Draper's early years in the senior game were difficult, with the left-hander growing several inches in height. But, like Andy Murray before him, Draper made a breakthrough at Queen's Club, where in 2021 he reached the quarter-finals. His first-round opponent was none other than Sinner – their only previous meeting on tour.
Draper first caught the tennis world’s attention in 2018 when, as a 16-year-old, he reached the boys’ singles final at Wimbledon. Ranked as high as world number seven in juniors, this breakthrough highlighted his potential to become one of the sport’s future stars.
\\r\\n\\r\\n\\r\\n\\r\\nJack Draper on his way to the Eastbourne semi-finals (Steven Paston/PA)\\r\\n\\r\\n\\r\\n\\r\\n
Breakthrough at Queen’s Club (2021)
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Transitioning to the senior circuit was challenging for Draper, especially as he dealt with growth spurts and physical changes. However, his fortunes changed at Queen’s Club in 2021, where he reached the quarter-finals, marking his first big breakthrough in the professional ranks. Notably, his first-round opponent was Jannik Sinner, the same player he now faces in the US Open semi-finals.
In early 2022, Draper began to build momentum with four titles on the Challenger Tour, pushing him into the top 130 in the rankings. It was a sign that he was overcoming the injuries that had plagued him, and he was well on his way to competing at the highest level.
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Jiri Lehecka is the Adelaide International Champion ✨
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Brit Jack Draper went the distance in a gripping final but the Czech has won his first ATP title 🇨🇿 pic.twitter.com/3svwJAhJ6u
Draper’s game flourished on British grass courts in the summer of 2022, reaching the semi-finals at Eastbourne. His rise continued in Montreal, where he made his first ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final and notched top-10 wins against Stefanos Tsitsipas and Karen Khachanov at the US Open. This propelled him into the world’s top 50.
In 2023, injuries slowed his progress, but Draper bounced back in 2024 with two ATP finals appearances, followed by his first ATP Tour title in Stuttgart, defeating Matteo Berrettini. This victory saw him surpass Cameron Norrie as the British number one.
\\r\\n\\r\\n\\r\\n\\r\\nJack Draper celebrates beating Carlos Alcaraz (Zac Goodwin/PA)\\r\\n\\r\\n\\r\\n\\r\\n
Victory Over Alcaraz
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Perhaps Draper’s biggest statement came with a stunning win over world number one Carlos Alcaraz, solidifying his place as a future tennis powerhouse.
The moments that have helped Draper reach the last four in New York.
Jack Draper’s remarkable run to the US Open semi-finals has cemented his place among tennis’s rising stars. At just 22, the British left-hander has navigated numerous setbacks and key victories to make his mark at the highest level. His upcoming clash against Jannik Sinner is yet another milestone in his young but eventful career.
Jack Draper with his Wimbledon runners-up plate in 2018 (Nigel French/PA)
Draper peaked at a career-high ranking of world number seven in juniors, with his standout tournament coming at Wimbledon in 2018 when, as a 16-year-old, he reached the boys' singles final.
Draper's early years in the senior game were difficult, with the left-hander growing several inches in height. But, like Andy Murray before him, Draper made a breakthrough at Queen's Club, where in 2021 he reached the quarter-finals. His first-round opponent was none other than Sinner – their only previous meeting on tour.
Draper first caught the tennis world’s attention in 2018 when, as a 16-year-old, he reached the boys’ singles final at Wimbledon. Ranked as high as world number seven in juniors, this breakthrough highlighted his potential to become one of the sport’s future stars.
Jack Draper on his way to the Eastbourne semi-finals (Steven Paston/PA)
Breakthrough at Queen’s Club (2021)
Transitioning to the senior circuit was challenging for Draper, especially as he dealt with growth spurts and physical changes. However, his fortunes changed at Queen’s Club in 2021, where he reached the quarter-finals, marking his first big breakthrough in the professional ranks. Notably, his first-round opponent was Jannik Sinner, the same player he now faces in the US Open semi-finals.
In early 2022, Draper began to build momentum with four titles on the Challenger Tour, pushing him into the top 130 in the rankings. It was a sign that he was overcoming the injuries that had plagued him, and he was well on his way to competing at the highest level.
Jiri Lehecka is the Adelaide International Champion ✨
Brit Jack Draper went the distance in a gripping final but the Czech has won his first ATP title 🇨🇿 pic.twitter.com/3svwJAhJ6u
Draper’s game flourished on British grass courts in the summer of 2022, reaching the semi-finals at Eastbourne. His rise continued in Montreal, where he made his first ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final and notched top-10 wins against Stefanos Tsitsipas and Karen Khachanov at the US Open. This propelled him into the world’s top 50.
In 2023, injuries slowed his progress, but Draper bounced back in 2024 with two ATP finals appearances, followed by his first ATP Tour title in Stuttgart, defeating Matteo Berrettini. This victory saw him surpass Cameron Norrie as the British number one.
Jack Draper celebrates beating Carlos Alcaraz (Zac Goodwin/PA)
Victory Over Alcaraz
Perhaps Draper’s biggest statement came with a stunning win over world number one Carlos Alcaraz, solidifying his place as a future tennis powerhouse.
![\\\"Jack](\\\"//image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/cc38e5108843c6ad65993ebc58bac5aaY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzI1NjQ0Mzkw/2.67576754.jpg?w=640\\\")
\\r\\n![\\\"Jack](\\\"//image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/2ba4bd9b55234abb62f2025eefc17b34Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzI1NjQ0Nzk2/2.76587989.jpg?w=640\\\")
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