Former British primary Tim Henman has backed younger Jack Draper to interrupt into the world’s prime 10 so long as he continues to concentrate on his preparation and efficiency.
Draper gained his first profession ATP Tour title in Stuttgart earlier this summer time earlier than defeating Carlos Alcaraz at Queen’s Membership to turn into the brand new British No.1.
It is a far cry from the place he was 12 months in the past, when he missed the complete grass-court season with a shoulder downside.
The 22-year-old southpaw has struggled with some bodily illnesses prior to now, however is now on an upward trajectory and is ranked within the prime 30 on the planet.
Because the U.S. Open approaches, the British media and public will see Draper because the pure substitute for Murray after the 37-year-old introduced the top of his profession on the Paris Olympics.
“I do not assume there’s that a lot stress on Draper, however it’s necessary that Jack actually focuses and continues to focus as a result of it depends upon his preparation and efficiency. He is trying to enhance totally different points of his recreation,” Henman advised sky sports activities.
“He is not attempting to be the brand new Andy Murray. He is attempting to be Jack Draper and he is improved quite a bit.
“I feel it is extra of the identical. He is trending in the proper course, he is prime 30 on the planet, he’ll be seeded in New York, so I hope he can get into the highest 20 and prime 10 within the close to future ”.
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A glance again at Draper’s sensational victory on the Stuttgart Open
Draper has a profitable working relationship with Cameron Norrie’s former coach James Trotman and two-time Australian Open semi-finalist Wayne Ferreira.
Henman believes profitable his first title in Stuttgart will play an enormous position in Draper’s confidence and perception heading into the US Open, the place the Brit reached the fourth spherical final yr.
“The problem across the tennis calendar is that within the calendar we do have 4 Grand Slams in about three months. You could have Roland Garros, Wimbledon, the Olympics and now you may have the Olympics , so it’s very troublesome to get to the highest of all these occasions, however to win your first title on Tour is a big breakthrough,” Henman stated.
“It is good on your private confidence as a result of Jack hasn’t been performing to the extent he needed to in the previous couple of tournaments, however he can actually attempt to flip that round as we go into the U.S. Open.”
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Draper says he knew his time was coming after profitable his first ATP title and changing into Britain’s No. 1
Regardless of profitable in Germany, Draper was unable to capitalize on the profitable momentum and suffered early exits at Wimbledon and Montreal, however Henman shouldn’t be apprehensive in regards to the outcomes and believes they’ll come to go over time.
The four-time Wimbledon semi-finalist stated: “We’re nonetheless actually studying his recreation and taking part in the most important and greatest tournaments as a result of he is nonetheless constructing the muse and the momentum.
“He was injured final yr and did not play the complete schedule, so I feel simply being on the market and persevering with to enhance – typically it is easy to get caught up in outcomes and issues, but when he retains working exhausting and retains working in the proper areas then the outcomes will come, As a result of he is an awesome participant.
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Draper stated he was “not fairly the place he needed to be” earlier than taking part in within the Madrid Open earlier this yr
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