“If he keeps playing like this, the sky is the limit.” Martina Navratilova had nothing but words of praise for rising British phenom Jack Draper last season after his impressive US Open run. He became only the sixth ATP pro from Great Britain, since the 1970s, to make it to the last four of a major after Greg Rusedski, Tim Henman, Andy Murray, Cameron Norrie, and Kyle Edmund. Unfortunately, he lost to eventual winner Jannik Sinner in the SF. But his performance was a teaser of what was to come in 2025. Fast forward to March, and Draper is now an ATP 1000 champion. He created history last week in the Californian desert after conquering Holger Rune in the Indian Wells final. Seeing his “meteoric” rise, with a climb into the top 10, an ex-British pro has now made a wild prediction about Draper.
In an interaction with Express Sport, Andrew Castle, who is now a broadcaster having retired in 1992, heaped praise on Draper. Commenting on his leap in the rankings, he said, “He’s seeded high and will be protected against the very best, so he has the skills to take care of players who are ranked 30 to 70 in the world now. That’s a tough band to get through but he’s got there quick and in similar time to one year from being 60-odd in the world to World No.7 and that is meteoric.” Prior to Indian Wells, Draper was ranked No.14. However, with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Rune in the championship match, he was able to jump seven positions!
Castle continued, “Jack joined me and a couple at the club a couple of years ago, and at Wimbledon we play the odd game and sit down to talk about the old times and people listen, Jack was one of them and he was great. We were talking to those same people about what it takes to get into the top 10 from 60 or 70 in the rankings, and it’s a big leap. He’s done it in one go. That’s pretty awesome.”
Castle also went on to say if Draper keeps up this level of performance, he may accomplish the ‘ultimate feat’ very soon. “For him and his coach John Trottman, who is excellent, just take one match at a time, get through the first three, and then accelerate. I think he is capable of winning a Grand Slam right now,” the 61-year-old added.
While a Slam glory is yet to arrive, Draper has been rising in the rankings quite rapidly. He was outside the top 60 a year ago. Now, he’s rubbing shoulders with the elites, while accomplishing a milestone that even legends Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Andy Murray couldn’t achieve!
Jack Draper achieves rare feat in ATP ranking that eluded Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer
For the unversed Jack Draper sat at No.62 in the rankings back in January 2024. In just a span of 14 months, he’s made his way into the top 10. And, with that, he’s left Federer, Nadal, and even his compatriot Murray behind. But how?
Well, Murray took 16 months to enter the top 10 for the first time when he was ranked outside the top 60. He accomplished the feat in April 2007 after reaching the semis at the Miami Open. Speaking of Federer and Nadal, they both took two years to cover the same distance in the rankings. The Swiss Maestro did it back in 2002 when he won the Hamburg Masters, while Nadal made it happen in 2005 when he clinched the Torneo Godó event in Barcelona.
Draper now wants to continue his winning streak further. After his Indian Wells triumph, he made it clear as well. “I know there is a long way ahead of me. I’m very ambitious. I don’t want to just stop here. I want to keep on going,” the Brit said.
Draper’s next challenge is the Miami Open where he’s set to kickstart his campaign against Czechia’s Jakub Mensik on Saturday. Interestingly, both the players have never met in a professional match. It will be intriguing to see who emerges as the victor. Do you think Jack Draper will cruise to his second straight Masters 1000 trophy? Let us know in the comments below.
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