DRAPER ON RAD’ TRACK TO SUCCESS
JACK DRAPER is ready to stand tall and repeat Emma Raducanu’s feat in New York.
There are several good omens which point to 6ft 4in Draper wrapping up glory in the States.
They both made their Grand Slam breakthroughs in the Big Apple.
And like Raducanu’s “dream run” in 2021, Draper has yet to drop a set on his way to the semi-finals at the US Open.
Teenage qualifier Raducanu went on to win the title without facing a top-ten player, while the British No.1 now faces world No.1 Jannik Sinner — and would then face an American home favourite in the final.
And there are other big differences in the stories of the two best young tennis players in the UK.
Tears
Grammar school girl Raducanu shot to fame and fortune aged 18 but has suffered three years of injuries, coaching changes and inconsistent form.
She is now world No.72 having broken down in tears after her first round defeat in New York.
Private school boy Draper, the son of the former LTA chief executive Roger, had been seen as a potential star even before reaching the Wimbledon junior final in 2018.
But his long list of physical ailments had stymied his career.
Yet, this summer Draper has found the form of his life to win his first ATP Tour event in Stuttgart, beat Carlos Alcaraz at
Queen’s Club and has now reached his first Major semi-final.
Draper (22) is now ready for superstardom as he enters the world’s top 20 for the first time.
“There’s no doubt it was extremely difficult for Emma, because she’d done her A levels, and she’d just come out of school, and all of a sudden she came here and she had a dream run and won,” said Draper.
“The expectation on her after that was huge. She hadn’t necessarily built up the physical foundations and the general foundation you need to be on the tour full time.
Compete
“Even though she had won one of the biggest tournaments in the world, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re ready to compete on the tour, week in, week out.
“That’s where I’ve had a few blessings in disguise. I’ve got injured a few times. It’s made me realise this is something I have to put all my life into.
“It’s important people give her time to be on her journey and to improve physically and to put years of work in to get back to that.”
Draper’s coach James Trotman said: “Jack has played some really high-level tennis matches in the past, but physically it’s been a struggle.
“He’s a big boy, he’s got a big body, it takes time to grow into that.
“Jack is not afraid of hard work and doing what it is going to take.”