As Jack Draper embarked on a promising new chapter in his tennis career, a lighthearted question was posed to the 24-year-old ahead of his comeback at Eastbourne this week. In the midst of a challenging match, when frustrations might peak, would he ever consider venting his frustrations at Andy Murray?
The idea of shouting at his idol, friend, and new coach elicited laughter from Draper, who quickly dismissed the notion. “Maybe a few times I’ve said something to my team but it’s mainly anger at myself. I’ve never been someone who goes off at my time, because I have a great relationship with all of them. I have too much respect for Andy and Trots [James Trotman, his other coach] to be doing that.” he stated. “Andy is a huge inspiration for me,”
Fortunately, during his first match after a two-and-a-half month hiatus, Draper’s composure remained intact. Despite a brief struggle while serving for the match and a tense end to the second set, he triumphed with a 6-4, 7-6 (5) victory against Marcos Giron, marking his first win since besting Novak Djokovic over three months ago at Indian Wells.
Draper had been sidelined for two and a half months due to knee tendonitis, which forced him to retire early in the Barcelona Open during the clay season. This injury followed a seven-month break due to a bone bruise in his arm. Starting the week ranked No 160, a significant drop from his career-high of No 4 achieved a year prior, he is eager to regain his footing in the sport.
He returned to the court with a mix of familiar and new faces in his support team. With Murray prioritizing family commitments and opting out of the extensive travel that comes with being a full-time coach, Draper has also been collaborating with the LTA’s coaching staff. His player box, positioned at court level on Eastbourne’s Centre Court, featured both familiar and new faces.
Throughout the match, Trotman, who has transitioned to a general LTA coach for the men’s program, sat alongside Murray, discussing Draper’s performance. Murray was actively engaged from the box, frequently applauding and providing a steady stream of encouragement. When Draper seemed hesitant with his forehand, both coaches urged him to be more aggressive. “It’s comforting to have him there. I don’t feel any kind of added nerves or anything. If anything, it’s a real boost. It’s a real confidence feeling to have him there and also obviously having Trots beside him as well. Those two have got an amazing relationship as well. It just feels very natural to me.” Draper remarked. “I think there was a long period of time where, whether it be the last competitions I played, the US Open, or earlier on in the year where I’m not at full power, using a different [gut] string, which is much softer for my arm. I feel like I’m back at full power and using the setup that I’m used to. So I think I’ve come on massively and I’ve gained a lot of confidence in where I’m at right now.”
This performance was a positive indication of Draper’s potential. His serve, a key focus during his recovery from injury, has seen adjustments in technique. To alleviate strain on his arm, he experimented with a platform stance, which engages the legs more effectively. However, this change affected his knee negatively, prompting him to revert to his previous pinpoint stance.
Overall, Draper served confidently for the majority of the match, encountering minimal challenges in his service games until he reached 6-4, 5-3. Although he expressed some dissatisfaction with his returning, he struck the ball cleanly from both sides, dominating Giron from the baseline. His movement improved notably as he gained confidence after initially appearing hesitant.
Crucially, Draper exited the court without any new pain. He described his physical condition as feeling “good” and “stable” after 85 minutes of play. “I think there was a long period of time where, whether it be the last competitions I played, the US Open, or earlier on in the year where I’m not at full power, using a different [gut] string, which is much softer for my arm. I feel like I’m back at full power and using the setup that I’m used to. So I think I’ve come on massively and I’ve gained a lot of confidence in where I’m at right now,” he stated.
Now, Draper aims to build momentum as he seeks to realize his considerable potential.
