Jack Draper has really stepped up since Andy Murray’s retirement, and will be seeking to continue his fine form at the Queen’s stadium named after the British legend.
He returns for his first grass-court event of the year, coming off the back of a hugely impressive clay campaign that shocked many.
Few could possibly have expected the big-serving lefty to translate his explosive skills onto the slow, patient clay as well as he did, and it is only making fans more excited to see how he fares on grass, a surface that should benefit him more than most.
Jamie Murray, who is the tournament director for Queen’s, has been speaking about the 22-year-old’s chances ahead of the event.
Will Andy Murray help Jack Draper deal with British pressure?
Predicting a strong run for Jack Draper whilst appearing on The Tennis Podcast, attention then turned to the youngster’s relationship with Jamie’s brother.
Asked if he thought Andy might weigh in to help Draper manage British expectations over the next month, Jamie’s response was somewhat uncertain: ‘I don’t know. I mean Andy’s known Jack for a long time and, you know, I guess it’s kind of helped him in various regards over the last few years.
‘I mean, I’m sure if Jack wants to talk to him about it, like, I’m sure Andy will listen and give his thoughts and experiences, but I wouldn’t imagine he’s like actively seeking out Jack.
‘Like, Jack’s doing his thing and he’s got his team around him and his family and yeah, like, I think he’s, for what I see, got a lot of things under under control.’
This came just after Jamie suggested that Carlos Alcaraz is doing something in his career which Andy Murray regrets failing to, continuing on the topic of his brother.
Last year, heading into Wimbledon, there was a quiet confidence that Draper could enjoy a strong run at the event.
This year, it almost seems a certainty.
How the Brit has turned himself from a youthful contender into a consistent, relentless threat is so impressive, and now he will hope to follow in Andy Murray’s footsteps by vying for the title in his home Grand Slam.
It will not be easy, of course, forced to contend with the defending champion Alcaraz as well as a devastatingly in-form Jannik Sinner, amongst others.
But, with arguably the perfect play style for the grass, Draper has all the tools he needs to trouble anyone on tour.
After a disappointing exit in the second round in 2024, this year marks the first where Britain will be expecting big things from the new world number four.
