In a sense, Jack Draper has been here before. Two years ago, as he was training on the practice courts of Wimbledon, he learned that he was to face the defending champion and top seed, Novak Djokovic, in the first round on his debut.
On Monday Draper will take up a similar position on his Australian Open debut as he stares down Rafael Nadal, also the defending champion and top seed. But back at Wimbledon, Draper was 19 years old and ranked 253, a wildcard entrant gaining a brief glimpse into the top level of professional tennis even as he was defeated in four sets. Today he is firmly embedded inside the top 50 and hungry for a breakthrough. He will play to win.
“Sometimes when you play great players [people say]: ‘Go out and have a free hit’ and all this sort of stuff. I don’t want to do that, I want to go and compete hard and really play well and I want to go and win the match, of course. So that will be the plan,” said Draper.
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The occasion at Rod Laver Arena will be particularly special for Draper as he encounters a former idol. He grew up wearing sleeveless Nike shirts and bandanas inspired by Nadal. “There’s no denying that he’s one of my heroes,” said Draper. “Growing up I watched him a lot, same with Andy Murray, same with Djokovic, same with Federer. All these guys.
“Without them I wouldn’t be the tennis player I am. So there’s that side of it where he is the 22-time grand slam champion, one of the greatest of all time, but at the same time he’s one of my competitors now and I need to block all that out and give it my all.”
Murray has trained with Draper throughout his development and believes that he will flourish under the pressure. “I think he’ll deal with the situation well. They’re playing in the day so the courts will be quick. Jack is a big server, he’s a big guy and plays with a lot of topspin. Great opportunity for him to go out there and see exactly where he’s at,” said Murray.
Nadal has watched a fair amount of the 21-year-old in recent months and he acknowledged the challenge ahead. “Probably one of the toughest first-round [games] possible, being seeded,” said Nadal. “Young, powerful, growing very, very fast on the ranking, playing well. Probably a big challenge for me at the beginning to start the tournament. Let’s see. I’m here to just give myself a chance. I know he’s playing well. He has a lot of positive things, and probably a great career in front [of him].”
If there is any opportune time to face Nadal, it is probably now. He has struggled badly since he was forced to withdraw before his Wimbledon semi-final with an abdominal strain. Since the US Open the Spaniard has lost six of his last seven matches, winning only a dead rubber against Casper Ruud at the ATP Finals. Nadal responded affirmatively when asked if he felt vulnerable before the first slam of the year.
“Without a doubt, no? I have been losing more than usual, so that’s part of the business,” said Nadal. “Just accept the situation. I think I am humble enough to accept that situation and just work with what I have today. I need to build again all this momentum. I need to build again this confidence with myself with victories.”
Murray himself feels ready to make a statement in Melbourne as he prepares to tackle Matteo Berrettini on Tuesday. “Obviously it’s a tough draw,” he said. “But I also feel like I’m in a much better place than where I was during any of the slams last year coming into it. I feel well prepared, I feel ready to play a top player early in the event, whereas maybe last year at times my game didn’t feel that great and getting a difficult draw, a tough match early in the tournament, didn’t feel great.”
Before they step on to Rod Laver Arena, Emma Raducanu will look to return to the Australian Open with her full health. She will face Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch as the first match on the 1573 Arena on Monday, with a potential second-round meeting with the seventh seed Coco Gauff on the line.
After spraining her left ankle last week in Auckland, her first tournament of the year, Raducanu had been racing to recover in time for the Australian Open. Her week began with some extremely timid practices but she has gradually increased her workload and movement. On Saturday, she was upbeat and positive about her progress.
“We’ve been working very hard,” said Raducanu. “It’s been a team effort to get me to this place. We’ve definitely expedited the process, but I’m feeling really good and looking forward to getting out on the court. It’s just a huge, huge props to my team, here and back home who have helped get me to this place.”
In Auckland, Cameron Norrie was unable to start his year with a title as he was defeated 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 by the French veteran Richard Gasquet in the final of the ASB Classic.
