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Life as a top player at a grand slam has always been a world apart from the sober reality of being one of the rank and file. The best are routinely scheduled on the biggest stadiums, sometimes assigned exclusive changing rooms and receive preferential practice‑court assignments, among countless other advantages.
Over the past few years, Jack Draper has experienced how differently his peers treat him as he has achieved greater success. Four years ago, when he made his ATP debut at the Miami Open, he struggled to secure a hitting partner. It is a different story today.
“It’s natural,” Draper said. “When you are new, nobody knows you. Especially on the tour. It’s work. You want to hit with a good player. And if you don’t know that person, if they are young or whatever, then you might probably think: ‘Oh, I’d rather hit with someone else.’
“I have never been like that. I don’t really care who I hit with, whether it’s a hitting partner or a top player. I always try to get the best out of myself. That is natural – as you play more, as you are in the changing rooms more, as you win more matches, people give you the respect.”
Although many tend to pair status and on-court achievements with respect, Draper says he is only interested in the character and integrity of those around him: “Some players definitely give respect because of the tennis. Whereas I have always been the person [who thinks] it’s just hitting a ball over a net. I give respect to people who are good people and who have good values, who show their character in a really good way. That’s most important to me.”
At a time when his success continues to generate more interest and attention, the past few months have underlined to Draper the importance of leaning on his family and close friends. He constantly speaks about his family and tries to spend the free time he has at home with them. This time, they have come to him. Alongside his coaching team and his brother, Ben, who is also his agent, Draper is joined in Paris by his mother, Nicky, and his maternal grandfather, Chris.
“He doesn’t do too much travel,” Draper said, smiling, while discussing his grandfather. “My grandparents are a huge part of my world. He’s always on the live ranking, watching my tennis. He’s obsessed with it. Gives him so much life. So to have him out here … my brother and mum can look after him a little bit.
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“He knows everything that is going on around the world, on the tours, he knows what all the Brits are up to. He just loves tennis so to have him here is a massive thing for me. His wife, my nana, who has dementia, that was a big part of her world. To have him here it’s very, very special.”
With five British singles players – Draper, Katie Boulter, Jacob Fearnley, Sonay Kartal and Cameron Norrie – in second-round action on Thursday, Draper will have to face one of the most adversarial audiences of his career when he plays Gaël Monfils in front of the 38-year-old’s notoriously harsh home crowd. Monfils pulled off a typically magical comeback on Tuesday night, fighting back from two sets down to defeat the Bolivian Hugo Dellien.
“I always said Jack would be a top-10 player,” Monfils said. “[When] he was a youngster, played a lot in the practice. I really like the kid. He’s a fantastic player. He’s a top five. He has a lot of weapons. It’s going to be a hard one. He’s in full confidence.”
