Wimbledon is just around the corner, and with it will come renewed hopes that a Brit can follow in Andy Murray’s footsteps.
Naturally, Jack Draper will spearhead those hopes, as the British number one on the men’s side, and the current world number four.
He will not be alone in seeking to capitalise on the home-court advantage, with other stars like Cam Norrie, Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter all expected to thrive too.
However, it’s the big-serving lefty with the best chance of lifting that coveted crown, by some distance.
With his return to Wimbledon in mind, it’s worth remembering where his journey at this prestigious event started: with a first-round match against none other than Novak Djokovic in 2021.
Jack Draper’s first-ever Wimbledon match vs Novak Djokovic
Handed a wildcard to compete in his first-ever Wimbledon, a fresh-faced 19-year-old Draper entered the All-England club brimming with promise and excitement.
However, it must have conjured some very mixed emotions when the draw emerged to pit him against the then world number one Djokovic, coming off the back of titles at both the Australian Open and Roland Garros.
Seeking major number three on his way to a potential calendar Grand Slam, the Serbian was not to be upset by some British teenager who he had barely heard about.
But, when he fell into a one-set deficit, he likely knew he was in a battle.
Draper gave a remarkably good account of himself on Centre Court, getting the home crowd involved with some fine shot-making and an unflinching never-say-die mentality.
He pushed a near-unstoppable force hard, and even though he fell away in the final three sets, the teenage sensation departed SW19 with a whole host of new fans, one of which was Djokovic himself.
What Novak Djokovic said about Jack Draper in 2021
Speaking after the match, the current world number five had nothing but praise for Draper.
He insisted: ‘He definitely deserves a round of applause. He’s a youngster, only 19; I hadn’t seen him play too much prior to Queen’s that he played pretty well – won a couple of matches against high-ranked players.
‘You know, walking on Wimbledon’s Centre Court for the first time, he has done extremely well. He carried himself very maturely on the court, he behaved well, he backed himself, he believed that he could come back and I wish him all the best for the rest of his career.’
Since then, Draper’s career has only gone from strength to strength, with the 22-year-old now fully established as one of the best players on the ATP tour. Greg Rusedski’s prediction for Draper’s Wimbledon speaks volumes for just how highly regarded the youngster now is.
Ranked fourth in the world, shockingly above a 39-year-old Djokovic, it’s been so impressive to see the Englishman convert this high potential into genuine, tangible success.
Heading into Wimbledon this year, the expectations will be so different to that stunning afternoon in 2021. If he can deal with that newfound weight, Draper could be a real threat for the 2025 title.
