Jack Draper

EXCLUSIVE: Tim Henman believes Jack Draper can crack the top 20 this year as the Brit prepares to face defending champion Rafael Nadal at the Australian ...

“But then reflect on someone like Kyle, he made semis in Australia, he was top 20 in the world and he gets serious injuries, so you never know what’s around the corner so it’s sort of one day at a time, one match at a time. The 11-time title winner also looked back on the career of another British pro in former world No 11 Kyle Edmund, admitting that it was tough to predict the future. “He’s on a steep learning curve, he’s come a really long way in a short period of time but it’s step by step. Now through to his second-career ATP semi-final at this week’s Auckland International, Henman discussed the British No 3’s bright future exclusively with Express Sport as he said Draper should first focus on getting seeded at the Majors before backing him to make a top 20 debut. “He struggled with injuries early in his career but now you look at him physically, he’s so much stronger and faster. The 20-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough season last year when he rose from No 262 to No 41 and earned wins over the likes of Stefanos Tsitsipas and Felix Auger-Aliassime.

The Brit faced a similarly hard task at Wimbledon in 2021 when he faced Novak Djokovic in his first match. Advertisement. Jack Draper took the first set against ...

He is currently ranked 40 in the world, but was as low as 250 two years ago. Who is Jack Draper? Jack Draper was born in Sutton in 2001.

This would all change if, early next week, he knocked top seed and defending champion Rafael Nadal out in the Australian Open first round. For the powerful left ...

His serve looked to be below par in the recent United Cup, but there is no player more masterful at peaking for the biggest events. The returning Kyle Edmund faces another top Italian in Jannik Sinner, while 11th seed Norrie is up against wildcard Luca van Assche and 26th seed Dan Evans plays Argentine Facundo Bagnis. ‘There are a lot of emotions, thinking about playing him, but I have still got to do well in the tournament. Since the US Open Nadal has lost six of his seven matches, including the two he has played this year, one against Britain’s Cam Norrie. Jack Draper's great chance to emerge from the shadow of Emma Raducanu and KO Rafael Nadal... For the powerful left-hander from Surrey, just turned 21, it looks a lip-smacking draw.

British youngster Jack Draper says he is feeling emotional after being handed a first-round tie vs Rafael Nadal at the 2023 Australian Open.

‘There’s always going to be a lot of noise. I’ll just be trying to play well and do the best that I can.’ [Australian Open 2023: Date, UK start times, TV coverage and schedule](https://metro.co.uk/2023/01/11/australian-open-2023-date-uk-start-times-tv-coverage-and-schedule-18078831/?ico=more_text_links) [Rafael Nadal](https://metro.co.uk/tag/rafael-nadal/?ico=auto_link_sport_P1_LNK1) at the 2023 [Australian Open](https://metro.co.uk/tag/australian-open/?ico=auto_link_sport_P1_LNK2). [US Open](https://metro.co.uk/tag/us-open/?ico=auto_link_sport_P4_LNK1) exit to Frances Tiafoe. [and insists he can win the tournament despite his horrific recent form](https://metro.co.uk/2023/01/10/rafa-nadal-says-he-can-still-win-australian-open-despite-horrific-form-18071334/).