There’s a new generation of tennis stars hot on the heels of the seasoned pros. Young, energetic and incredibly talented, this group of British sportspeople are making global headlines.
Amongst these names is Jack Draper, who rose to fame in 2018 as the runner-up of the junior Grand Slam at the Wimbledon Championships. Since then, he has competed in a variety of tournaments around the world as well as being the youngest ATP quarterfinalist at the Queens Club Championships since Andy Murray in 2006. His impressive efforts have placed him as high as 55 in the world in singles this month.
Aged just 20, he is now competing in his first ever US Open tournament. We spoke to him about his training plans, career goals and how his partnership with Vodafone is making tennis more accessible.
What are you up to at the moment?
I’m currently out in North Carolina, USA, playing a tournament in Winston Salem before I head up to New York to play in my first US Open. It’s been my biggest stint travelling and playing away from home, but it’s a great experience for me and I’m feeling good at the moment. Having the right preparation before a Grand Slam is key, and I have taken a lot of confidence from a really positive week at the ATP1000 in Montreal.
What are your training essentials?
Obviously, my Dunlop rackets are very important, I always like to have fresh grips as well, and typically train with a cap on backwards. You also need to make sure you have a lot of fuel on board and then once you finish training to get some food or a shake in you quickly.
What are your favourite sportswear brands?
On top of Dunlop, its Nike through and through. I’ve loved the brand from a young age and continue to admire the work they do both in tennis, as well as other sports. They are my clothing and shoe partner and I love every time I get the next delivery of kit.
How do you prepare ahead of a match?
I make sure I eat and drink the right things to ensure I’m prepared physically. In terms of right before matches, I usually try to stay pretty relaxed, listen to a bit of music, play on my phone and just chill. My coach James Trottman (Trots) is a calming influence so that helps.
How do you relax and unwind in your free time?
Spend time with my family, friends and my dog called Aussie. The tour is played 11 out of the 12 months a year, so it’s really important to relax and unwind when possible.
Where do you see yourself in ten years from now?
Still playing tennis (!), seeing the likes of Rafa, Andy, Novak aged mid 30’s and still playing top quality tennis only inspires me more to keep pushing myself to be the best player I can – tournament on tournament, year on year. I’m really excited for what’s to come in the future.
You’re stranded on a desert island – what one book, music album and item would you take with you?
Good Vibes, Good Life by Vex King. Oasis: Good Morning Glory Album and a hat for when my hair gets too long.
Advice for budding tennis players?
Just keep working hard, there will be high and lows, but keep sticking at it. It’s a great game and I’ve learnt so many lessons on it – both on and off the court.
Why did you decide to become a Vodafone ambassador?
Inspiring the next generation of kids to do what they love – be it in on or off the court is really important to me. For me, Vodafone was a really intuitive partnership, not only because of connectivity and allowing me to speak to my friends and family whenever and wherever I am, but because of what they are doing with Wimbledon and the LTA with ‘Play Your Way to Wimbledon’, we both share the same mission to open up the sport to the masses and inspire the next generation, so it makes me proud to be an ambassador for them. I mean how cool for young players to have the opportunity to compete on the world famous grass courts at Wimbledon?
