Jack Draper, the number one player in Britain, is sure he has what it takes to compete against top-ranked players Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz in the upcoming 2025 season.
In 2024, he achieved a career-high ranking of world No. 15, climbed out of the top 60, made it to his first Grand Slam semifinal, and won both his first ATP championship and, more significantly, his first ATP 500 title.
With this, Draper admitted: “I think I do belong at the top of the game with all the weapons I have at my disposal, and mentality and all these things… Obviously there’s so much to improve, but I think just the main thing is experience of playing these matches week in, week out.”
However, the 23-year-old is currently recovering from a hip injury that could affect his 2025 Australian Open participation. He has already been forced to withdraw from the United Cup due to the injury. Despite all his setbacks last season, he regained the ability to take challenging matches in his stride.
Draper said: “I love competing, I love the battle, I love playing in front of big crowds… There’s nowhere I’d rather be in the world than on that court then.”
Draper: “My mindset and my tactical awareness and my general confidence has changed”
Despite Draper’s outstanding 2024 season, the year witnessed a growing gulf between Sinner and Alcaraz and the rest of the pack, as Sinner and Alcaraz split this year’s four major awards evenly.
“I think everyone’s different, but one thing they would have in common is that, especially those two, they’re not afraid to go after the ball when it matters, and they’re not afraid to put their tennis on the line and really show their character,” Draper stated.
He added: “I think about how much my mindset and my tactical awareness and my general confidence has changed since the summer time. It’s just keeping on learning what I need to do in order to be more consistent at winning at the highest level.”
Source: Eurosport