S Poddar
The noise in the US Open came from Jack Draper, who reached the semi-finals with a display that wowed the fans. At only 22, he is not only the shining young star of British tennis but one of the most exciting young prospects for a maiden Grand Slam title.
The retirement of Andy Murray, who had been the linchpin of British tennis for such a long period, undoubtedly left a gap that many thought would be hard to fill. Draper has wasted little time getting into the frame and showing that he has some of the credentials necessary to pick up where Murray left off. He’s reached his maiden Grand Slam semifinal at the US Open without dropping a set, the first major since Murray’s retirement.
The path to this juncture for Draper has been one both paved with promise and challenge. Born into a tennis-centric family, with his father Roger serving as chief executive of the Lawn Tennis Association from 2006 until 2013 and his mother Nicky being a skilled junior player, it was virtually in his blood. Clearly talented from an early age, seeded through an appearance in the 2018 Wimbledon boys’ final, the adjustment to life on the professional circuit was proving a struggle.
It has taken some time for Draper to find his feet on the tough professional circuit. With the relentlessness of tour life and with injury after injury coming, he admits there are times when he has doubted his future in the game. “It’s really difficult. It’s not the strawberries and cream of Wimbledon that I expected,” Draper mused about his experiences. “It was a real grind for a few years, getting my head around the nature of the tennis world, how hard I’m going to have to work to be a top player, the travel and the sacrifice. I genuinely thought that maybe I wasn’t cut out for tennis.
Undeterred, Draper battled on. After a frustrating 2023 season which included missing Wimbledon, his persistence started to pay dividends. He won his first ATP Tour title in Stuttgart in June and then became British number one. The win over Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz at Queen’s further underlined his emerging stature.
That has put Draper in a position where his US Open performance could be a real turning point in his career. He has been nothing short of impressive, winning five matches without dropping a set and carrying himself well. Indeed, the calmness with which he has taken to the court is a far cry from the moments of jeopardy that even the greats, such as Murray, experience throughout their journeys into the Grand Slam.
Draper is known for his left-handedness and strong serve, and he’s taken up an increasingly aggressive style of play. The mentality shift certainly has served him well in catapulting his game to a career-high ranking in the top 20. But Draper is not just seeking to be highly ranked; he is vying for a Grand Slam title that could well be within his grasp as he advances further in the tournament.
As Draper progresses with his US Open journey, the tennis world bated a breadth: Could it be that there is a new breed in British tennis, spearheaded by this young star?.
