As UK number 1 at Wimbledon, there is obviously a bit of pressure surrounding you. This is the case of Jack Draper, who decided to play the best tennis of his life on the grass tour and a few weeks before the third Grand Slam of the season. In early June, he won his first ATP title at Stuttgart, then eliminated Carlos Alcaraz au Queen’s. After several years of struggle and a Wimbledon 2023 missed due to injuries, the Briton is ready to hit hard. He will start on Tuesday against the qualifier Elias Ymer.
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz at a press conference
Find here the Wimbledon men’s singles table
“I watched the entire 2023 final, and it was frustrating”
Injured during the first round of Roland-Garros in 2023, Jack Draper was stopped in its progress, and missed Wimbledon. “It was really tough. I think I sat on my couch for most of the competition, really frustrated. I watched the whole final, which was hard to watch obviously, someone so young guy (Carlos Alcaraz) winning the title, showing what he can do… It really, really motivated me.”
First titled at Stuttgart, Draper climbed to 29th in the world, allowing him to be seeded at London. “If my game continues to improve, if I keep my mindset and if I continue to improve physically like I have, I don’t see why I can’t be one of the best players of the world. That’s what I aspire to, that’s my goal. But I realize, by competing against many top 10 players, that that won’t be enough. start again, again and again, and keep trying.
