Jack Draper has become the Wimbledon 'nightmare' nobody will want to play agains

Metro

7 hours ago

'At Wimbledon, Jack Draper has a big chance to go all the way.'
That is the view of seven-time major winner Mats Wilander. It is certainly a bold claim about a player who has never been past the second round at the world's most famous tennis tournament.
But the British No.1 has been enjoying a stunning rise and is a genuine contender to become a Wimbledon champion.
Drape heads to SW19 as fourth seed, which underlines the rapid progress he has made and his status as a player nobody will want to face over the course of the next fortnight.
Draper's ability was obvious from a young age. In 2021, not long after securing a win over Sinner at Queen's Club, he was a fresh-faced teenage wildcard at Wimbledon and took a set off Novak Djokovic in a first-round defeat, fuelling him with the confidence he needed to go to the next level.
The following year saw Draper land four ATP Challenger Tour titles in the space of four months before he climbed into the world top 50. At the start of 2023, he took a set off Rafael Nadal in a clash at the Australian Open.
In November 2023, he reached his first ATP Tour final in Sofia, becoming the youngest Brit to do so since Murray. Last year brought more success as he landed his first two ATP trophies in Stuttgart and Vienna while he also beat eventual Wimbledon champion Alcaraz at Queen's Club.
That win over Alcaraz saw Draper earn comparisons to Murray and a fine 2025 season – in which he has risen to a career-high ranking – has also seen Draper win the biggest title of his career at Indian Wells and meantioned in the same breath as Nadal, due to his vast improvements on clay.
With British stars traditionally producing their best tennis on grass, former world No.1 Wilander is adamant that rival players will be fearful of Draper due to his strength and ability to hit powerful serves, two traits needed to thrive on the surface.
'At Wimbledon, Draper has a big chance to go all the way,' Wilander told Metro. 'He's young in his career, we have to remember, he's only just started really winning and gaining that respect in the locker room.
'He's becoming one of those guys who opponents think, 'Oh my God, I don't want to play against Jack' – because he never stops trying, he's physically really strong, doesn't have any weaknesses, plus he has a big serve and he's left-handed.
'I think he's gaining the respect that top players need and use to their advantage. Playing Jack Draper at Wimbledon will be a nightmare for most players.'
Grass courts are the paciest of the three surfaces. Low and fast bounces contribute to shorter and sharper points, which will suit Draper perfectly.
As a big-hitting lefty, Draper possesses pretty much every kind of serve you can possibly imagine. He can swing it out wide, he can swing it into the body. His kick serve can be particularly challenging for opponents.
Left-handed players can target a right-handed rival's backhand with their serve, which is usually their weaker side. Most players are right-handed, so they are less accustomed to playing against a southpaw and are forced to make adjustments to their usual tactics.
Liam Grace | Metro Tennis Correspondent
Wilander believes that Draper will hugely benefit from playing in front of a British home crowd at this year's Championships and can use it to his advantage like former British No.1 Tim Henman did during his own career.
'I know Tim Henman well and he'd always say he didn't feel any pressure at all and it was actually a huge help to have everybody think he can win or even ask the question, is this the year [that he wins Wimbledon],' he added.
'He keeps saying it gave him confidence that it was possible. When I look at Draper and his mindset these days, it looks like he's going to use the crowd in exactly the same way that allowed Henman to elevate his game at Wimbledon.'
Wilander is also convinced that 'not everybody knows how to play on a grass court' and that 'there are fewer favourites for Wimbledon' than the other major tournaments, which could hand Draper a significant edge.
Even if it doesn't happen for him in 2025, Draper believes that he will one day become a Wimbledon singles champion. More Trending
Speaking exclusively to Metro two years ago – and quizzed if he could see himself one day lifting the trophy – Draper said: 'Yeah, of course.
'A lot of people say they want to win Wimbledon but they don't necessarily believe it or put in the work. I am sure at some point in the future I will give myself a shot.
'I want to go there in years to come and really put in great performances in front of a home crowd. It's a tournament that is very special to me.'
Will Draper get his hands on the Wimbledon trophy this year? The likes of Alcaraz and Sinner may have something to say about that. But the Brit has beaten them both before – and will be firmly dreaming of glory in SW19.
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