw
Credit: Getty
HE is the world's 719th best player and No33 in Britain – but
If he wins his first match, against a fellow qualifier, Oliver, 21, could face reigning champ Carlos Alcaraz.
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Mika Stojsavljevic, 16, is a big server with a style like her childhood idol Maria Sharapova
Credit: Getty
WILDCARD
Born in West London to a Serb dad and Polish mum, the 6ft belter made headlines in junior circles by winning last year's US Open girls' title.